Whole-of-society approach key to countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, participants underline at tabletop exercise

SKOPJE, 8 November 2017 - A whole-of-society approach to preventing and combating violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism is the focus of a tabletop exercise taking place in Skopje from 7 to 9 November, organized jointly by the OSCE Mission to Skopje, the United States Embassy and the Partnership for Peace Consortium, in co-operation with the Office of the National Committee for Countering Violent Extremism and the Fight against Terrorism.

The exercise, entitled “Foreign Terrorist Fighters: Promoting Prevention and Resilience”, aims to strengthen and improve the country’s whole-of-society approach to combat terrorism and the spread of violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, as well as to increase regional co-operation.

“Common experience shows that no country can respond alone to the global danger of radical extremism and terrorism,” said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who addressed the participants at the opening of the tabletop exercise. “The efficient prevention and countering of these phenomena require co-ordinated action and the development of a joint security strategy to deal with the challenges.”

“Violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism is a threat faced by all OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation,” said Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje Nina Suomalainen in her opening address. “While education, counter-messaging and community engagement initiatives are important, they must form part of a true whole-of-society strategic approach if they are to be successful.”

“While terrorism has become a global issue, experience teaches us that it needs to be dealt with on a local scale,” said United States Ambassador Jess L. Baily. “It is your insights and ideas, and your understanding of the local context and culture that will lead to the best approaches to prevent the spread of violent extremism in this country. Practical actions, at the community level, are the best way forward.”

During the exercise, more than 100 national, regional and international counterterrorism experts, community leaders, members of civil society and representatives of  religious communities, academia and the media will discuss how the country and the region can address the security challenges posed by foreign terrorist fighters and explore national and regional approaches and responses to this phenomenon.

In 2014, the OSCE Ministerial Council adopted the Declaration on the OSCE Role in Countering the Phenomenon of Foreign Terrorist Fighters in the context of the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014).