High-Level Conference stresses the key role of borders security and cooperation to address the scourge of terrorism in Central Asia and beyond
A two-day International High-Level Conference on “International and Regional Border Security and Management Cooperation to Counter Terrorism and Prevent the Movement of Terrorists” concluded on 19 October in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The conference was co-organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union (EU), with the support of the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, opened the event. The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, stressed that “taking into account the complex situation in the region, the Government of Tajikistan pays special attention to the continuous strengthening of the state border protection and takes necessary measures to prevent the movement of terrorist fighters, drug and arms trafficking and other transnational organized crimes”.
Opening followed by a video messages from H.E. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, and H.E Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE Secretary General, in which she stated: “In recent years, cross-border and other security threats have become increasingly more complex, and challenges multiply at a dizzying pace. No state can tackle threats like transnational organized crime, trafficking in human beings, terrorism or drug-trafficking alone. Greater co- operation both at regional and international levels is imperative”.
The OSCE Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats, Ambassador Alena Kupchyna, attended the Conference in person throughout the two days as well. Ambassador Kupchyna said: "We support regional co-operation to create preparedness and build trust in countering transnational threats while protecting humanrights".
Presenting the Co-Chair’s Summary of the Conference, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Voronkov thanked the Government of Tajikistan for hosting. He commended the engagement of its over 900 participants that led to fruitful deliberations.
Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Tea Jaliashvili addressed participants of the Conference and also opened the conference Side Event on “Behavioural Insights to Counter Terrorism: Applying Behavioural Techniques for Securing Borders”. In her remarks, she drew attention to the criticality of strengthening cooperation between government, law enforcement and civil society when countering terrorism and violent extremism within border security and management, and applying OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security. “Only by applying comprehensive and constructive – hard and soft – measures to counter-terrorism and border security management involving both government and civil society actors, results are achieved,” added Jaliashvili.
This Conference is part of the “Dushanbe Process” launched in May 2018, when the first High- Level International Conference of the process on "Countering Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism" (Dushanbe, 3-4 May 2018) was jointly convened in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, UN entities, the OSCE and the EU. The UNOCT High-Level Conference of the process on “International and Regional Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and its Financing Through Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime” was convened on 16-17 May 2019 in Dushanbe.
Conference on border security and management, counter-terrorism, to take place in Dushanbe | OSCE