OSCE launches capacity-building training on explosive ordnance disposal for Tajikistan Defence Ministry officials

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe started a capacity-building training course on Explosive  Ordnance Disposal for 16 mid-to-senior ranking officers of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), Border Troops, the National Mine Action Centre, Norwegian Peoples Aid and the Union of Sappers of Tajikistan on 13 October 2020 in Dushanbe.

The 18-day training course will address explosive hazards issues in the regional context via enhanced and continuous regional co-ordination and dialogue as well as technical training courses and capacity -building for the MoD and other military agencies in Central Asia, Afghanistan and other interested participating States. Due to the current travel restrictions, only Tajik citizens will physically attend the course.

The course covers the methods and techniques of detection, identification, evaluation, safe rendering, recovery and disposal of explosive ordnance. It aims at enhancing the skills and knowledge of participants on how to locate, identify and destroy explosive hazard remnants under appropriate supervision. Two local experts from the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and one international expert from the United States Army Central will conduct the course.

Officials from the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, the MoD and the United States Department of State participated in the opening ceremony.

“This course is especially important since it is the first to be conducted in the new centre and by the Defence Ministry’s training officers, assisted by the OSCE,” said Valeriu Chiveri, Head of the OSCE Programme Office.      

Colonel Panozoda Akobirsho, the Deputy Head of the MoD’s Engineering Department, said that he truly believes in the support and close co-operation of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, the MoD and the U.S. Department of State. “Tajikistan will have success in fulfilling its obligations to maintain peace in the country,” he said.

Rodney Robideau, representative of the U.S. Department of State, emphasized the importance of continued support to the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre.  “I reaffirm our commitment of assistance to the Tajikistan Conventional Weapons Destruction Programme.”

The development of the training institution, in particular the establishment of Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre, are essential to making the Integrated Co-operation on Explosives Hazards programme sustainable. The project aims at transferring knowledge and training capacities on Explosive Ordnance Disposal to the MoD by conducting a series of inter-linked training courses and activities.

The U.S. Department of State and the Government of Germany are financially supporting the Integrated Co-operation on Explosives Hazards programme and this training course.