OSCE plays key role in global anti-terrorism work by helping participating States fulfil international commitments, UN meeting hears

NEW YORK, 5 September 2008 - The OSCE's work to support its 56 participating States as they strive to fulfil international and OSCE counter-terrorism commitments forms a crucial part of the global effort, Raphael Perl, the head of the OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit, told a UN General Assembly meeting on Thursday evening.

The meeting focused on the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which was launched two years ago.

"The OSCE and other regional organizations have a lot to offer" with regard to implementing the strategy, Perl said, adding it was "indispensable for our counter-terrorism work" because it outlined a comprehensive global approach.

"The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy sets important strategic guidelines in the campaign against global terrorism. But it also recognizes that the strategy requires implementation: global, regional and national," Perl said. "These are the three pillars of strategy implementation - and regional organizations such as the OSCE have a central role to play here. The OSCE has been very active indeed."

He added that the OSCE supported its participating States in their efforts to efficiently implement the existing legal framework.

"Through strong co-operation with the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, the OSCE promotes Universal Anti-Terrorism Instruments compliance by States, while encouraging co-operation to cope with criminal matters connected to terrorism issues," he said.

The Organization takes "basic steps to build and endorse counter-terrorism measures" while "ensuring, at the same time, respect for human rights".

The OSCE focuses on aspects such as money-laundering, financing of terrorism, container security and the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, Perl said, adding the Organization also supports the implementation of international travel documents security standards developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization, as well as practical measures recommended by INTERPOL.

Perl discussed the importance of co-operation between private companies and public authorities in the fight against terrorism and noted that the OSCE's Action against Terrorism Unit will host on a Conference on Public-Private Partnership in countering terrorism on 15 and 16 September in Vienna.

For more information about the conference, please see www.osce.org/item/32489.html