Kazakhstan hosts security workshop

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, May 21 (UPI) -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and Kazakhstan defense officials launched a regional security workshop Tuesday.

The four-day workshop is being held in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty. Officials say the workshop is an effort by the OSCE and the Kazakh Defense Ministry to promote stability and transparency in Central Asia through enhanced military cooperation and implementing arms controls.

The confidence and security-building workshop is part of an initiative from the Regional Arms Control Center in Almaty and includes representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Arms control experts from Belarus and the United States are also participating.

"The confidence and security-building measures developed within the framework of the 1999 Vienna document contribute to a greater transparency, and help promote trust and confidence among OSCE participating states," Jeannette Kloetzer, OSCE Center in Astana deputy head, said in a statement.

"Our goal is to support this process, encouraging full implementation of the relevant commitments and promoting a secure and stable security environment at the regional level," she said.