18–20 November 2025, Vienna — The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), H.E. Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, undertook a working visit to Vienna aimed at deepening cooperation with key international institutions, strengthening synergies among multilateral actors active in the CICA region and reinforcing the growing network of partnerships supporting the organization’s agenda.
As part of the visit, the CICA Secretariat, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Vienna, hosted a working luncheon for the Permanent Representatives of CICA Member and Observer States, and senior officials of the Secretariats of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The event served as a platform to present the priorities of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship, explore avenues to enhance coordination among regional and international organizations, and identify opportunities for more effective cooperation across shared constituencies.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Rovshan Sadigbayli, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan, outlined the key priorities of the Chairmanship and highlighted the progress achieved to date, including the establishment of two advisory bodies — the CICA Finance Summit and the CICA Women Council — adopted by the CICA Ministerial Council in September 2025.
In his address, Ambassador Kairat Sarybay reviewed the advancement of CICA’s five dimensions under the leadership of Azerbaijan, emphasizing efforts to broaden confidence building measures, strengthen institutional development and expand platforms for advisory interaction. The Secretary General also noted that the ongoing institutional transformation remains a defining element of CICA’s evolution into a more structured regional organization.
Interventions by preceding Chairs of CICA further illustrated the continuity and cumulative progress of the organization. Ambassador Mukhtar Tleuberdi, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan, outlined the priorities fulfilled during Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship (2020–2024), including substantial steps to enhance CICA’s institutional framework and launch the transformation process. Ambassador Idibek Kalandar, Permanent Representative of Tajikistan (Chair of CICA from 2018–2020), reflected on Tajikistan’s initiatives to address regional security and environmental challenges and to deepen cooperation with other multilateral actors. Ms. Ayten Eler, Deputy Permanent Representative of Türkiye (CICA Chair from 2010–2014), reaffirmed Türkiye’s continued commitment to advancing CICA’s agenda, underscoring its long-standing dedication as a founding Member State.
Collectively, these interventions illustrated how each Chairmanship has added a distinct layer to CICA’s development, reinforcing the continuity of vision that guides the organization’s evolution. This steady, long-term engagement underscores Member States’ shared resolve to build trust, expand partnerships and advance practical cooperation across Asia.
During his visit, Ambassador Sarybay met with Mr. Bo Mathiasen, Director of the UNODC Division of Operations, for an exchange on strengthening cooperation in countering cybercrime, combating illicit drug trafficking and precursors, and exploring more structured engagement across the region.
Ambassador Sarybay also held a meeting with Dr. Karen Lips, Deputy Director General of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). Their discussion addressed pressing environmental and climate-related challenges across Asia, explored opportunities for engagement in science diplomacy, and considered avenues for academic exchange and cooperation on sustainable connectivity, including IIASA’s potential contributions to CICA’s analytical and policy-oriented work.
Prior to his visit to Vienna, the CICA Secretary General delivered a lecture at Okan University in Istanbul, presenting CICA’s vision for dialogue, trust and peace across Asia. He highlighted the organization’s evolution, its commitment to multilateralism and youth engagement and the key priorities advanced under the Azerbaijani Chairmanship, expressing gratitude for the warm reception and meaningful exchange.
