Co-operation among regional organizations crucial in countering terrorism, OSCE officials tell meeting

BISHKEK, 24 November 2009 - Regional and international co-operation is crucial in countering terrorism, OSCE officials told a meeting on terrorism that started in Bishkek today.

The two-day meeting, co-organized by the Kyrgyz authorities and the Anti-Terrorism Centre of the Commonwealth of Independent States, will assess existing and potential threats in Central Asia and the CIS, and seek to develop common approaches on preventing and countering them.
The meeting also aims to enhance co-operation among regional and international organizations in the field of anti-terrorism.

"The OSCE Centre in Bishkek has a diverse anti-terrorism programme that promotes co-operation to fight terrorism and also supports Kyrgyzstan's efforts to strengthen its legislative and physical defence against terrorism," said Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek "This conference should strengthen the region's understanding of the root causes of terrorism, radicalization and militant movements."

Raphael Perl, the Head of the OSCE's Vienna-based Action against Terrorism Unit, also took part in the conference.

"A successful approach to preventing and combating terrorism needs to be comprehensive," he said. "The OSCE is looking forward to closer co-operation with sub-regional organizations on counter-terrorism, based on OSCE commitments and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

A representative from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights also spoke at the meeting, stressing the need to protect human rights in counter-terrorism work.