Retraining programme launched in the Kyrgyz Republic
At a ceremony on 3 December, a first NATO-supported retraining programme for released military personnel was launched in Bishkek. The aim is to help the Kyrgyz Republic to tackle the socio-economic consequences of the restructuring of its armed forces.
A first group of retiring servicemen will benefit from retraining language courses in English in order to facilitate their reinsertion into civilian labour market.
The official opening ceremony was co-chaired by the First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic, Col. Marat Sarymsakovich Kenjisariev, and the Head of NATO’s Defence and Economics Security Directorate, Michael Gaul.
Both officials highlighted the importance of this project and its positive impact on cushioning the socio-economic consequences of the downsizing of the Kyrgyz armed forces. They also looked forward to strengthening existing cooperation between NATO and the Kyrgyz Republic through the implementation of this project.
In Brussels, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons, also underlined the importance of this initiative for forging this concrete and practical cooperation between NATO and the Kyrgyz Republic.
As a further step in this cooperation, NATO is also providing expert support to help the Kyrgyz Republic to develop and implement a national resettlement system for former military personnel.