Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.7
By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:
The Cynology Center of Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee has received the status of Regional Dog Training Center of the World Customs Organization (WCO).
The corresponding memorandum of understanding was signed in Baku, Sept.7.
The document was signed by the head of Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev and WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya.
As a result of certifying Azerbaijan's Cynology Center as WCO Regional Dog Training Center, Azerbaijan became the first country to have three regional centers of this organization, said Aydin Aliyev.
"Azerbaijan became the first and the only country for the present, to have WCO's regional education center, regional dog training center and Regional Office for Capacity Building," he added.
"Although our Cynology Center just received the status of regional center, we actively cooperate with many countries in this sphere," said Aliyev.
"Our dogs have repeatedly won prizes at various international contests," he said. "The dogs trained in our Cynology Center were presented to the customs services of Mongolia, Togo, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Turkey, Georgia, Afghanistan and other countries where they distinguished themselves while assisting the customs officials of these countries."
Aydin Aliyev added that in coming days, another two dogs from the Cynology Center will be handed over to Gabon's customs officials at their own request.
WCO secretary general, for his part, said that Azerbaijan's Cynology Center is among the most exemplary ones.
Mikuriya added that by certifying Azerbaijan's Cynology Center as regional, the number of WCO regional dog training centers reached eight.
The secretary general said he is glad that it became the eighth regional dog training center of WCO in the world, adding that the other seven centers are located in the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, China, Germany and Saudi Arabia.
Azerbaijan's Cynology Center became operational in 2003.
The World Customs Organization was established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC). Today, the WCO represents 180 customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98 percent of world trade.
WCO's mission is to enhance the effectiveness of customs administrations of its member states.
As a forum for dialogue and exchange of experiences between national customs delegates, the WCO offers its members a range of conventions and other international instruments, as well as technical assistance and training services provided either directly by the Secretariat, or with its participation.
Edited by SI
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