Press release
A meeting of the Special Working Group (SWG) of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) was held in Almaty on 17-18th July, 2007.

One of the main items on the agenda of the meeting was consideration of the Concept and Action Plan for 2008-2009 on the implementation of the confidence building measures in the human dimension. In accordance with the decision taken at the meeting of experts held in Astana in June, the Concept and Action Plan were presented to the SWG by the representative of the Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information. SWG held detailed discussions on the Concept and Action Plan which cover a wide range of activities in the field of Human Dimension including archeological expeditions, cultural exchanges, preservation of historical and cultural heritage of the CICA member states, exchanges in the fields o0f Science and technology as well as deepening of links between the peoples of the member states.

Mr J. Asanov, CICA Executive Director, presented a report to the SWG on his working trips to Tehran and Istanbul. The meeting also considered draft Memoranda of Understanding which the CICA Secretariat is intending to conclude with the secretariats of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC). These documents envisage establishment of working relations between the secretariats with the purpose of widening cooperation and exchange of experience.  The draft Cconvention on the legal capacity of the CICA Secretariat, its personnel and their privileges and immunities was another important document considered by the SWG.

The meeting also discussed and agreed upon the draft budget of the CICA Secretariat for the year 2008 as well as the candidacies from Pakistan and Turkey for the positions of the members of the professional personnel of the CICA Secretariat. Consequent upon the recommendations of the Special Working Group, the proposals will be submitted for formal adoption at the forthcoming meeting of the Senior Officials’ Committee (SOC). The next meetings of the SWG and SOC will be held in Almaty on October, 15-17th to coincide with the 15 anniversary of CICA.

The meeting of the Special Working Group once again demonstrated genuine interest of all the parties in the speedy realisation of confidence building measures in Asia, which are aimed at strengthening peace, stability and security in the region.