Effective anti-terrorism policy requires OSCE comprehensive approach, says Chairperson

ASTANA, 14 October 2010 - The OSCE comprehensive concept of security and terrorism prevention needs concrete practical implementation and stepping up of joint efforts, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister and State Secretary of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev, addressing participants of an expert conference, which started in Astana today. 

"International terrorism does not have nationality, religion, address or boundaries," Saudabayev said. "The implementation of effective anti-terrorism policy requires a complex set of measures encompassing politico-military, economic and environmental, as well as humanitarian aspects. Now more than ever the OSCE's comprehensive concept of security needs practical implementation and stepping up of joint efforts."

The two-day OSCE conference on successful strategies, effective policies and best practices to prevent terrorism gathered around 200 senior experts from OSCE participating States, Partners for Co-operation and key international bodies active in the field of combating terrorism.

In his welcoming address, the Chairperson-in-Office spoke about the work of the Organization to counter threats emanating from outside the OSCE, including Afghanistan, and stressed the significance of OSCE's active participation in dealing with pressing challenges of transnational nature, such as organized crime, drug trafficking, illicit arms trade, human trafficking which are used by terrorists to support their activities.

"In preventing security threats, Kazakhstan as the OSCE Chairmanship attaches key importance to strengthening the OSCE's potential in the settlement of crisis situations," Saudabayev said. "This approach paid off in the development of the OSCE's strategy towards the crisis in Kyrgyzstan, where a real risk existed of extremist and terrorism movements taking advantage of the continued disorder and chaos. The OSCE continues to assist Kyrgyzstan in overcoming difficulties of the transition period".

Saudabayev emphasized the important contribution the conference will make to the OSCE Summit to be held on 1-2 December in Astana, which could facilitate the progress on key items on the OSCE agenda, including transnational threats and terrorism.

"The results of today's event are to form the basis for discussions at the Review Conference in Vienna, the key preparatory event ahead of the Summit," Saudabayev said.

The Vienna part of the Review Conference will take place on 18-26 October.