OSCE trains Kyrgyzstan’s officials in fighting terrorism

BISHKEK, 31 May 2013 - Developing the analytical skills of anti-terrorism personnel in Kyrgyzstan was the purpose of a one-week training course from that concluded today in Bishkek. The course was organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek in co-operation with the Anti-Terrorist Centre of the State Committee on National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic (ATC SCNS).

Some 20 officials from the ATC SCNS and related law-enforcement agencies attended the course, which was conducted by four experts from the Turkish National Police. The training covered co-operation between analytical and operational units, data collection and analysis, detecting and countering religious extremism and radicalism, establishing contacts and channels to share information with foreign counterparts.

Ross Brown, the Head of the Politico-Military Dimension of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “The OSCE Centre and the ATC SCNS reached agreement on the Protocol on Co-operation in the field of fighting terrorism for 2013-2014, which is aimed at strengthening potential of the country on a complex and systematic basis. Notably, it previews improving training and technical capacity of the ATC, conducting relevant trainings for the officers and simulation exercises for implementing acquired skills in practice.”

Taalai Japarov, the Deputy Director of the ATC SCNS, said: “The ATC SNCS is the institution in charge of coordination of all the anti-terrorist activities in Kyrgyzstan, and we will in our turn take all the necessary measures in accordance with the agreed common strategy in order to foster improving activities of all the stakeholders of anti-terrorism field in our country. Organizing such events like trainings and simulation and developing working contacts with international organizations and similar foreign institutions are among these measures.”