OSCE Centre in Ashgabat promotes security of weapon and ammunition stockpiles

ASHGABAT, 24 September 2010 - More than 30 officers from Turkmenistan's Ministry of Defence took part in an OSCE-organized training course on stockpile management and security of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and conventional ammunition (CA) that concluded in Ashgabat today.

Organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in co-operation with the Ministry of Defence of Turkmenistan and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the four-day practical course aimed to raise awareness of international standards and best practices in the safe and secure stockpiling of SALW and CA.

During the training course, mid-level officers who handle ammunition and weapons in their work at storage or destruction facilities in Turkmenistan examined practical issues related to storage, transportation, security and stockpile management. An expert team composed of four international specialists talked about their experiences with issues ranging from risk assessment and physical security measures to SALW elimination and emergency planning.

"Surplus stocks of small arms and light weapons and ammunition pose a serious danger to the public and the environment all around the world. "I hope this practical training course will assist Turkmenistan in improving the security, safety and management of state-controlled stockpiles of SALW and CA", said Ambassador Arsim Zekolli, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

The training course was organized as a practical follow-up to the Centre's previous efforts in the area of SALW.