OSCE brings together state, civil society and business community in fight against terrorism

VIENNA, 15 September 2008 - More than 250 State officials and representatives from civil society and business are in Vienna today for an OSCE conference on public-private partnerships (PPPs) in combating terrorism.

The two-day conference organized by the OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit will focus on public-private co-operation, including with the media, to counter violent extremism, and on PPPs to protect critical infrastructures and major events against terrorist attacks, as well as to block channels for terrorist financing.

"Public-private partnerships can play an essential role in the fight against terrorism, and the OSCE is committed to promoting co-operation between states, the business community and civil society to suppress terrorist financing, protect against terrorist attack and curb radicalization and violent extremism that lead to terrorism," said Ambassador Antti Turunen, the Permanent Representative of Finland to the OSCE.

Participants will exchange ideas and information, discuss and further explore the potential for concrete public-private co-operation in countering terrorism within the OSCE region.

The event is organized with financing from Spain, the United States, and the Russian company Norilsk Nickel.