U.S. Embassy Holds Counter Proliferation Investigation Training

Baku / 09.10.17 / Turan: The US Embassy"s Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) office is holding Counter Proliferation Investigation training on October 9-13. The training is conducted for 12 State Customs Committee investigators, five judges, and five prosecutors.

As the acting U.S. Deputy Ambassador Carter Wilbor said at the opening ceremony, the EXBS program has been cooperating with Azerbaijan for a long time.

EXBS has been operating with Azerbaijan since 1999 and for the past period assistance to the country has been provided by training, equipment, and funds for 26.3 million US dollars.

Wilbor emphasized that Azerbaijan is a reliable partner in stopping the illegal trade in weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

"There are a group of specialists from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration who will share their rich experience and practice in investigating cases of WMD," Wilbor said.

In turn, the Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, Shaheen Baghirov, noted the interest of the Azerbaijani side in studying the world experience, including the US, in preventing proliferation of WMD.

"The current training is of great importance to our investigative bodies. I am convinced that the experience studied here will be used in future activities," Baghirov said.

He stressed that Azerbaijan, as a country that suffered from terror, is fighting in a consistent way against the proliferation of WMD.

Baghirov also recalled the case when several years ago an attempt was made in Azerbaijan to smuggle WMD components. -03C06-