Rachkov: Belarus strongly condemns any manifestations of terrorism and violent extremism

Sergei Rachkov, the Chairman of the Standing Commission of the House of Representatives on International Affairs, took part in a meeting of the IPU High-Level Advisory Group on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Geneva. During the event, experts shared views on the emerging threats and trends in the fight against terrorism, discussed new strategies and the role of parliaments in preventing terrorism and spread of violent extremism.

In his report, Mr. Rachkov said, “Terrorism and extremism are increasingly being used as a tool to eliminate political competitors, destabilise the domestic political situation, and incite hostility and discord between various national and religious groups. The suppression of such crimes is an essential element of maintaining international peace and security, which requires joint efforts by states and an effective system of international co-operation. The Belarusian side strongly condemns any manifestations of terrorism and violent extremism, regardless of the place of commission and the goals pursued.”

The parliamentarian drew attention to the fact that Belarus is carrying out systematic work on the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. He also noted that the republic has taken legal, institutional and operational measures to counter terrorism in order to comply with international obligations and allocated significant resources for most areas specified in the relevant UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001).

Mr. Rachkov added that Belarus is a party to thirteen international UN documents on combating terrorism. “Belarus, together with the United Nations, held a high-level international conference – Combating Terrorism Through Innovative Approaches and the Use of New and Emerging Technologies – in Minsk in September 2019. Its distinctive features were the novelty of the issues under consideration and its unique coverage, which allowed the OSCE participating states and ASEAN member countries to come together for the first time in such a format to establish further interregional co-operation in this area. During the conference, Belarus’ Head of State took the initiative to form ‘a digital neighbourhood belt’ through the conclusion of bilateral and multilateral agreements to ensure international information security,” he said.