Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries shares its achievements in the areas of asset recovery
Dushanbe 16-17 May 2019
A High-Level International Conference on "International and Regional Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and its Financing Through Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime" was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 17 May 2019 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The Conference was opened by H.E. Emomali Rahmon the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, who emphasized the crucial role of regional and international cooperation in countering terrorism
The Conference aimed to promote and strengthen international and regional cooperation, identify effective practices to combat terrorism financing and facilitate high level discussions on how to respond to evolving methods used by terrorists and terrorist organizations to fund their activities and structures, including through illicit drug trafficking and organized crime. Around 500 officials of 50 delegations, 26 international and regional organizations attended the conference. This included foreign ministers, heads of bodies responsible for the fight against security related threats and challenges, representatives of civil society, research institutes and diplomatic corps.
"The actions of the forces of international terrorism and extremism have shaken the foundations of the international security, have caused instability in various regions of the world and threaten the life and well-being of ordinary citizens. Moreover, the phenomenon of international terrorism is increasingly intensifying, which poses a great threat to the fate of the world," said President Emomali Rahmon. The President amongst others talked about the painful experience faced by Tajikistan during the civil war and in the new era and highlighted the importance of eradicating the factors of political, military and financial support of international terrorism. The recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka were condemned and brought as examples of transnational organized crimes committed by terrorist and extremists. The President emphasized that strengthening countries potential and their special structures to prevent terrorism, extremism and fight against them is a top priority.
Mr. Danilo Campisi, Regional Coordinator of Sub-programme 2 "International/Regional Cooperation in Legal Matters" of the UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries (RP) was invited to present the newly established Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network in West and Central Asia (ARIN-WCA) as a best practice of regional and international cooperation and a powerful instrument that is not only depriving criminals of the assets obtained through drug trafficking or transnational organized crime but also cuts across a broad range of crimes which are a key focus of UNTOC and UNCAC. Mr. Campisi gave a short background of ARIN-WCA, challenges faced and future prospects as well as highlighted that it is the beginning and it takes time to effectively cooperate across borders. It was also noted that the West and Central Asian jurisdictions with UNODC's technical assistance hope for a good progress in cross border asset recovery cooperation.
At the end of the conference a declaration what adopted by consensus.