OSCE Centre organizes training trip to Germany for Turkmen arms control officers
ASHGABAD, 5 December 2005 - Three arms control officers from the Defence and Foreign ministries of Turkmenistan took part in a two-week practical training in Germany, organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad and supported by the Government of Turkmenistan and the German Armed Forces.
In the first part of the training, held at the Verification Centre of the German Armed Forces in Geilenkirchen, the three arms control officers discussed OSCE confidence- and security-building measures as laid down in the Vienna Document, as well as verification and evaluation procedures, the cornerstone of arms control.
"The OSCE arms control regime, although dating back to the Cold War, has lost none of its importance", said Begench Yazliyev of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad. "On-site inspections can dispel concerns, and promote mutual trust and co-operation between the armed forces of OSCE participating States".
The Turkmen officers also took part in a live inspection in Switzerland, visited the 1st Swiss Armoured Brigade and an airbase and training centre, and prepared an inspection report.