OSCE, Turkish police to boost anti-terrorism capacity of Kyrgyz security bodies

BISHKEK, 29 January 2014 – A letter of intent to co-operate in organizing anti-terrorism training courses for Kyrgyzstan’s state government bodies was signed today between the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Turkish National Police and the Anti-terrorism Centre under the State Committee of National Security (SCNS) of Kyrgyzstan.

In addition, a two-year bilateral agreement of co-operation was signed between the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the SCNS Anti-terrorism Centre.

The signing ceremony marked the launch of a two-year initiative that will run through 2015 aimed at boosting the country’s anti-terrorism capacity, with a particular focus on combatting violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism.

Training courses are expected to take place in the classrooms that were previously equipped by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek for the Anti-terrorism Centre. 

As part of the project, a study tour to Turkey of relevant Kyrgyz government officials to familiarize themselves with training methods is also foreseen for 2014.

Officers of the State Committee of National Security, State Border Service, State Penitentiary Service, Ministry of Interior and representatives from the civilian bodies such as Office of the Prime Minister, State Committee on Religious Affairs, Defence Council and local self-government bodies will take part in the training.

“Turkeys’ experience in fighting terrorism can be useful for Kyrgyzstan as well, and this project will seek to utilize it,” Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said. “A newly developed comprehensive training curriculum will allow Kyrgyz security bodies to employ the most modern practices to effectively prevent extremism and terrorism at early stages.”

Co-operation between the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the SCNS Anti-terrorism Centre will also envision expanding technical and expert assistance. It will cover other OSCE initiatives such as the strengthening of the government press service, strengthening the material base of SCNS and providing support to operational anti-terror simulation exercises.