Challenges of disposing explosive hazards in Central Asia and Afghanistan discussed at OSCE-supported workshop in Bishkek

BISHKEK, 18 September 2015 - A five-day regional workshop on a comprehensive approach to responding to and reducing explosive hazards in Central Asia and Afghanistan concluded in Kyrgyzstan today.

Some 35 military and civilian experts from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan discussed best practices in explosive hazards response and reduction (EHRR) from across OSCE participating States and Afghanistan. Participants also shared techniques and approaches in disposing of excess and obsolete engineering and other ammunition, and learnt about international and national mine action standards and guidance for humanitarian de-mining operations. OSCE-supported experts from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and Tajikistan National Mine Action Sector also shared their experiences.

“The OSCE believes that effective technical co-operation in the field of reduction of explosive hazards requires the regular exchange of experiences and sharing of best practices between participating States,” said Mihail Semionov, Demining Officer at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. He added that the various approaches and close co-operation between Central Asia countries was indispensable to regional stability and security.

Yury Padun, Senior Politico-Military Officer of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “This workshop provides great opportunity for identifying common regional needs and sets the stage for future joint activities in the field of EHRR.”

Colonel Ziyabek Kamchibekov, the Head of the Engineering Department at the Kyrgyz Defence Ministry, said: “A joint dialogue on this important issue will help us to enhance our experiences and knowledge between relevant agencies and contribute to regional security and stability.”

The event was organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan in close co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the Kyrgyz Defence Ministry. It aimed at supporting the existing OSCE Confidence- and Security-Building Measures (CSBMs).

The seminar is part of the OSCE’s long-term support in developing a co-operative mechanism among states in Central Asia and Afghanistan to address concerns and challenges stemming from the disposal of explosive hazards.