OSCE Centre supports public-private partnership conference to combat terrorism threat in southern Kyrgyzstan

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 16 April, 2009 - An OSCE Centre-supported conference on how co-operation in public-private partnerships can contribute to the fight against terrorism gathered more than 80 state, civil society and business officials for two days of discussions that ended today. 

Participants looked at ways to co-operate more effectively locally and nationally to control extremism. Examples of successful and failed cases also were discussed during the conference, organized by the State Committee on National Security, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the Foreign Ministry.

Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said the meeting, which followed a regional Central Asian conference held last year in Bishkek, was useful because it focused on southern Kyrgyzstan: "The discussions probed the symptoms and causes of threats posed by terrorism and radicalization in this region specifically and highlighted the vital role that the various parts of society - government, civil society, businesses and citizens - can play in their deterrence."

Tolon Turganbaev, Deputy Head of the Foreign Ministry's Department for International Relations , added: "Generally in Kyrgyzstan, state structures use law enforcement methods to combat terrorism. This conference helps show how the work of private structures, non-governmental organizations and the media can contribute significantly to the Government's efforts in this area."

The event was part of the OSCE Centre's support for the Kyrgyz authorities' antiterrorism work.