Co-operation in fight against terrorism theme of OSCE workshop in Tashkent

TASHKENT, 29 September 2008 - Fostering co-operation among police and other agencies in Central Asia is the purpose of a regional OSCE workshop that started today in Tashkent.

During the two-day meeting, more than 75 experts and policy-makers from Law Enforcement and Security agencies from 14 countries and six international and regional organizations will discuss how to improve co-operation in the Central Asia region to better prevent, investigate and respond to terrorist attacks. The meeting is organized by the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit, in co-operation with the OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

"This meeting helps participants better understand the roles and responsibilities of the different institutions in relation to fighting terrorism," said Kevin Carty, the Senior Police Adviser to the OSCE Secretary General. "We hope this will spark the creation of networks and lasting co-operation."

Participants also will share experiences and best practices in information exchange and intelligence sharing, national and regional co-operation, post-attack co-ordination and judicial investigation.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, Ambassador Istvan Venczel, added: "This event is taking place in the spirit of OSCE Charter on Preventing and Combating Terrorism, which calls on all participating States and their relevant agencies to work together to prevent, suppress, investigate and prosecute terrorist acts, including through increased co-operation."