OSCE Centre renovates and equips Internal Troops' anti-terrorism bomb disposal centre

BISHKEK, 5 August 2009 - An Anti-terrorism Bomb Disposal Centre for Interior Ministry troops, renovated and equipped by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, was opened today by representatives of the OSCE Centre and the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry.

The centre will strengthen the Interior Ministry's capacity to handle improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war.

"The capability of the Kyrgyz security services to respond to bomb alerts and incidents, and to resolve them, is vital for public safety and the business continuity of critical national infrastructure," said Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. "The threats are real. Explosive devices have been found on suspected terrorists recently arrested in Kyrgyzstan."

Starting in October, the OSCE Centre will support training courses for the Bomb Disposal Unit on identifying various types of explosive devices that could be used by terrorists, as well as explosive remnants of war.

Internal Troops Commander Abylmazhin Shadybekov said the Centre would be used to train Interior Ministry troops in the field of combating terrorism and extremism and for forums and seminars involving law enforcement agencies and international organizations.

The renovation was part of the OSCE Centre's programme to support the Kyrgyz Government's efforts to combat terrorism.