Lecture series focusing on the OSCE’s history, values and its work held in Turkmenistan

A lecture series on the structure, principles and values of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe took place from 5 to 7 November 2019 at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Around 40 students specializing in International Law and International Relations from the Institute of International Relations and the International University for Humanities and Development attended the event.

Alyaksandr Sychov, former Ambassador of Belarus to Austria and Head of the Delegation to the OSCE, and Rasa Ostrauskaite, former OSCE Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats, presented the OSCE’s role in relation to other international and regional organizations as well as general information on the organization, three dimensions of security, institutes and decision-making bodies as well as the OSCE’s role in relation to other international and regional organizations.

Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, emphasized the importance of the OSCE to regional and international security. She drew particular attention to the strengthening of the OSCE’s co-operation with the government of Turkmenistan over the last two decades, and their continuing collaboration in a wide range of fields within all three OSCE dimensions.

“We hope that that our course will aid you in your continuing professional growth as future specialists in the field of international relations, and will contribute to the efforts of the Government of Turkmenistan to strengthen further its co-operation with the OSCE and other international organizations,” said Drozd.

Experts provided students with solid factual knowledge and first-hand experience of the workings and structure of the OSCE, and stimulated discussions on the Organization’s wider role in the international community and its activities in Turkmenistan.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the three-day course as part of its activities dedicated to the Centre’s 20th anniversary.

The event concluded with a quiz in which teams from the two universities answered questions on the topics covered.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the three-day course as part of its activities dedicated to the Centre’s 20th anniversary.