Addressing participants, Didier Burkhalter said that terrorism represented a threat common to all OSCE participating States.
Its comprehensive approach to security means the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has a major role to play in combating this phenomenon, Mr Burkhalter stressed, speaking to close to 200 experts from OSCE participating States in his capacity as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. The participants gathered for the conference on the "Role of the OSCE in Addressing Current Terrorist Challenges" at the Victoria Jungfrau Hotel included national counterterrorism coordinators and other government delegates and representatives from civil society (NGOs) and academia.
In his speech, Mr Burkhalter insisted that “counterterrorist strategies can only deliver sustainable results if they are implemented in legal, transparent and accountable ways. The absolute respect of all obligations under international law is a priority in Switzerland’s fight against terrorism”.
In addition to the issue of respecting human rights in counterterrorism efforts, the experts gathered in Interlaken will also discuss the topic of kidnapping for ransom, which is a major source of terrorist financing.
By bringing this topic on the agenda, the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship intends to establish a unified front of States determined to combat kidnapping for ransom as a source of financing for terrorists.
Switzerland provided information on its no ransom payment policy, based on three pillars: 1) prevention, in order to dissuade Swiss citizens from travelling in areas with a high risk of kidnapping; 2) increasing the number of countries that adhere to a no ransom payment policy; 3) intensifying international co-operation on specific kidnapping cases in order to obtain the safe and secure liberation of hostages.
The experts will also address the issue of "foreign fighters". OSCE participating States have to deal with the phenomenon of certain citizens or residents joining armed groups and taking part in hostilities in other countries. According to some estimates, nearly 2,000 citizens or residents of OSCE participating States are active as foreign fighters in Syria. The Swiss Chairmanship-in-Office wishes to encourage a reflection on measures that should be taken to prevent and limit this phenomenon, since States have to deal with the return to their country of some of these individuals, who may then represent a threat to internal security.
At the close of the conference on Tuesday 29 April, the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship will present conclusions intended to serve as a reference for future debate related to the fight against terrorism within the OSCE.
Further information:
Speech by the President of the Confederation Didier Burkhalter
FDFA web dossier on the OSCE:
OSCE: Combating terrorism
Follow the Swiss Chairmanship of the OSCE on Twitter
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