As in the past Hungary is ready to support the security and stabilization process in Central Asia in the future too – emphasized Mr László Felkai State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior at the ministerial conference of the Central Asia Border Security Initiative (CABSI) held in Vienna.

Central Asia is currently one of the most conflicted regions in the world – said Mr Felkai. Armed conflicts in Afghanistan have impact on the whole region. In addition to the conflicts significant part of the world demand for heroin, opium derivatives and marihuana is produced in Afghanistan which will be largely used up abroad.

The non-negligible scale of illegal immigration from Central Asian countries is a common phenomenon. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan became independent 20 years ago and inherited the law enforcement structure and border security system of the former Soviet Union. Systems have been modernized in some countries during the last years although not all countries had appropriate recourses for necessary investments, asset procurement and development – reminded the State Secretary and added: significant length of unmarked borders, conflicts over distribution of land and water resources, barriers to movement of people and goods, national, ethnical and religious tensions, cross-border organized crime, corruption and migration pose major security challenges to the region and with the effects to other countries too.

“Countries of the region need the support of the international community which has beneficial effect on security on regional level too. By the end of 2014 combat units of western coalition will leave Afghanistan. Therefore other effective methods should be applied to handle security problems” – underlined Mr László Felkai. “In the following 6-8 years we will need the support of other foreign donors in any case. Four main donors in the region are the United States, the European Union, Russia and China. The donors vital interest is the effective fight against cross-border organized crime” – said the Deputy Secretary.

Hungary is directly affected by illegal Afghan immigrants, several Afghan groups of different sizes arrive to Hungary weekly and many immigrants enter the country via irregular channels. Hungary has to devote significant financial resources to prevent, supply and transport home illegal migrants. Hungary is interested in building stability, peace and well-operating economy in the region and is ready to support Central Asia in the future too – emphasised Mr László Felkai and added: Hungary has achieved remarkable results in global law enforcement cooperation. International Border Enforcement Conference is one of the best examples of the results which will be held in Budapest for the 20th time and it provides opportunity for border security managers, experts and international organizations for professional discussion and debate uniquely in the world.

Hungarian law enforcement organizations are in a particularly good position in the regard of development projects with CIS countries to be carried out as Hungary has experience in the Soviet-type border security system based on military and in the European system of law enforcement too. Hungary is involved in the activity of CABSI since 2006.

The Central Asia Border Security Initiative (CABSI) was founded in 2003 by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior to provide a forum for coordination and discussion programme activities and strategic objectives of the European Union funded assistance programme BOMCA (Border Management in Central Asia). Austria as the main donor and supporter of CABSI is the key-coordinator of the initiative. Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the administrative tasks. Participant countries of CABSI are United Kingdom, Finland, France, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary. Croatia and the United States take part in the work as independent partners.

(kormany.hu)