OSCE holding military consultations in Turkmenistan

By  Trend

Implementation of commitments under the OSCE Vienna Document 2011, a politically-binding document addressing confidence- and security-building measures in the military sphere, was in focus of an OSCE-organized seminar for officials from the Defense Ministry of Turkmenistan that will be concluded Sept. 30 in Ashgabat, said the OSCE in a message.

The five-day event provided a detailed overview of the Vienna Document, OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security and other agreed confidence- and security-building measures.

The participants examined the functions of the OSCE Communications Network and shared views on the role of the information exchange.

“In accordance with the Vienna Document, OSCE participating states should provide each other with information about their military forces, notify ahead of time about major military activities and accept reciprocal inspections,” said Natalya Drozd, head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“This seminar is a follow up to the Center’s activities aimed at promoting implementation of confidence- and security-building measures in Turkmenistan, and we firmly believe that it will support the host government in implementing its commitments under the Vienna Document,” she said.

The seminar also addressed the annual exchange of military information (AEMI) and global exchange of military information (GEMI) and provided insights into how they are compiled and what information should be included.

Experts from the Defense Ministry of Belarus shared national practices of implementing the Vienna Document and experiences and lessons learnt of compiling its AEMI and GEMI submission.

Participants discussed in groups such issues as defense planning and military budget, the organization of visits to airbases or military facilities, and demonstrations of new types of major weapons and equipment systems. The practical part also included a simulation exercise on evaluation visit.

The seminar was facilitated by representatives from the OSCE Secretariat’s Conflict Prevention Centre.