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Central Asia

Answer

The United Kingdom has modest defence programmes with the nations of central Asia. Ministry of Defence engagement in the region began in 2001 and aims to support efforts to reform defence management and to raise professional standards in the armed forces. We also seek to encourage greater regional co-operation.Training programmes in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan are outlined as follows.Uzbekistan—The MOD's directorate of standardisation held a seminar on NATO standards in June 2003, following advisory visits by the MOD directorate of management consultancy services in February and September 2003, a personnel management advisory team (PMAT) provided training in military human resource management in November 2003 and April 2004. A peacekeeping exercise, TIMUR EXPRESS, took place in September 2004, preceded by two planning visits. The UK contingent was a Territorial Army infantry company. The Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency ran a mapping course in October 2004. In November 2004, the junior staff officer course ran a partnership for peace seminar. Following a briefing by the commander of the British military advisory and training team (BMATT) on the training BMATT could provide, and reconnaissance visits, non-commission officer (NCO) training took place in October-November 2002, October-November 2003, June-July 2004, September 2004 and February-March 2005. Following the events in Andijan on 13 May, the UK withdrew from direct military co-operation with Uzbekistan.Tajikistan—BMATT provided NCO training in May 2005. The joint arms control implementation group conducted arms control and counter-proliferation training in June 2005.Kyrgyzstan—The joint doctrine and concepts centre conducted a seminar on peace support operations in Bishkek in May 2004. BMATT provided NCO training in October 2004. A PMAT ran a military human resources seminar in November 2004.Turkmenistan—The UK has not undertaken any military training in Turkmenistan.The following visits have taken place.Uzbekistan—In June 2002,102 logistics brigade undertook a reconnaissance of Uzbek facilities that might be used in support of operations in Afghanistan. The Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency made a liaison visit in September 2003. The joint arms control implementation group conducted a Vienna document evaluation (confidence and security building measures) in January 2004.The chief of the general staff visited Uzbekistan in May 2004 and staff from the joint services command and staff college visited the Uzbek Defence Academy in November 2004.Tajikistan—The chief of the general staff visited Tajikistan in May 2004.Kyrgyzstan—The Royal Marines, together with BMATT, have scoped the requirement for assistance to Kyrgyzstan with border security and undertook a reconnaissance visit in May 2003. The courses have yet to take place.Turkmenistan—There have been no visits.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

20975; 438 c1259-60W;438 c1257-8W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Asia Military aid Central Asia