Astana, 16 May 2026 – The Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) successfully hosted its annual Football Tournament uniting the diplomatic community and putting the values of mutual understanding and teamwork into practice.
In his opening remarks, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay highlighted the strategic importance of the current year under the Chairmanship of Azerbaijan. As CICA approaches the 7th Summit to be held in Baku this October, the upcoming meeting of leaders is expected to adopt landmark decisions that will shape the organization's institutional future and continued evolution.
He further emphasized that 2026 marks a significant milestone – the 20th Anniversary of the CICA Secretariat, which was established during the Second CICA Summit in Almaty on 17 June 2006. Over the past 20 years, the Secretariat has transformed from an administrative unit into a core institutional pillar of CICA, reflecting the growing maturity and shared commitment of Member States to peace and sustainable development in Asia.
The tournament served as a practical reflection of the organization's institutional values. Secretary General Sarybay noted that success on the football field relies on the same synchronization and teamwork that the Secretariat has fostered within the diverse CICA community for twenty years.
This year’s tournament featured teams from CICA and the embassies of Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan, as well as from Presidential Administration and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Serving as a strong signal of partnership, representatives from international organizations – the UN and IOFS – also took part in the games. The footprint of the tournament continues to expand, with the teams from Indonesia and the OSCE making their proud debut on the field this year.
Following a series of intense and friendly matches, the team from the Embassy of Türkiye claimed the championship title. The team of the Embassy of Russia secured a well-deserved second place, while the team of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan took the bronze. The team from the Embassy of Turkmenistan rounded out the
top four with a commendable performance.
However, as a friendly tournament defined by fair play and solidarity, the event proved to be a shared victory for all participants. Moving forward, the CICA Secretariat remains committed to hosting cultural and sports events aimed at enhancing the organization's visibility and fostering cooperation among CICA Member States and the diplomatic
community in Astana.
