OSCE supports student research on security challenges in Central Asia

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 22 September 2010 - More than 30 university students from across Central Asia met in Almaty today to present research papers on the region's security challenges in an OSCE-sponsored event.

At the opening session, Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, said: "We strongly believe that discussions about threats to security in Central Asia - and indeed actions to reinforce the security - should in no way be limited to government officials and civil society representatives, but involve the public at large. This is key to promoting democratic security and a stable regional environment. Building a network of young open-minded people, future leaders, is a valuable investment into the reinforcement of climate of mutual trust and confidence in the development of the region."

The two-day Central Asian Youth Network seminar brought together students and a group of ten academic advisers to discuss long-term security trends in Central Asia and important challenges that the region faces, such as terrorism and extremism, the situation in Afghanistan, water management, labour migration, corruption, human rights, gender equality, rule of law and freedom of the media.

Students have conducted research on these topics following an OSCE-supported seminar held three months ago in Almaty and during the summer they prepared their papers, mentored by academic advisers through a Facebook group.

Donnacha Ó Beacháin, an academic adviser described the seminar as "a unique opportunity for Central Asian students and academics with an interest in the region to interact, share knowledge and experiences, and develop frameworks for analysing some of the most pressing problems these states are facing".

"The diversity of academic interests, calibre of participants, and pleasant atmosphere facilitated a very productive and stimulating research environment," he added.

The Central Asian Youth Network seminars were organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana with the support of other OSCE field offices in the region. The seminar is the latest in a series of regional student events; previous events were held in Charvak, Uzbekistan in 2004, Lake Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan in 2005, and in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2009.