OSCE helps organize regional seminar in Tashkent on preventing nuclear terrorism

TASHKENT, 13 April 2007 - A regional workshop for Central Asian countries and Afghanistan on suppressing acts of nuclear terrorism ended in Tashkent today.

The two-day event was sponsored by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and United Nations Office's on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) regional office for Central Asia, and supported by the Uzbek Government.

"The comprehensive global legal regime against terrorism is a key component of an effective international counter-terrorism strategy," said Ambassador Miroslav Jenca, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator.

"The 13 UN Conventions and Protocols on preventing nuclear terrorism define the global legal approach and provide a basis for international co-operation in combating terrorism under the supremacy of law and international human rights principles. The full ratification and implementation of these instruments is a prime requirement for Central Asian countries."

Participants discussed the international legal instruments that can be used to prevent nuclear terrorism, and offered recommendations on ways to improve national legislation.

The event was attended by representatives of law enforcement agencies, parliamentarians responsible for drafting legislation on combating terrorism, and experts from the UNODC, OSCE, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) and the regional anti-terrorism structure of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization.