OSCE Office in Tajikistan concludes workshop on radiation safety

DUSHANBE, 22 April 2016 – Twenty-five officers from the Interior Ministry, State Committee on National Security, Customs Service, Border Troops, Committee on Emergency Situation and the Agency on Radiation safety of Tajikistan completed in Dushanbe today a week-long workshop on radiation safety awareness. The event was organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

During the workshop, the officers improved their knowledge on incidents, sources and potential hazards of radiation and nuclear terrorism, prevention of illegal trafficking of nuclear and other radio-active materials through the border, as well as usage and operation of devices for radiation detection and measurement and effective detection techniques. Usage of new equipment and contemporary approaches to prevent illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials was the main focus of the workshop.

The workshop was delivered by international experts from Belarus with solid experience on radiation detection equipment and was conducted at the Institute of advanced training of the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, where samples of several radiation detection equipment are installed.

“The Office in Tajikistan continues supporting the capacity building of Tajik border and security agencies, including in the areas of illegal trafficking of radioactive materials, procedures for exchange information, co-ordination and co-operation,” said Fejzo Numanaj, Head of the OSCE Office’s Politico-Military Department in Tajikistan.

Safo Musoev, Director of the Institute of Advanced training of the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, said: “This training assisted Tajik customs and border agencies to strengthen their professional capacity in their day-to-day work, especially in identifying and detection of radioactive materials.”

As support to developing of theoretical knowledge, OSCE will hand over to the Custom Service the limited number of radiation detectors and dosimeters for identification and detection of illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials at the border.

The training course was organized in the framework of this year’s activities by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and also as part of the implementation of the Tajik National Border Management Strategy and in accordance with provisions of the national actions plan on implementation of UN Resolution 1540.