Slovenia hosted Regional Workshop on Explosive Hazards
In period 01-05 December, ITF Enhancing Human Security has in close cooperation with Slovenian Armed Forces organized regional workshop with exchange program visit »Explosive Hazards Response and Reduction in Support of Confidence and Security Building Measures«. The activity falls within regional program which aims to foster technical cooperation on Explosive Hazards among OSCE Central Asia participating states including Afghanistan which was initied by OSCE Office in Tajikistan (OSCE OiT) in 2009. Financial resources for implementation of annual workshop that was held in the Republic of Slovenia were secured by OSCE OiT and Republic of Korea.
The participants were addressed by high distinguished guests, Ambassador Damjan Bergant, ITF Director, colonel Danilo Jazbec, Deputy Commander of the Logistics Brigade of the Slovenian Armed Forces and Mr Mihail Semionov, OSCE OiT Demining Officer. Altogether over 40 experts from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia and Slovenian exchanged experiences and know-how related to mine action activities, stockpile management and demilitarization of engineering and other ammunition surpluses. In addition to theoretical lectures provided by international experts, Slovenian Armed Forces organized field visits to its units/facilities aiming to familiarize participants with best practices in Slovenia:
- Ammunition warehouse
- Ammunition demilitarization and maintenance facility
- Unit for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD)
- Laboratory for propellent stability
- Cabinet for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) within Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Republic of Slovenia
- Ballistic laboratory for testing small arms ammunition owned by AREX d.o.o.
Regional workshop with exchange program visit has confirmed the wilingness of OSCE Central Asia participating states and Afghanistan to further foster technical cooperation on Explosive Hazards Issues.