10th International Scientific and Practical Conference on Cooperation between Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states and observer states in the field of countering international terrorism and extremism on September 4-5. It is the first time that the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO RATS) has invited a European to the Conference.

Gen. R. Mirzaev invited ITSTIME – Catholic University to participate and to give a speech namely Prof.dr Marco Lombardi who is also a prominent member of INIS

Prof.dr Lombardi focused in his speech on the general topic of the definition of terrorism, to open a discussion to get a consensus among the many different positions. It was a great chance to meet the delegations from Afghanistan, Arabia Saudita, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Byelorussia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Cina, Egitto, Emirati Arabi, Kirghizistan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia. Plus, the SCO agencies, a few UN officers, one representative of Interpol and one International Federation of Red Cross. And ITSTIME!

Despite some obvious positions, the topics under discussion were:

1. Isis-k, AQ, and TTP, the main problems

2. New technologies and social media (TikTok), the new weapons

3. The young generation, the main target to preserve

Prof dr Lombardi was interested in understanding the countermeasure to adopt in a future of possible cooperation, which is now open at the academic and research levels.

The initiative received a very good welcome, and the door is open for future cooperation with Shanghai members.
Delegations from SCO and CIS countries, as well as educational and research organizations involved in studying the issues of countering terrorism and extremism, are expected to participate in these events.

Representatives from the United Nations, the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center, Interpol, the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and other organizations will also take part in the conferences.

The State Security Service of Uzbekistan, under the coordinating role of the CIS ATC, will conduct a joint anti-terrorism exercise of the competent bodies of CIS countries called “East-Anti-Terror-2024.”

The goal of the exercise is to enhance the activities of the CIS member states in combating terrorist crimes at critical infrastructure facilities and in places with large crowds.