On 23-24 October, Kaha Imnadze, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of UNRCCA, participated at the 3rd Conference on Combating Terrorism and Extremism organized by the Commonwealth of Independent States Anti-Terrorism Centre (CIS ATC). In addition, he opened a briefing on counter-terrorism and anti-extremism initiatives supported by UNRCCA and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), held on the sidelines of the conference.
Addressing conference participants representing the CIS Member States, the Observe States and international and regional organizations, SRSG Kaha Imnadze underlined that persistent instability in the Middle East and the continued uncertainty surrounding the situation in Afghanistan constitute significant external risk factors contributing to the potential spread of terrorism in Central Asia. States in the region remain vulnerable to the infiltration of illicit arms, narcotics, and financial flows that are utilized to support extremist and terrorist entities.
During the UNRCCA and UNOCT briefing, participants had the opportunity to learn more about flagship initiatives, including the Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Network for Central Asia, currently supported by the People’s Republic of China, and the project “Prevention and Countering Extremism,” supported by the Russian Federation.
