OSCE and UNODC conduct a Regional Workshop on International Cooperation in Combatting Terrorism

The Regional workshop on "Sharing practices in international cooperation for the purpose of investigation, prosecution and adjudication of terrorism related cases" was organized in Dushanbe by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in co-operation with the OSCE from 10 to 12 December 2013.

It brought together 35 representatives from General Prosecutor's Office, financial monitoring bodies, national investigation departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Committee on National Security, as well as judges of municipal and Supreme Court of the Central Asian region. The event was aimed at sharing experiences and challenges related to extradition, mutual legal assistance and co-operation between law enforcement agencies to counter terrorism. After discussion of national practices that have been shared by the delegations of the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, representatives from Great Britain, USA, INTERPOL, OSCE Office in Tajikistan and UNODC delivered presentations about their practices.

“Supporting countries in the region in fighting terrorism is high on the agenda of the OSCE and the OSCE Office in Tajikistan,” emphasized Mr. Ulf Billving, Counter Terrorism and Police Advisor of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan in his introduction speech. He urged the countries to work together, support and assist each other in identifying, preventing and eradicating of terrorism, as it does not recognize borders.

Victoria Catliff, Regional Project Coordinator of the UNODC Regional Office in Kazakhstan, has stressed in her opening remarks the need for co-operation amongst the Central Asian states in the areas of intelligence, mutual legal assistance and extradition. She pointed out that it is the event participants-practitioners themselves who are the most important resources for regional trans-border co-operation and exchange.

The workshop is still ongoing.