OSCE Centre brings together Central Asian states, civil society and business in fight against terrorism

BISHKEK, 4 November 2008 - Partnerships between state authorities, civil society and the private sector to combat terrorism are the focus of an OSCE Centre conference, which starts in Bishkek today.

The two-day event is held in co-operation with the Kyrgyz State Committee on National Security and the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry, and brings together representatives from Central Asian security services, parliaments, NGOs, media, the private sector and international organizations including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Co-operation Organization, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ednan Karabaev, who is opening the conference, said: "We can only gain from the participation of the private sector, civil society and media in countering terrorism. Such partnerships have yielded good results in world practice, and therefore the Kyrgyz Republic initiated this conference on the regional level."

The conference aims to explore the forms and methods of partnerships, the role of the banking sector and NGOs in the struggle against terrorism, the role of religious organizations, educational awareness raising, and the role of media in combating extremism. Experts and legal specialists, including OSCE Mission to Georgia's anti-terrorism adviser and the director of the Kyrgyz state agency on religious affairs, will hold presentations.

Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said "The multiple forms of terrorism require a coherent and co-ordinated response that calls for measures both from government and civil society; from the public and private financial sectors; from the uniformed and non-uniformed services; and from ordinary citizens, all working together in the face of a shared danger. This is what lies at the heart of the public-private partnership concept."

"Human rights and rule of law are central to counter-terrorism strategy. To undermine them is to play into hands of the terrorists. A successful counter-terrorist strategy supports dialogue, diversity and tolerance within society. It does not block them," he added.