Two members of the Spanish Verification Unit have participated in Vienna Document Event 2011 in Bulgaria

• The event was attended by 32 representatives from 18 countries of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and a representative of the Conflict Prevention Center

Two members of the Spanish Verification Unit (UVE in Spanish) have participated, from October 18 to 21, in the Vienna Document Event 11 held in Bulgaria and attended by 32 representatives of 18 countries of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and a representative of the Conflict Prevention Center (CPC).

The meeting began on the afternoon of the 18th with official welcoming remarks by the representative of the Bulgarian Verification Unit, followed by the election of a spokesperson from among the delegates in attendance. This was followed by briefings by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Strategic Planning Directorate of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense.

In accordance with the program, on the 19th a visit was made to the 22nd Bezmer Air Base, where a briefing was given, in which the history of the unit, its missions and tasks, organizational structure, available combat aircraft and daily activities were explained. Afterwards, a visit to the facilities was made, in which the control tower, the flight simulators, a static exhibition of the air resources available at the air base, as well as the maintenance hangars could be observed.

On the 20th, a visit was made to the Specialist Training Center, where the delegation received a briefing on the history, organization and missions of the unit. During the visit, the delegates toured the facilities of the barracks and had the opportunity to inspect, in a static exhibition, the main equipment and weapons systems with which the center's personnel are trained. Also, in the firing and maneuvering range, a real firing exercise of T-72 battle tanks was observed.

The event took place in accordance with the Vienna Document 2011 and the planned agenda, highlighting the good organization and cordiality among the participating delegations.

The Vienna Document is a framework for a wide range of control and verification activities aimed at building security and confidence. Together with the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty and the Open Skies Treaty, it forms the core of conventional arms reduction and control agreements that emerged at the end of the Cold War.

Among the most significant obligations of the Vienna Document are visits to air bases, military installations, observation of military activities and presentations of new types of armaments and equipment. Each State Party must organize a visit to an Air Base every 5 years and present to the other States Parties the new types of armaments entering into service with its Armed Forces.