OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek strengthens co-operation with local authorities and communities during working visit to southern regions of Kyrgyzstan.

Bishkek – Ambassador Volker Frobarth, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB), conducted a working visit to Batken, Jalal-Abad, and Osh regions to meet with regional and local authorities, engage with civil society and local communities, and visit OSCE-supported initiatives.

During the visit, Ambassador Frobarth met with the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President in Jalal-Abad and Osh regions, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in Batken region, as well as the Mayors of Batken, Mailuu-Suu, Manas, and Osh cities. The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss the OSCE POiB’s ongoing co-operation with regional and local authorities, exchange views on regional priorities and explore opportunities for further engagement in support of comprehensive security and sustainable socio-economic development, including cross-border trade through strengthening the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises.

In Jalal-Abad region, Ambassador Frobarth toured several facilities and initiatives supported by the OSCE and its international partners. In Mailuu-Suu, he visited the Tourist Information Centre, established within the OSCE Extra-budgetary project on uranium legacy remediation, the Uranium History and Production Museum, and industrial heritage sites with tourism potential. He also visited uranium tailings undergoing remediation, highlighting the importance of environmental rehabilitation, community engagement and sustainable local development.

The visit also included a tour to the small arms and light weapons storage facility at the Shamalduu-Sai Border Unit and the newly constructed correctional facility in Bai-Munduz village, providing an opportunity to learn about initiatives relevant to border security and the Penitentiary system.

In Osh, Ambassador Frobarth met with the Head of the Plenipotentiary Representation of the MFA in the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Batken regions to exchange views on regional co-operation and the OSCE’s engagement in the southern regions. He also visited the K-9 Centre of the State Border Service, where he was briefed on its modernization and operational capacity, and undertook a study visit to the Dostuk border crossing point on the Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan border.

Engagement with civil society and the private sector formed another important part of the programme. The Ambassador met with representatives of the NGONGO
non-governmental organization “Spravedlivost” and visited Entrepreneurship Support Centres in Batken, Manas, and Osh, where he also met with women-entrepreneurs and beneficiaries of business support initiatives and learned about their experiences, challenges and contributions to local economic development.

The working visit reaffirmed the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek’s commitment to maintaining close co-operation with national, regional and local authorities, civil society and local communities. Through its activities across the three dimensions of comprehensive security, the Office continues to support dialogue, institutional capacity-building, environmental security and inclusive socio-economic development in Kyrgyzstan.