Euraspol will enhance regional security


MINSK, 6 February (BelTA) – The establishment of the Eurasian police organization will strengthen security in the region, a Moscow expert, J.D., Major General of the police in retirement, former chief of the Russian bureau of Interpol Vladimir Ovchinsky told BelTA commenting on the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan to set up Euraspol.

The expert noted that if Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia established the single customs space, they should form the single security zone. “For example, the customs stations were removed from the borders of Russia and Kazakhstan and relocated to the border with Kyrgyzstan, although the border is virtually open there. Drug mafia is very strong in Kyrgyzstan. Drugs come from Afghanistan,” Vladimir Ovchinsky said. Euraspol, in his view, should combat human trafficking, illegal migration, drug trade, illegal arms trade, extremism and terrorism. If the initiative works, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia will become much safer places.

The expert believes that this supranational structure should not resemble a big ministry. “If we set up this Euraspol, it should be mobile, 30-40 people - inter-agency and international representatives,” he said. It should not imitate Interpol or some organizations of the CIS. It should take advantage of the expertise and knowledge of the related agencies operating within the framework of the CIS, including the bureau to coordinate the fight against organized crime and other grave crimes as well as the CIS Anti-Terror Center. “They possess huge databases,” Vladimir Ovchinsky said.

He added that Euraspol might use the resources of the bureau to fight drug trade. The bureau is headquartered in Almaty and operates in the entire Central Asia. When databases are accumulated, joint operations can be coordinated. “The security space will be totally different. It must be done. It does not take much,” Vladimir Ovchinsky said. He believes the new organization should be headquartered in Moscow, as this city is becoming a financial center of the Single Economic Space and Eurasia in general.