OSCE Centre in Bishkek

In carrying out its activities in the politico-military dimension, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, with the help of its Field Office in Osh, focuses on six key areas:

• political monitoring and reporting;
• development of political institutions;
• conflict prevention;
• border security;
• anti-terrorism; and
• media issues.

Political monitoring and reporting

Through its short, event-triggered spot reports and comprehensive, monthly activity reports, the Centre keeps OSCE participating States and partner organizations informed of key political developments in Kyrgyzstan. The Centre's monitoring mandate also enables it to maintain working contacts with all political actors and forces in the host country, as well as with civil society. The Centre thus seeks to ensure that its reporting is factually sound, objective and inclusive, drawing on a wide spectrum of opinions.

Development of political institutions

Political developments have consistently demonstrated a continuing need to assist Kyrgyzstan in consolidating its democratic institutions. In particular, the Centre focuses on Parliamentary support and capacity-building of political parties; enhancement of interaction between the state and civil society; promotion of the participation of youth and women in politics; and promotion of good governance principles and capacity-building among local governments and assemblies.

A key long-term goal is the establishment of a stable, sustainable multi-party political system. Democratisation, further steps in improving constitutional and legislative reforms, and the establishment of a genuine political dialogue between various political forces, regional groups and civil society also remain high on the agenda. The Centre continues its support to the implementation of country development programmes, in close co-operation with public and civil society institutions. It also supports the local work of other OSCE institutions, such as the Parliamentary Assembly, in this area.

Conflict prevention

The Centre follows the situation in areas of potential conflict by addressing issues of concern, facilitating dialogue between authorities and civil society, and supporting regional and local conflict prevention and resolution initiatives. It further promotes early warning mechanisms, human rights awareness, inter-ethnic and inter-religious tolerance as tools for long-term conflict prevention. The Centre also monitors inter-ethnic relations and the representation of national minorities, providing support to the activities of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in Kyrgyzstan.

The Centre's main objectives are to mitigate the level of tension and prevent conflict in border areas, and to promote tolerance between, and increase the capacity of, civil society groups and authorities. To this end, the Centre supports initiatives for dialogue on conflict prevention and management, as well as on inter-ethnic and religious issues. The Centre further promotes instruments to regulate religious activities while guaranteeing the freedom of religion. Special attention is paid by the Centre and its Field Office in Osh to the situation in the border areas in the south of Kyrgyzstan by promoting cross-border dialogue at the local level to address contentious issues such as land and water use, trade, migration and citizenship.

Border security and management

The Centre monitors developments related to border security and management with the aim of identifying trends and establishing a capacity for early warning with regard to trans-border organised crime and inherent threats. Activities are closely co-ordinated with international stakeholders active in the Central Asian region in order to ensure synergies and avoid duplication. Concrete projects promote capacity-building within, and inter-agency co-operation among, Kyrgyzstan's border agencies (with the flagship project being the Customs Training Facility). The Centre, with the help of its Field Office in Osh, also aims to enhance cross-border dialogue and contribute towards conflict prevention in the border areas. In doing so it also liaises closely with the OSCE Secretariat's Conflict Prevention Centre.

Anti-terrorism

In the framework of OSCE efforts to combat terrorism, the Centre supports activities aimed at building capacity of, and inter-agency co-ordination between, the respective state bodies (including technical and technological capacity). It further works to facilitate close co-operation between the public and private sectors through public-private partnerships. Promotion of the ratification and implementation of the 16 UN universal anti-terrorist instruments also remains a priority, as does the need to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights while fighting terrorism. To these ends, the Centre co-operates closely with both the OSCE Secretariat's Action against Terrorism Unit and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.