Kyrgyz President says OSCE Academy in Bishkek to become a "centre of excellence"
(OSCE)Krygyz President Askar Akaev and Head of OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Markus Mueller (right), discuss regional security issues with students of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, 11 May 2004. (OSCE) Photo details
BISHKEK, 11 May 2004 - Visiting the OSCE Academy in Bishkek today, Krygyzstan's President Askar Akaev said he is committed to making the Academy a "centre of excellence", which educates future Central Asian leaders and deals with analysis and research resulting in practical recommendations.
The President, who spent more than an hour discussing the challenges facing Central Asia with the students, welcomed the Academy's efforts to establish partnership relations with leading European research institutions.
"The OSCE Academy should become a real symbol of democratic development of the Central Asian region and play a significant role in the democratization process in Kyrgyzstan," Akayev said.
Participants in the postgraduate programme shared their views, experiences and suggestions concerning the new institution with President Akayev.
Annette Kraemer, the Academic Director, briefed the President on the three activity fields of the institution which was founded in December 2002 - professional training, education and research.
The Academy, supported by a number of OSCE participating States, currently runs a Pilot Master Programme in Political Science, focussing on Central Asian security. Twenty-five students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Italy and the United Kingdom are participating in the pilot semester.
Professional training in conflict management and on regional security issues are conducted in co-operation with partners.
"It is important to show potential donors that the Kyrgyz Government has been and is fully supporting the Academy," said the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Ambassador Markus Müller.
"In this way, Kyrgyzstan supports regional co-operation in Central Asia and works on a pragmatic way towards the goal of regional security."
The President, who spent more than an hour discussing the challenges facing Central Asia with the students, welcomed the Academy's efforts to establish partnership relations with leading European research institutions.
"The OSCE Academy should become a real symbol of democratic development of the Central Asian region and play a significant role in the democratization process in Kyrgyzstan," Akayev said.
Participants in the postgraduate programme shared their views, experiences and suggestions concerning the new institution with President Akayev.
Annette Kraemer, the Academic Director, briefed the President on the three activity fields of the institution which was founded in December 2002 - professional training, education and research.
The Academy, supported by a number of OSCE participating States, currently runs a Pilot Master Programme in Political Science, focussing on Central Asian security. Twenty-five students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Italy and the United Kingdom are participating in the pilot semester.
Professional training in conflict management and on regional security issues are conducted in co-operation with partners.
"It is important to show potential donors that the Kyrgyz Government has been and is fully supporting the Academy," said the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Ambassador Markus Müller.
"In this way, Kyrgyzstan supports regional co-operation in Central Asia and works on a pragmatic way towards the goal of regional security."