Alexander Yakovenko

On January 31, 2013 the international conference on national and regional counterterrorism strategies took place in Columbia.

Despite the counter-terrorism measures taken, a serious terrorist threat remains. Terrorism is becoming increasingly intertwined with organized crime; it is penetrating the fabric of regional conflict and distorts genuine opposition movements.

The complexity of the factors that lie at the core of this process necessitates an equally nuanced response. It should combine military power with ‘soft power’ measures aimed at preventing and eliminating the causes of terrorism. This position was clearly demonstrated by the chairman of the UN Security Council’s statement on comprehensive approach to the fight against terrorism. Russia supported the adoption of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the follow-up resolutions necessary for it to be implemented, as well UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 1963. 

The Columbia conference greatly contributes to the implementation of the general course taken by the UN. It is another effort by the international community to carry out the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Russia believes that it is crucial to strengthen the legal basis of the fight against terrorism by increasing the number of participants in counter-terror conventions and consistently making good on the commitments taken.

It is also necessary to promote social and economic development projects as elements of the counter-terrorism efforts. This can not only be done by states but also by the counter-terrorism mechanisms of the UN, UN department on drug and organized crime, the UNDP (United Nations Development Program), UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation), the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation), in addition to regional mechanisms such as the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organisation), and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States).

The business community can make a valuable contribution to counter-terrorism efforts by helping to fight poverty, creating new jobs, helping ensure tourism safety, helping defend the rights of terrorism victims. Within the G8 framework, Russia has initiated discussions on establishing a public private partnership in the fight against terrorism.

Another issue we should work on is preventing the ideology of terrorism from spreading, by creating multicultural dialog and understanding among cultures and religions, keeping closely in touch with civil society and preventing terrorism from penetrating public protest movements.

We should seek cooperation between a state and civil society represented by business, NGOs, mass media. Our common goal is to protect society from the threat of terrorism and other aspects of criminality.

It is vital that all states refuse any help to terrorists, including financial and military and technical assistance. We must ensure that UNSC resolution 2017, aimed at preventing arms proliferation is being implemented.

At the same time, attention should be focused on enhancing the anti-terror capacities of all the states concerned. This will require the prompt analysis of ongoing trends, the effect of terrorism on the economy, business, and also on the investment climate.

It is necessary to jointly address new challenges in this area, such as terrorism in cyberspace. Practical actions should be accompanied by the development of a global legal framework to protect cyberspace from terrorists, and to promote cooperation and mutual confidence in this field.
Preventing and countering the threat of nuclear terrorism should incorporate action to ensure that a growing number of states take part in UN and IAEA regulations, in the global initiative on the fight with acts of nuclear terrorism, and carry out the decisions of the Global nuclear security summit in Seoul. 

Russia has been a staunch supporter of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and it has been incorporated into Russian domestic legislation. The strategic-planning document on counter terror adopted by the president outlines measures to combat the threat and also preventive steps that are based both on this global strategy and on international law. Russia’s national anti-terrorism committee is responsible for implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and coordinating the broad spectrum of counter-terror activities.

Russia has been working to help develop regional counter-terrorism strategies within the CIS, the CSTO and the SCO. We are currently working to implement the president’s initiative to build the SCO’s regional anti-terror structure up into a center to counter new threats and challenges. Russia has consistently supported plans to implement the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia. We will continue to play an active role in developing effective approaches to counter-terrorism cooperation in other regional organizations, such as the OSCE, European Council, the Organization for American States, the Russia-NATO council, APEC, and ASEAN Regional Forum.