Enhanced diplomacy, regional organizations key to countering terrorism, OSCE expert tells security conference

BRUSSELS, 18 February 2009 - Diplomatic groundwork to reinforce mutual trust and commitment, as well as to establish lasting relationships and better co-ordination of intelligence is essential to counter-terrorism efforts, Raphael Perl, Head of the OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit, told the East-West Institute's Sixth Worldwide Security Conference today.

Perl was part of a panel at the conference,, co-sponsored by the Italian Presidency of the G8 and the World Customs Organizations, titled "From the Global War on Terror to Joint Security and Joint Action". Other speakers on the panel included EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove, Council of Europe Anti-Terrorism Coordinator Alexandre Guessel and Afghanistan Counter Narcotics Minister General Khodaidad.

"Enhanced diplomacy is a fundamental requisite for co-ordinated intelligence and co-ordinated action against terrorism and the factors conducive to terrorism" Perl said. "It is imperative to forge durable relationships, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to reinforce mutual trust and commitment, and to overcome any political or cultural difference hindering co-operation."

He emphasized that while legal instruments and agreements could form a basis for joint efforts, "only durable relationships among diplomats, law-enforcement and other officials, can connect these dots for effective action".

Perl suggested that "diplomacy should be regarded as a type of insurance policy, helping to reduce the risk of terrorism through long-term co-operation on prevention and mitigation".

"An effective investment is regional diplomacy, where a number of organizations such as the OSCE have a specific role as regional facilitators," said Perl, noting that the OSCE promotes co-operation and capacity-building and assists its 56 participating States to fulfil their international anti-terrorism commitments.

"The OSCE, as a platform for co-operative security, offers opportunities in the fight against terrorism that should not be underestimated, but should indeed be fully exploited."

Topics addressed at the conference included areas where the OSCE assists its participating States, including the international legal framework against terrorism, combating the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, public-private partnerships with civil society and the media, infrastructure protection and arms proliferation. For more information, please visit www.osce.org/atu