OSCE Academy Held Its Annual Security Conference

On December 16 and 17, 2024, the OSCE Academy in Bishkek hosted its Security Conference 2024, a hybrid event centered on three critical pillars of global stability: Food Security, Energy Security, and Cybersecurity. Supported by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), the conference convened experts, researchers, and distinguished guests to discuss the challenges and explore innovative solutions to pressing global issues.

The event was officially opened by Dr. Pal Dunay, Interim Director of the OSCE Academy, who emphasized the importance of security, “phenomena over actors”, an approach that lost in its importance since great power competition took center place. He emphasized the lasting global relevance of environmental, energy and cyber security and their importance in Central Asia. Dr. Dunay also highlighted the OSCE Academy’s history, academic programmes, research initiatives, and commitment to regional inclusivity, expressing gratitude to donors and welcoming the distinguished speakers. Following his address, Ms. Ekaterina Nakashidze, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, welcomed the participants and expressed her gratitude to the event organizers and donors. She underscored the environmental and energy challenges faced by Central Asia, including issues like desertification, water scarcity, and dependence on carbon-intensive energy sources. She referred to the problem of the Aral Sea as a symbol of environmental mismanagement although referred to positive examples, like the transboundary commissions on the Talas and Chui rivers, as well.  Ms. Nakashidze advocated for sustainable solutions through regional cooperation, international partnerships, and community engagement, stressing the urgency of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship to secure a sustainable future. The next distinguished speaker, H.E. Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov, Coordinator of the OSCE's Economic and Environmental Activities in Vienna, discussed the OSCE's approach to tackling global security challenges. He emphasized the interconnectedness of climate change, energy, food, and water security, highlighting initiatives such as gender-inclusive water management, renewable energy projects, and regional cooperation in Central Asia. His remarks showcased efforts to foster resilience and address climate-related risks through innovative and collaborative solutions. He emphasized the efforts to help the spread of best practices of climate and water management among Central Asian and Afghan women through educational programmes.

The conference commenced with a keynote address by Professor Matteo Gerlini, a representative for technology transfer from the University of Siena, Italy. His presentation, titled "Nuclear Security between Nuclear Revival and Hybrid Wars," served as a thematic introduction to the first panel session on energy, which was moderated online by Dr. Fabio Indeo, Research Fellow at the University of Siena.

The initial panelist, Dr. Pengfei Hou, an Associate Professor at Xinjiang University in China, delivered a presentation titled "Second Time as Farce? Nuclear Power Development in Central Asia." Following him, Ms. Evrim Eken, a PhD candidate at St. Petersburg State University, provided an in-depth analysis of "Contemporary Russian Energy Policy towards Central Asia and the Caucasus." The third contributor to the panel, Mr. Simon Yin, Director of the Research Center for the Belt and Road Initiative at Hefei University in China, discussed the "Implications of China’s Belt and Road Initiative on Energy Security in Central Asia." The first panel concluded with an engaging Q&A session, actively involving the audience in the discourse.

The second panel, moderated by Professor Gerlini, focused on energy transitions within the region. Dr. Fabio Indeo initiated the session with his presentation on "Turkmenistan and the Hydrogen Potential: New Perspectives and Old Challenges." Subsequently, Dr. Serhat Suha Cubukcuoglu, a Senior Fellow in Strategic Studies at Trends & Research Advisory in Turkey, spoke on "Türkiye’s Natural Gas Policy: Economics, Security, Diplomacy." The panel continued with Dr. Farkhod Aminjonov, a faculty member at the National Defence College in the UAE, who presented online on "Navigating Central Asia's Energy Transition Strategies." Dr. Aminjonov called the attention to the fact that the Central Asian states are very slowly moving on approaching the target to reduce global warming, and in some cases, targets are not even identified clearly. Finally, Ms. Farzona Rakhimova, a Master’s student at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent, concluded the panel with her discourse on "Energy Security in Central Asia: Pathways for Cooperation with the GCC Region." The session was wrapped up with an opportunity for the audience to pose questions, thereby facilitating further dialogue on the topics discussed. 

Panel III was opened by Dr. Dunay, introducing the speakers of the “Drops of the Future” conference session.  This part of the programme  was to inform about the OSCE’s role in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEF) and its links with regional and international security. The session was moderated by Ms. Letizia Zuliani and Ms. Raquel Moya Martinez from the OSCE Secretariat and provided an overview of the joint vision for a sustainable WEF nexus in Central Asia, and collaborative efforts in developing a future-oriented vision. Panel III on Technology and Innovation for WEF Nexus featured the members of the Drops of the Future workshop, Ms. Gulzhan Makhmudova, member of the Women in Water Management Network in Central Asia, and Ms. Oksana Gudkova, Engineer Specialist in New Technologies and Renewable Energy, and Ms. Gulderay Iklassova, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist. The panel members discussed the technologies and digital tools for enhancing water, energy and food security, the role of innovation in addressing climate resilience and adaptation as well as further case studies from Central Asia on successful WEF applications.

Panel IV on Traditions in the Region and Their Relevance to Addressing the WEF Nexus discussed traditional approaches to managing water, energy and food production and consumption in the region and how such traditions can complement modern WEF solutions. The speakers of the panel were Ms. Alexandra Mussina, Environmental Enthusiast and Lawyer, and Ms. Meerim Seidakmatova, IWRM Specialist and Youth Advocate. The panel ended with a Q&A session and closing reflection to outline planned activities, partnerships and key goals for the upcoming year and discuss continued collaboration opportunities for regional youth engagement in Water-Energy-Food Nexus initiatives.

Panel V on Cybersecurity on the second day of the Security conference featured Mr. Oleg Shakirov, a PhD student at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), who addressed "Death by a Thousand Cuts: Non-Catastrophic Cyber Attacks in Conflict and Their Impact". The second panelist Grace X. Yang, a PhD Candidate from the Free University of Berlin, discussed "Sino-Russian Cybersecurity Cooperation and Its Implications for the Digital Silk Road", while Mr. David Shakarishvili, a PhD Candidate from Klaipeda University presented "The Role of the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group in Developing International Norms for Cyber Peace and Security". The final presenter of the fifth panel, Mr. Dilbar Abdugafurova, Project Manager at Cambridge International University, explored "Enhancing Cybersecurity through International Partnerships". The session concluded with a Q&A session involving all the audience in active discussion of the topic.

The last Panel moderated by Dr. Kadyrbek Sultakeev, Assistant Professor at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), focused on Food Security. It started with the presentation of Dr. Salima Bekbolotova, a doctoral researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) who presented her research on "Food (In)Security Dynamics in Kyrgyzstan, 2013-2022". It was astonishing to hear how varied statistical data are and hence how difficult to draw reliable conclusions from them in this field. The second presenter of the panel was Dr. Nurbek Madmarov, Assistant Professor at the American University of Central Asia explored "How Does Climate Change Affect Agricultural Crop Yields in Central Asia?"

The conference concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Pal Dunay, who expressed gratitude to participants for their insights and collaboration in addressing these essential security challenges. He summarized some of the most astonishing observations of the conference, called the attention to the role of substate actors’ importance in promoting security in those areas, including the civil society. Dr. Dunay also mentioned that the OSCE Academy will be glad to consider the publication of some of the best papers, which are developed from the presentations at the conference.

The Conference is generously funded by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) – the OSCE Academy’s distinguished donor, partner and member of the Academy’s Board of Trustees.

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