OSCE meeting to promote public-private partnerships in combating terrorism

VIENNA, 30 May 2007 - State officials, representatives of civil society and the business community will examine how they can work together to fight terrorism at a two-day OSCE meeting that starts tomorrow in Vienna.

The event, "Partnership of State Authorities, Civil Society and the Business Community in Combating Terrorism", is organized by the OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit following an initiative by the Russian Federation and the United States. The meeting follows previous work by the OSCE to develop public-private partnerships in counter-terrorism programmes.

During the conference, participants will identify co-operation gaps, possible improvements and best practices. Human rights aspects, media-related issues, protecting critical infrastructures, countering the financing of terrorism and ways to address the underlying factors which terrorists exploit are also a focus of the event.

A press conference will be held on Friday, 1 June, at 10 a.m. in room 201 of the Hofburg Congress Centre. Speakers include Anatoly Safonov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Co-operation in the Fight against Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime, and Frank Urbancic, Action Co-ordinator for Counter-terrorism Issues at the U.S. Department of State, as well as a representative from the Spanish Chairmanship.

Most of the conference will be held behind closed doors. Journalists wishing to interview participants are encouraged to contact OSCE Senior Press and Public Information Officer Virginie Coulloudon before or during the event.

For admittance to the Hofburg Congress Centre, please bring your OSCE badge or a valid press card to the security desk (main entrance from the Heldenplatz). Parking is available for the press during the event in the OSCE-reserved parking area on Heldenplatz. Temporary parking permits must be collected from the security desk.