OSCE Expert Conference in Astana discusses collective responses to transnational terrorism challenges

ASTANA, 14 October 2010 - Ways to effectively address transnational and multidimensional threats of terrorism is the focus of an OSCE Expert Conference that started in Astana today.

The two-day 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, international and regional organizations, as well as academia working in the field of combating terrorism.

"When a terrorist attack strikes one, it strikes us all. Although all terrorist attacks are local, their impact is increasingly regional and global", said Raphael Perl, the Head on Anti-terrorism issues of the OSCE Secretariat in his opening statement. "Transnational and global threats can only be dealt with effectively when all actors of the international community - governments, international and regional organizations, business, religious and civil society groups - unite, co-ordinate and harmonize their efforts to fight them."

Ilya Rogachev, Director of the Department on New Challenges and Threats of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation, in his keynote speech confirmed the significance of partnerships between state and private sector in addressing the challenges posed by terrorism. "It is important to promote the theme of public-private partnerships in anti-terrorism field, which has already been an item on the OSCE's agenda." Rogachev mentioned in this regard a joint US-Russian initiative on the implementation within the OSCE framework of a public-private partnership project designed to enhance tourism security in the face of new terrorism threats.

"We believe that confronting violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism is one of the greatest challenges facing the OSCE region", said Anne Witkowsky, Deputy Co-ordinator for Homeland Security and Multilateral Affairs of the Office of the Co-ordinator for Counterterrorism, USA. She remarked that the OSCE, with its unique comprehensive approach spanning the politico-military, human, as well as economic and environmental security dimensions, has an important role in developing a regional approach through sharing best practices and capacity building. She expressed the hope that counterterrorism will be an important part of the discussions surrounding transnational threats in the lead up to the OSCE Summit.

The participants of the conference will take stock of results achieved and discuss the co-operation between different actors in the OSCE region in the fight against terrorism. Sessions focus on strategies and policies to prevent and combat translational threats, the international legal framework, national capacity and institution building measures, and the role of regional organizations in this field. Experts will share experience gained at national and international level and exchange good practices in countering violent extremism and radicalization.

The conference discussions will contribute to the second part of the OSCE Review Conference to take place in Vienna on 18-26 October, which is a key preparatory event ahead of the OSCE Summit.