U.S. Supports Caucasian, Central Asian States in Anti-Crime Efforts

(Tbilisi, January 28, 2003. Civil Georgia) – The United States will provide financial support for law enforcement to a regional group of countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia, officials from the United States and participating countries said this week, the New York Times reports.

The group of five former Soviet states GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova) are planning a law enforcement center linking their police forces, border guards and customs authorities.

Their model for coordinating law enforcement is based on a center in Bucharest, Romania, that links Balkan governments to combat international crime.

The New York Times reports quoting John F. Markey, director of regional law enforcement programs at the State Department, “Assistance to Southeast Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus in 2002 is approximately $1.8 billion — a large percentage of it focused on rule of law and good governance.”

A State Department official said efforts were being made to interest Armenia — and eventually Russia — in participating, or at least to send observers to the group’s meetings.

Officials of the five countries will meet next month in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to begin constructing a “virtual center” — in cyberspace — with a data bank integrating law enforcement information dealing with both conventional crime and terrorism.