Control over small arms and light weapons and ammunition is key factor in preventing conflicts - seminar in Almaty

It is aimed at discussion of the issues on control over import, export, brokering and marking as well as international standards of control over small arms and light weapons. Representatives of Central Asia states, the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center, Directorate of the United Nations on disarmament, Geneva research institute on small arms problems and other international organizations specializing in Small Arms and Light Weapons Control are invited to the seminar.

From Kazakhstan's side representatives of the Ministries of Defense, Internal Affairs, Emergency Situations, Committee of National Security, Customs Control Committee will take part in the seminar.

The seminar is conducted in the frames of politico-military component of the OSCE. During Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the organization, the Ministry of Defense has conducted a number of events for confidence building and regional security strengthening, control of arms that made a big contribution to implementation by Kazakhstan functions on chairmanships in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

"Control over small arms and light weapons and ammunition is key factor in preventing conflicts and post-conflict rehabilitation and requires constant effort to avoid the illicit proliferation", Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana Alexandre Keltchewsky said.