Russia Pledges Support For Central Asia In Fight Against Terrorism

Central Asian countries can rely on Russia’s support in their fight against terrorism, Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Department for New Challenges and Threats Vladimir Tarabrin said on Tuesday.

Addressing a high-level conference on international and regional cooperation in combatting terrorism in Dushanbe, he said: “Central Asian countries can firmly rely on Russia’s comprehensive assistance and support in their fight against terrorism.” He pointed to UN Counter-Terrorism Office projects being run with Russia’s support to put into practice the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia and to counter weapons supplies to terrorists in the region. According to Tarabrin, the September terrorist attack outside the Russian embassy in Kabul was yet another proof that efforts should be joined in fighting terrorism, in Central Asia, too.

The Dushanbe-hosted conference is currently being held jointly with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office, the Tajik government, the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, as well as the OSCE and the EU. Ministers and officials from UN member countries as well as UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy structures, international and regional organizations, civic institutions and border security experts are expected to attend.