DUSHANBE, MAY 08 (DNA)- Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan S Aslov has said over 400 delegates from across the Globe attended the counter terrorism conference.

In a message he said, “It is my great honor to inform you that the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in close collaboration with the United Nations Organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union and a number of partner countries convened the International High-Level Conference “Countering Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism”.

More than 400 delegates from 48 countries took part in the Conference, including 31 international and regional organizations, representatives of the diplomatic corps, civil society and academia.

The Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency    Mr. Emomali Rahmon attended the opening ceremony and delivered the keynote address.

In his in-depth statement, the Honorable President gave a full and comprehensive analysis of the current international and regional situation, trends of contemporary security issues and called for coordinated efforts in combating security threats in order to maintain peace and stability.

The Conference consisted of three Thematic Sessions:

1. “Countering terrorism, preventing violent extremism and radicalization: from theory to practice”;
2. “Regional cooperation in responding to terrorism and to violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism: identifying strategic priorities”;
3. “Challenges in implementing effective responses to terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization”.

Within the framework of the Conference, the following side-events were organized:

1. “The EU perspective on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in Central Asia and beyond”;
2. “UN Support to Prevent Violent Extremism: Global Experiences”;
3. Thematic photo and video-exhibition on OSCE activities.

As a result of the International Conference, the outcome document – Dushanbe Declaration was adopted.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am convinced that Dushanbe Conference served as an important platform for constructive and fruitful cooperation, acted as a focus of attraction for all parties concerned and supported the importance of strengthening of multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Today, we discussed priorities for interaction in the field of international and regional security, addressed the issues related to the status and perspectives of cooperation between the countries and international organizations, underlined the importance of consolidation and acceleration of our efforts to counter security threats, particularly terrorism, extremism and radicalism.

Conference participants drew attention to the need to extend legal base for further development of counter-terrorism cooperation, strengthening efforts in identification and preemption of cross-border terrorist activity, acceleration of collaboration in the fight against cybercrime and capacity-building of the countries.

The inseparable link of regional security and the situation in Afghanistan was stressed. In this connection, the participants of the Conference expressed their interest to further develop cooperation across the spectrum of issues pertaining to strengthening security in Afghanistan.

I am convinced that today’s meeting will make a significant contribution to the continued development and promotion of mutual initiatives responding current issues of maintaining international and regional security and strengthening peace.

I sincerely thank all participants of the Conference for their valuable contribution to the advancement of the Conference goals”.DNA