OSCE-supported workshop on development of Draft National Strategy and Action Plan for prevention and combating of terrorism, money laundering and terrorist financing held in Montenegro
In partnership with the National Security Council of the Government of Montenegro, the OSCE Mission organized a workshop dedicated to the preparation of the Draft National Strategy for the prevention and combating of terrorism, money laundering and terrorist financing 2019-2022 and Action Plan 2019-2020 on 11 and 12 April 2018 in Kolasin, Montenegro.
The workshop, led by Rajko Kozmelj, counter terrorism expert from Democratic Centre for the Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), focused on the legal framework against terrorism; prevention, protection from and criminal prosecution of terrorism; countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism; response to terrorist attack and suppressing terrorism financing.
Some 18 practitioners from the Special State Prosecutor's Office, the Higher Court, the Justice Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Defence Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the National Security Agency, the Agency for Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, the Tax Administration, the Police Directorate and the Customs Administration participated in the workshop.
At the opening of the event, Head of OSCE Mission Ambassador Maryse Daviet highlighted that this co-operation was considered essential in supporting the host country in developing a legal framework for combating terrorism: “In times when terrorism supported by violent extremism and foreign terrorist fighter returnees is becoming a greater threat and becoming increasingly plausible for the region, our joint work is of key importance.”
"Terrorism, like a virus, changes its shape according to the measures enforced by the security system of the country," said Secretary of the National Security Council Veselin Veljovic. “We witnessed numerous terrorist attacks in the countries of Europe and we are aware of all the difficulties encountered by our partner services in exposing and prosecuting perpetrators of these criminal acts. Our intention is to further strengthen the national security system by enforcing contemporary, high-quality and usable strategic documents – the new Strategy and the Action Plan.”
The Strategy and the Action Plan are expected to be adopted by the Government by January 2019. The activity is part of the Mission’s efforts to address transnational threats to security, and is a continuation of support provided in preparation of the key documents.