OSCE Centre in Astana trains military officers on confidence- and security-building measures

ASTANA, 3 June 2014 - A regional training seminar for military officers on the practical implementation of the OSCE Vienna Document 2011 on confidence- and security-building measures began in Astana today. The OSCE Centre in Astana has organized the four-day event in co-operation with Kazakhstan's Defence Ministry.

At the seminar, some 40 military officers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as well as Armenia, Belarus, France, Germany, Hungary and Mongolia will discuss the ways to ensure the implementation of the Document's provisions in the region and beyond, as well as challenges the OSCE faces in this regard. A representative from the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre also will give a presentation on measures to implement the Vienna Document.

Colonel Amangeldy Aubakirov, Chief of Arms Reduction Control and Inspection Activities Support Centre, Defence Ministry of Kazakhstan, said: “Though the main goal of today’s seminar is for participants to become knowledgeable in the ‘letter of the law’ of the Vienna document, they should also come to know the spirit of the Vienna Document which long ago became a synonym for transparency and openness.”

“The OSCE has been placing considerable emphasis on building confidence and security through closer co-operation of the armed forces in the region under the Vienna Document 2011,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “Recent developments in the OSCE area have shown the relevance and growing significance of the Vienna Document in addressing the concerns of some participating States about dangerous incidents of a military nature and unusual military activities of other participants of this agreement.”

A simulated inspection visit to the 36th Air Assault Brigade base near Astana will take place on the final day of the seminar, 6 June. The visit will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Document on compliance and verification. A summary of the findings will be discussed among the participants of the seminar.

The Vienna Document, adopted by all OSCE participating States, obliges States to share information on their armed forces and military activities. It also contains provisions on compliance and verification, such as conducting and hosting inspections and evaluations, as well as on risk reduction, military contacts and co-operation, and prior notification of certain military activities.

The OSCE Centre in Astana has been organizing regional seminars on the Vienna Document in Kazakhstan since 2007. This event is part of the Centre's long-standing effort to raise awareness about OSCE confidence- and security-building measures and promote regional security.