DUSHANBE, 14.05.2019. (NIAT Khovar) – Political and military cooperation in Central Asia, means of increasing women’s participation in decision-making processes in the security sector, and eliminating the threat posed by small arms and stockpiles of conventional ammunition were voiced as priority areas for Tajikistan’s Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC). The Tajik Deputy Foreign Minister Zohir Saidzoda formally commenced the chairmanship in Vienna on May 8, reported the OSCE Communication and Media Relations Section.

Addressing the representatives of OSCE participating states and partners for cooperation at the FSC, Saidzoda said that Tajikistan intends to perform its duties in good faith, guided by the established principles of equality, mutual respect, balance and continuity. It is first time that Tajikistan assumes the role as FSC chair, he added.

“Our main task will be to continue the ongoing work in further improving the control mechanisms in the politico-military field,” he said.

Saidzoda said that Tajikistan sees the OSCE as a unique regional organization capable of addressing a wide range of security and cooperation issues with significant potential for effective action.

He noted the already close cooperation between Tajikistan and the OSCE in the politico-military field, and said that Tajikistan’s FSC chairmanship will build on this.

“As of today, in Tajikistan, about 26,000 units of seized small arms and over 30 tons of surplus ammunitions have been destroyed by the OSCE. Between 2009 and 2018 some three million square meters of land contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance have been cleared,” he said.

The means of countering the threat of small arms and light weapons and stockpiles of conventional ammunition across the OSCE region will be among Tajik priorities, he said.

“A special focus of Tajikistan’s chairmanship will be drawing the FSC’s attention to the politico-military aspects of security in the Central Asian context, and the need to strengthen the OSCE’s cooperation with regional organizations in Central Asia,» he added.

Relevant to this is the security situation in Afghanistan, where “the presence of an immense number of munitions and weapons in the northern territories of Afghanistan suggests that the long-term border situation will remain unstable,» said Saidzoda.

He added that Tajikistan will be holding discussions on the importance of the role of women in the security sector, in particular their participation in decision-making.

Other areas of Tajikistan’s focus will include strengthening the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, confidence and security building measures in the politico-military area and continued effort to consolidate common positions among states in updating the Vienna Document.

“Tajikistan hopes to contribute to the promotion of a genuine dialogue,” he said.

“I assure you that Tajikistan will conduct its FSC chairmanship on the basis of a balanced and impartial approach,» emphasized Saidzoda.