From 27 to 29 April 2026, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, in co-operation with the Center for Arms Control and Inspection Support and the Kazakhstan Peace Operations Centre (KAZCENT) of the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan, organized an international seminar in Almaty dedicated to the implementation of the Vienna Document 2011 (VD11). The event was supported by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, and the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.
The seminar brought together 36 participants (4 women and 32 men), including military officers and verification experts from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. In addition, experts from the verification centres of Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, the United States, as well as a representative of the OSCE Secretariat's Conflict Prevention Centre, contributed to the programme.
The three-day seminar combined theoretical and practical components. The agenda covered national experiences in implementing VD11, as well as detailed discussions on its key provisions, including annual exchange of military information, defence planning, risk reduction mechanisms, notification and observation of certain military activities, and procedures for inspections and evaluation visits. Particular attention was paid to the functioning of national verification centres, the use of OSCE tools such as the Communications Network and iMARS, and good practices in conducting verification activities.
Discussions also addressed current challenges in the implementation of the Vienna Document, lessons learned from recent inspections, and opportunities for strengthening regional co-ordination and co-operation among participating States.
A distinctive feature of the seminar was its strong practical orientation. Participants worked in subgroups simulating inspection and escort teams, preparing for field activities. This was followed by a visit to the 38th Separate Air Assault Brigade (KAZBRIG) in Almaty, where a simulated evaluation visit under VD11 was conducted. The exercise provided hands-on insight into inspection procedures, including briefing formats, access arrangements, and interaction between host and inspection teams.
By enhancing technical capacities and promoting peer exchange, the seminar contributed to strengthening transparency and predictability in military activities across Central Asia. It also reinforced mutual trust and regional co-operation in line with the OSCE's comprehensive approach to security and the continued relevance of the Vienna Document 2011 as a key confidence- and security-building instrument.
