OSCE convenes first workshop in Central Asia on countering phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters

DUSHANBE, 26 February 2015 – A three-day expert workshop on promoting regional co-operation in Central Asia and effective responses to the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters, concluded today in Dushanbe.

This is the first workshop of its kind in Central Asia, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, bringing together some 150 government and civil society experts from a wide range of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation.

The initiative comes against a background of increased concern about violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) and an unprecedented number of individuals mobilizing across the wider OSCE area to support and perpetrate acts of terrorism abroad. The OSCE Ministerial Council adopted during its last meeting in December 2014 a declaration committing the OSCE to support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2170 and 2178 (2014) in countering the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters.

“The Office in Tajikistan has been supporting the development of a national strategy on VERLT as elaborated in a working group composed of law enforcement, civil society, religious leaders, researchers and other relevant partners,” said Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan Ambassador Markus Mueller. “Competence in addressing the phenomenon of radicalization is a shared international responsibility. Workshops like this one aim to develop and establish the regional forum of competence, strengthening the networks of experts and decision makers.”

First Deputy of General Prosecutor's Office of Tajikistan Abdukodir Muhammadiev said:  “The issue of terrorism has no nation, no homeland and no language. It poses threats to any country and many countries have encountered it already. No country is able to counter it alone. Certain steps have been taken in Tajikistan, such as legal amendments. The findings of this workshop will help to enhance trust between the law enforcement agencies in the region.”

This workshop is financially supported by the British Embassy in Dushanbe, in consultation with the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).