Whether it is possible to create united center to combat international terrorism

Today, the 6th Moscow Conference on International Security MCIS-2017, organized by the Russian  Defense Ministry, will continue its work in the Russian capital. The forum participants are discussing issues of combating international terrorism, security problems in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the role of military departments in strengthening security in various regions of the world.

Yesterday, speaking at the 6th Moscow Conference on International Security, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lamented that the global situation is becoming neither more stable nor predictable. Among the important tasks he named the fight against terror, as well as the adoption of the rules of of responsible conduct of the states in the field of using information and communication technologies, which would rule out the use of information and communication technologies for military purposes, for interference in internal affairs and prevent their use by international terrorists.

"We will never succeed in our fight against terrorism unless multiple conflicts are resolved, primarily in the Middle East and North Africa. The ceasefire in Syria that was facilitated by Russia, Turkey and Iran in late 2016 and the launch of the Astana process contribute to the intra-Syrian inclusive dialogue," Sergei Lavrov said.

He called the recent US missile strike on the Shayrat airbase in Syria "a blatant violation of the international law and an act of aggression against a sovereign state". "This begs a comparison with what happened in 2003 in Iraq, which led to the country’s destruction and the emergence of the ISIS terrorist organization (outlawed in Russia). "Provocations like the April 4 incident in Khan Shaykhun demand professional investigation under the auspices of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

The deteriorating situation around the Korean Peninsula is a matter of his grave concern as Pyongyang continues its nuclear missile programmes, while the US and its regional allies have disproportionately stepped up their military activity under the pretext of the ‘North Korean threat.’ "The accelerated deployment of US THAAD complexes in the south of the peninsula as part of the US global missile defence shield has an especially destabilising effect. We are fully aligned with the consolidated position of the international community regarding Pyongyang’s policy, and reaffirms our commitment to all UN Security Council resolutions. However, it is obvious that the recent emergence of the prospect of using force is fraught with catastrophic consequences for the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia in general, " Lavrov stressed.

As for another part of the world - the Euro-Atlantic  region, Moscow is alarmed over its considerable residual conflict potential, which is largely fuelled by NATO’s unilateral actions: "The deployment of an anti-missile umbrella can bolster the illusions of invulnerability and impunity and tempt one to make unilateral moves while addressing global and regional issues, including lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. The development of non-nuclear strategic weapons and efforts to prevent the conclusion of an agreement on the non-deployment of weapons in space have a negative impact on international security. The unwillingness or inability of the United States and some other countries to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) gives rise to more and more questions," the minister pointed out.

The issues of combating terrorism and radicalism in the Middle East and ensuring security in Central Asia were touched upon during the separate discussions at MCIS-2017.

Kazakh Defense Minister, Colonel-General Saken Zhasuzakov, speaking at the conference, spoke about the role of Astana in ensuring security, in particular, as a platform for political dialogue on a settlement of the conflict in Syria. "The main terrorist threat comes from radical, militant extremist and terrorist groups, whose activities are not limited to the Middle East. Leaders of religious extremist organizations are considering the possibility of spreading their influence in other regions, including Central Asia. In fact, the emissaries of terrorist organizations are exporting new models of terrorist and extremist activity from the combat areas to the countries of the region. The number of supporters of non-traditional religious movements is increasing. Doing nothing and ignoring such a threat can lead to negative consequences in the future," Zhasuzakov said.

Recently, the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed to establish a global anti-terrorist network under the auspices of the United Nations and draft a comprehensive UN convention on international terrorism. As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2017-2018, Kazakhstan regards counter-terrorism as a priority for concentrating the efforts of the world community. "Kazakhstan intends to use its membership in the UN Security Council to strengthen stability and security in the Central Asian region. In addition, our side pays special attention to the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, since it is impossible to ensure sustainable security in the Central Asian region without achieving lasting peace and stability in this country," the Kazakh Defense Minister said.