Group analysing situation on CIS external borders resumes work in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, March 3. /TASS/. A group of the Council of Border Troops Commanders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) tasked with monitoring and analyzing the situation on the CIS external borders has resumed its work in Kyrgyzstan, the country’s border service said on Tuesday. The group has been working in the Central Asian state for the fourth year and has provided timely reports to the bodies of the CIS, a loose alliance of former Soviet countries, on the processes happening on the borders, the spokesman said. This has allowed "taking preventive measures on counteracting the illegal activities on the external borders," he said. Several months ago this group suspended its operations due to a range of reasons. As part of the group, experts carry out a joint analysis of the information obtained from border agencies on the situation on the borders and based on this data "major threats to the border security in the region are defined." The group also closely cooperates with the task forces of Russia’s Federal Security Service and the Anti-Terrorist Center for Central Asia region of the CIS as well as the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center. It consists of the representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. "The work of the group is especially important ahead of Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union as its member-states are now taking active steps on reinforcing external borders of the alliance," the spokesman said. Kyrgyzstan is expected to join the union on May 1. The new integration association — the EEU — started operating on January 1 this year, replacing the Eurasian Economic Community, which officially ceased to exist in October. The union includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia. Membership is open to other states assessed as sharing the assembly's aims and principles, its founders say. Read more