The BISR delegation headed by Deputy Director Vitaly Punchenko takes part in the 10th International Scientific and Practical Conference on cooperation between SCO member states and observer states in the field of countering international terrorism and extremism on September 4-5 in Tashkent.
The conference is an annual scientific and expert event held by the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO RATS) since 2013. This year it is combined with the 2nd International Conference of the Anti-Terrorism Center of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The event aims at sharing best organizational experience and practices in countering terrorism and extremism, developing a common understanding and approaches to new challenges and security threats, and designing measures to improve international cooperation to counter terrorism and extremism.
At the plenary session, the leadership of the SCO Secretariat stressed the importance of strategic thinking in countering modern challenges and threats. The importance of expanding the organization and accession of the Republic of Belarus in 2024 as an official member was particularly noted. The main goal of the joint efforts of the member states is the desire to achieve a just multipolar world order based on equality and dialogue.
As part of the conference agenda, Vitaly Punchenko is scheduled to deliver a relevant report within one of the thematic sessions. A series of bilateral meetings with BISR's foreign partners on issues of mutual interest will be held on the sidelines of the event.
Since 2020, BISR has been systematically developing international relations with expert-analytical and other relevant structures of the SCO, including RATS and the SCO Forum. The issue of joining the SCO Forum is under consideration by the National Coordinators for SCO Affairs of the member states.
