On September 4, 2024, the CIS Conference on Combating Terrorism and Extremism and the International Scientific and Practical Conference of the RATS SCO began their joint work for the first time in Tashkent.

The event was organized by the State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Anti-Terrorism Center of the CIS Member States, and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the SCO.

The first day of the conferences was held in the format of a plenary session and three specialized sessions.

The joint international conferences were attended by about 250 representatives from competent authorities of 20 CIS and SCO member states (including SCO observer states and dialogue partners), 9 working structures of Commonwealth bodies, 2 working structures of SCO bodies, 22 research and education organizations, as well as 10 authorized bodies of 6 international organizations, such as the UN, Interpol, EAG, CICA and others (47 delegations in total). 

At the conference’s opening, a message from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the participants was read out. In particular, it was stated that the organization of this important international forum, jointly with such authoritative regional structures as the SCO and the CIS, reaffirms the shared commitment and desire to develop practical cooperation in ensuring peace, security, and stability in our vast region. At the same time, the Leader of the country identified the essential tasks as further improvement of the regulatory framework and implementation of joint practical activities within the framework of the RATS SCO and the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center, aimed at increasing the effectiveness of international cooperation in preventing and promptly responding to such challenges and threats. 

The Chairman of the State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan A. Azizov, Deputy Secretary-General of the CIS N. Seitimov and Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO N. Niyazaliyev, Director of the Executive Committee of the RATS SCO R. Mirzayev and Head of the CIS ATC E. Sysoev addressed the plenary session. The event participants were also shown a video message from the UN Under-Secretary-General –Head of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office V. Voronkov.

Assessing modern challenges and threats, the speakers noted that the situation in countering terrorism and extremism remains highly tense under the influence of the intensifying geopolitical struggle using terrorist methods and ongoing regional conflicts. It was noted that terrorism remains one of the most dangerous problems of our time, requiring a principled position and coordinated actions of the world community.

During the first day of the Conference, the participants in three sessions:

– exchanged assessments of the main threats to collective and national security and forecasts of their development, as well as experience in countering terrorism and extremism;

– noted a steady trend of increasing radicalization of the population, especially young people, caused by the continuing activity of terrorist ideologists in the information space and the use of modern information and telecommunications technologies by international terrorist organizations;

– outlined the need for further development of interstate measures aimed at counteracting the fusion of transnational crime and international terrorist organizations and intensifying international cooperation in combating drug trafficking, smuggling of weapons, and technical means used for subversive purposes. Outlined the importance of coordinated actions to prevent the use of migration channels for the movement of persons involved in the activities of terrorist and extremist organizations; 

– drew attention to the need to use the potential of inter-parliamentary structures to improve the legal framework for multilateral cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism, as well as the development of international rules of conduct in the information sphere;

– considered current issues of international counter-terrorism cooperation, assessed the status and effectiveness of response mechanisms to emerging modern challenges, confirmed a firm commitment to further strengthening professional interaction, emphasized the need to use joint potential in developing comprehensive counter-terrorism measures with the leading role of the UN in coordinating efforts to combat terrorism; 

– discussed measures to improve scientific and educational support for activities to counter terrorism and extremism, exchanged experience in organizing educational, methodological and research work. Among the promising areas of training were the development and implementation of educational programs in cyberterrorism, the creation of methodological centers in national educational organizations for the exchange of experience and best practices, and the study of the effectiveness of approaches to the rehabilitation and resocialization of persons involved in terrorist and extremist activities.

Following the first day of the conference, First Deputy Chairman of the Service B. Tursunov thanked the Executive Committee of the RATS SCO and the CIS ATC for their active assistance in organizing and holding conferences. He expressed gratitude to the delegations of authorized bodies of international organizations, scientists, and experts from many foreign countries for participating in the conference and open dialogue to strengthen multilateral cooperation in combating these threats.

It was noted that regular international forums facilitate the exchange of valuable experience, coordination, and interaction in the fight against terrorism and extremism, as well as deepening partnerships not only between security agencies and special services but also between international structures and the scientific community.

The work of the conferences continues.

UzA