The two-day event brought together military and expert representatives from Central Asia and the South Caucasus, including participants from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as several European CSBM experts.

Participants discussed CSBMs in light of new regional developments and the role of the OSCE Vienna Document 1999, which provides for the exchange and verification of information on the participating States’ armed forces, their defence policies and military activities. Successes of and lessons learnt from implementing the Vienna Document and consultation mechanisms for risk reduction also were discussed.

"This seminar is a catalyst for new ideas and will allow for improvements in the fulfilment of commitments made in international treaties and agreements in the area of arms control. It also further strengthens confidence- and security building measures between OSCE participating States, particularly in Central Asia and the South Caucasus," said Alexandre Keltchewsky, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Bulat Sembinov, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Defence Minister, added: "This seminar is being carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Document. It aims to make further progress in confidence- and security-building measures, to achieve disarmament and to reiterate the commitment of states to refrain from threats or the use of force in their bilateral and international relationships."

The event was organized with the support of the Kazakh Ministry of Defence and forms part of the Centre’s efforts to promote CSBMs and regional security.