International Conference on Strengthening Cooperation in Preventing Terrorism continues in Baku
Baku, March 18 (AZERTAC). The International Conference on Strengthening Cooperation in Preventing Terrorism continued its work with sessions.
Azerbaijan`s minister of foreign affairs Elmar Mammadyarov, who chaired the first session, stressed the importance of the conference, saying it is a good platform for discussing ways to fight international terrorism.
Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Allahshukur Pashazade underlined the significance of such events in terms of prevention of terrorism.
Minister of national security of Azerbaijan Eldar Mahmudov said international cooperation on fight against terrorism was one of priorities of Azerbaijan`s state policy. The minister highlighted the progress made in fighting against terrorism in the country. Mahmudov pointed out Azerbaijan was an active member of the international anti-terrorism coalition.
Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan Elshad Isgandarov said religious radicalism and extremism had become one of the sources of terrorism. Isgandarov noted there was no relationship between terrorism and religion. He called radicalism and extremism a threat to society. The chairman stressed the role of enlightenment in decreasing the influence of radical groups.
The session was also addressed by Georgian foreign minister
Maya Panjikidze, justice minister of Mali Malick Coulibaly, Moroccan Interior Minister Mohand Laenser, deputy minister of Kazakhstan Alexei Volkov and CIS executive secretary Sergey Lebedev.
The conference on Strengthening Cooperation in Preventing Terrorism, organized by the Azerbaijani government, United Nations and ISESCO, brings together representatives of more than 50 countries, including ministers of foreign affairs, secretary generals of about 25 international organizations, officials of the UN, OSCE and NATO, and 30 experts.
The two-day conference is seeking to initiate an in-depth and forward-looking exchange of views on challenges and opportunities for preventing and countering terrorism, and help to better understand the root causes of terrorism and generate ideas for countering stereotypes and misconceptions that deepen patterns of mistrust and hostility between societies.
The conference also aims to generate concrete ideas and project-proposals for providing technical assistance to national authorities by the UNODC and other members of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) with the view of strengthening their capacities to prevent and combat terrorism, and provide fresh impetus to dialogue among cultures and foster Alliance of Civilizations. Other objectives include contributing to improvement of understanding by the West of Islam and its values and facilitating the correction of distorted perceptions of the West in the societies with Muslim majority.
The conference focuses on three main themes: cooperation in developing and undertaking measures to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism; dialogue, understanding and countering stereotypes and the appeal of terrorism; and the role of international partners in building State capacity to prevent and combat terrorism.
Under these themes, the participants will discuss such issues as development and social inclusion; preventing and resolving conflict; supporting victims of terrorism; dialogue among cultures and Alliance of Civilizations, and their role in countering terrorism; cooperation in adopting measures to prohibit incitement to commit an act of terrorism; countering the use of the internet for terrorist purposes; technical assistance in drafting relevant legislature and training judges, prosecutors, investigators on issues of counter-terrorism; and measures to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law in the context of counter-terrorism.
Other news in this section
