2006 Embassy Events
22 Georgian Officers Travel to Hanford Washington for Border Security Training Course
Funded by the US Department of State Export Control and Related Border Security Program in Georgia, 22 officers of Georgia’s ministries overseeing export control and strategic trade control traveled to the United States September 25 – 29, 2006 as students in the International Border Security Training at Pacific Northwest Laboratory in Hanford, Washington.
This comprehensive program trains international border-enforcement officials in the detection, identification, interdiction and the investigation of illicit transfers of materials, commodities and components used in the development, production or deployment of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and their associated delivery systems. It also covers comprehensive training on the detection and interdiction of illicit traffic of radioactive materials. The Hanford Site has tremendous capability with nuclear and radiation-related materials due to its role in the Manhattan Project. PNNL also has extensive experience with chemical and biological weapons (CBW) proliferation prevention activities. The Laboratory has strong arms control and nonproliferation programs associated with all types of WMD, and its export control program is preeminent within the NNSA National Laboratory system.
The basic training program is conducted at the Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) Training Center with subsequent in-country training and equipment loan to the country involved. To date, border security personnel (Customs, Border Guard, National Police, and Frontier Police) from 22 Eastern/Central European and Former Soviet Union countries have received RADACAD training at the HAMMER site. The Center provides classrooms, specialized props (including Scud and cruise missiles), as well as a Port of Entry facility complete with a host of commercial conveyances such as seaworthy containers, drums, barrels, gas tanks, trucks, and other transportation means. The Port of Entry facility is also equipped with detection equipment to search, detect and interdict commodities found on/in the containers, vehicles, and personnel.
Georgia’s delegation included members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Coast Guard, Border Police and Criminal Police; Ministry of Finance - Customs Department and Financial Police; Ministry of Economic Development – Export Control Licensing Office and Foreign Trade Office; Ministry of Defense – Technical Licensing Department; and the Ministry of Environment – Nuclear Radiation Safety Service.
The curriculum at Hanford includes case studies from around the world, including several prominent cases from Georgia. PNNL staff and the students were able to relate very closely on the issues facing Georgia using these real world examples of the past 10 years.
