Speech by the CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov at the 2020 OSCE-wide Counter-Terrorism Conference on September 14, 2020

"Effective Partnership Against Terrorism and Violent Extremism and Radicalization Leading to Terrorism"

(Vienna, September 14-15, 2020)

Organized by the OSCE Albanian Chairmanship

(video format)

Session1

“International Cooperation in the Fight against Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Radicalization Leading to Terrorism”

Dear Chairman!

Dear participants of the Conference!

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Let me thank the Albanian Chairmanship for organizing the Conference and inviting me to take part in it.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization gives priority to the issues of consolidating efforts in the fight against international terrorism and related extremism.

The CSTO member states strongly condemn international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and draw the attention of the world community to the need to unite efforts in countering terrorism within the framework of a broad international antiterrorist coalition based on fundamental norms of international law on the basis of strict observance of the UN Charter and implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

We are persuaded that an effective fight against international terrorism and extremism is possible only if the sources and channels of their financial and material and technical support are reliably blocked, and the use of information and communication technologies by the international terrorist groups is suppressed.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization makes its fair share of contribution to ensuring security in its area of ​​responsibility.

An assessment of the Organization's efforts as a partner in combating security challenges and threats was given in the resolution of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly "On cooperation between the UN and the CSTO", as well as in the course of the UN Security Council meeting on September 25, 2019, at which the issue of the CSTO, the CIS, and the SCO contribution in countering terrorist threats was considered.

Our work is based on the implementation of the UN Global Anti-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions (2178, 2396).

As practical measures by the “best practices” that have been developed in the CSTO format, it is necessary to note the annual special preventive operations: “Channel” — to combat drug-related crimes and “Illegal” — to suppress illegal migration, in the course of which a set of measures is implemented to undermining the economic and financial component of terrorism.

We also conduct an annual Operation “Proxy” to combat crimes related to innovative technologies.

Starting from 2019, in order to block the channels of recruitment, exit / entry of citizens of the Organization's member states to participate in terrorist activities and neutralize the resource base of terrorist organizations, Operation “Mercenary” has been conducted.

Of course, this is far from the entire list of practical measures that are being implemented in the CSTO format.

I would like to express my gratitude to the representatives of the relevant structures of the UN, the OSCE, the CIS, the SCO and specialists of individual states who are actively involved in organizing and conducting our events, operations and trainings.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the effectiveness of countering terrorism and extremism will grow significantly if we manage to coordinate efforts and potential both at the regional and global levels. Unfortunately, today we can state that sometimes it turns out that the subjects of global affairs in the regions behave more autonomously, pursuing their political and geostrategic goals, for the achievement of which terrorist and extremist organizations are used as a tool.

In the interests of enhancing international cooperation in the fight against the spread of terrorist ideology and propaganda, we consider it necessary to unite collective efforts in the field of information security.

We attach particular importance to promoting the development and early adoption  of universal rules, norms and principles of responsible behavior in the information spaceunder the auspices of the UN. Otherwise, the process of transforming the information environment into a full-fledged theatre of military-political confrontation will pose a serious threat to the security of the entire world community.

I wish the Conference participants fruitful work and express my confidence that today's Conference will contribute to the development of additional practical measures for cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.

Thank you.