On December 12-13, 2013, the GUAM Secretariat in Kyiv, Ukraine hosted the 11th meeting of the Working Sub-Group on Combating Terrorism (WGSCT), which took place under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship.
The delegations exchanged information on national legislation, the operational situation and GUAM member-states’ measures aimed at preventing and combating terrorism. The Parties particularly stressed the importance of counteracting religious extremism and separatism.
The Working Sub-Group underlined the need to strengthen inter-agency coordination, including between anti-terrorist agencies and border guard services. The Parties exchanged views on possibilities for optimising direct channels between agencies in combating terrorism.
The delegations exchanged information about detecting terrorists acting alone and the reasons leading to their self-radicalisation. Participants noted the growth of this threat on an international scale and the need to further exchange practices in this struggle.
The Working Sub-Group examined the course of preparation for the first expert meeting on combating cyber-threats and the second working meeting on nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological terrorism.
The Parties further examined issues of further development in the field of international cooperation during the meeting.
The outcomes of the meeting were reflected in the resultant Protocol. The next meeting of the Working Sub-Group is scheduled to take place in May 2014.
