A ten-day OSCE regional course for some 30 military and civilian experts entitled Becoming an Intelligent Customer for Safe Demilitarization Operations began in in the Kazakh city of Almaty on October 16, 2018.

According to the OSCE Porgramme Office in Dushanbe, participants from Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are enhancing their awareness of and skills for adhering to international guidelines and best practices for the safe, effective and efficient demilitarization of conventional ammunition and explosives.

An expert from the United Kingdom is reportedly sharing experiences and best practices in this regard.

The theoretical part of the course is being held at Kazakhstan's Ministry of Defense Partnership for Peace Training Centre (KAZCENT) in Almaty.

A practical exercise will be conducted at a military facility in Kapshagay.

The course is organized by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in co-ordination with the OSCE Integrated Co-operation on Explosive Hazards Programme.

It is part of the OSCE’s long-term support to the development of a co-operative mechanism among states in Central Asia to address concerns and challenges stemming from the disposal of explosive hazards.