OSCE-supported study visit to Ljubljana on fostering co-operation on explosive hazards concludes

A five-day exchange programme visit on responding to, and reducing explosive hazards with the aim of supporting of confidence- and security-building measures ended in Ljubljana on 5 December 2014.    

Some 40 experts from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Slovenia exchanged experiences and know-how related to mine action, stockpile management and the demilitarization of engineering and other ammunition surpluses. From Tajikistan the participants were senior officials from the Tajik Ministry of Defence, the Tajik National Mine Action Centre and Commission on Implementation of Humanitarian Law under Presidential Office.

In addition to sessions on theory provided by international experts, the Slovenian Armed Forces organized field visits to its units and its facilities with the aim of familiarizing participants with the best practices in Slovenia.

The visit was part of a regional programme which aims to foster technical co-operation on explosive hazards among Central Asian States including Afghanistan. The project was initiated by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan in 2009.

Mihail Semionov, Demining Officer at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan; Ambassador Damjan Bergant, Director of International Trust Fund ITF - Enhancing Human Security; Colonel Danilo Jazbec Deputy Commander of the Logistics Brigade of the Slovenian Armed Forces addressed the participants.