ODESA, SEPTEMBER 26th, 2011, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE — Project BRUT, an initiative of the SECI Centre, to which the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) has become a partner, was launched in Odesa today, Context-Prichernomrie correspondent reports.

Head of EUBAM, Mr Udo Burkholder informed today, 26 September.

According to EUBAM, a project covering multiple levels of law enforcement activities, such as countering drug trafficking, preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass-destruction, developing integrated border management, BRUT additionally aims to strengthen the customs capabilities in the major sea ports of the Black Sea region, and to upgrade risk-management systems.

Those participating in BRUT – a name taken from the first letters of the participating countries, and which runs in Odesa until Friday – include representatives from SECI Centre member states, specifically from the ports of Varna and Burgas (Bulgaria), Constanta (Romania), Ambarli (Turkey) and Odesa (Ukraine) itself. Observers from Moldova, and representatives from the Dutch Customs Administration, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the US Department of Energy, will also attend.

“The BRUT project is further proof of the strong emphasis EUBAM places on international cooperation,” said the head of EUBAM, Mr Udo Burkholder, during this morning’s opening remarks. “Coordination of our efforts is vital in tackling all manner of illicit activities. We are delighted to be teaming up with the SECI Centre once again for this initiative.”

“Project BRUT’s scope primarily focuses to put the foundation stone for building up a solid bridge of long term law enforcement cooperation across the Black Sea region, connecting countries and international law enforcement organizations from Europe and Asia,” stated Petros Petroff, SECI Centre Deputy Director.

BRUT is a result of a 2005 initiative and a follow-up to the SECI Centre’s Kalkan project, conducted in the same region in 2009, when EUBAM acted as observer. It also complements EUBAM’s Operation Phenomena, which is being carried out at Odesa and Illychevsk ports in southern Ukraine.

INFORMATION: The EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) was launched on 30 November 2005 at the joint request of the Presidents of the Republic Moldova and Ukraine. EUBAM is an EU mission fully funded by the European Union. It is an advisory, technical body. It has no executive powers. The Mission aims to make a sustainable contribution to the delivery of good quality border and customs services to the citizens and companies of Moldova and Ukraine to facilitate contacts and trade.