OSCE trains military officers on Vienna Document in Kazakhstan
An OSCE-supported regional training seminar for some 35 military officers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, on the practical implementation of the Vienna Document 2011 and the implementation of confidence- and security-building measures concluded on 1 June 2018 in Astana.
Military and civilian experts from Belarus, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre shared their expertise. The participants discussed developments in the field of confidence- and security-building measures, which are the focus of the Vienna Document, as well as its implementation aspects, such as inspection procedures, experience exchange and the demonstration of weapons and equipment systems.
The seminar included theoretical exercises and a simulated inspection visit to the 36th Air Assault Brigade near Astana. The participants carried out an evaluation in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Document on compliance and verification, and produced an internal report.
The Vienna Document was adopted by all OSCE participating States and obliges them to share information on their armed forces and military activities. It also contains provisions on compliance and verification, such as conducting and hosting inspections and evaluations, as well as on risk reduction, military contacts and co-operation, and prior notification of certain military activities.
The OSCE Programme Office in Astana organized the four-day event in co-operation with Kazakhstan's Defence Ministry and with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.
The OSCE Programme Office in Astana has been organizing seminars on the Vienna Document in Kazakhstan since 2006. The seminar is part of the Programme Office's long-standing efforts to promote OSCE confidence- and security-building measures and regional security.