High-level Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) encourages Leaders of States to Fight Terrorism For Peace, Security and Human Rights

UNODC participated at high-level Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) which was held on 11 to 12 October 2021 in Astana, Kazakhstan and delegates met with H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.  

 

The CICA is a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It gathered some 100 high-level officials including Ministers of Foreign Affairs Bahrain, Belarus, India, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations.  

They discussed the current security situation in the CICA area, economic development in the post pandemic period, enhancement of international cooperation in combating new challenges and threats.  

 

Welcoming the participants of the meeting, H.E. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted that the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, initiated by Kazakhstan was transformed into a continental platform with a wide geographical representation and a comprehensive agenda. 

According to H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: “Today, CICA has the appropriate potential to consolidate the collective will and wisdom of Asian states in the interests of peace, cooperation and development”. 

During the Conference, the Ministers stressed that terrorism, separatism and extremism coupled with human rights abuses, financial crises and environmental degradation which affect lives of millions of people around the world.

They expressed deep concern about the security challenges in Asia and beyond, caused by the threat of terrorism and the actions of terrorist organizations. The ministers reiterated their commitment to work together to prevent and suppress terrorism, including cross-border movements of terrorists, through increased international solidarity and cooperation, in full recognition of the United Nations’ central role and implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in the CICA area of responsibility. Conference participants stressed the importance of comprehensive measures in the fight against terrorism.

 

CICA participants emphasized the need to undertake cooperation within the CICA framework in the area of ensuring security of and in the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), acknowledging the leading role of the United Nations as the main multilateral fora for deliberating and searching for consensus on these issues, and reaffirm their commitment to jointly counter the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for criminal purposes or other purposes that are inconsistent with objectives of maintaining international peace, stability and security.

They believe that strengthening data protection is a matter of national security, public interest and personal rights for all CICA Member States.

During the Meeting special attention was paid to the situation in Afghanistan. The high-level CICA representatives emphasized that restoration of peace and economic development in Afghanistan based on an inclusive negotiated political settlement is key for security and stability in the CICA region.

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist at

UNODC ROCA

+996775987817 WhatsApp

Vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org