CIS Security Services coordinate efforts to fight challenges
The issues of security and the fight against terrorism were the main topics of discussions in Baku, as the city hosted a meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Bodies and Special Services of the CIS on September 28.
The issues of security and the fight against terrorism were the main topics of discussions in Baku, as the city hosted a meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Bodies and Special Services of the CIS on September 28.
The day before they were received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who voiced belief that the discussions during the meeting will be held in a spirit of cooperation, mutual understanding and support.
“We attach great importance to the activities of the Council, we believe that it is very effective, it contributes to strengthening of cooperation between the member countries, as well as the strengthening of security in our countries,” the president said.
President Aliyev further emphasized that the world is changing, while the threats are growing. “Along with the traditional threats, new ones emerge - new hotbeds of tension, conflicts, threats of a terrorist nature, which covered almost all the continents,” the president said.
The president underlined that without collaboration, cooperation, joint efforts in the fight against terrorism, radicalism, extremism it is very difficult to provide security.
“Terrorist organizations have access to a very dangerous type of weapons, technology and, of course, all this is of great concern,” he noted.
“Azerbaijan pays a great attention to this sphere. Our special services are equipped with modern technology and equipment, their professionalism and efficiency increases. Of course, for our part, we will always work closely with partner countries,” President Aliyev stressed.
President Aliyev went on saying that the CIS countries are now able to share very important experience of interaction of peoples with different history, culture, traditions and religion. “This is our greatest asset. In previous years, maybe we did not perceive these issues as prevalent. It seemed to us that this is the way it should be. In fact, it is as it should be,” he said.
“In our countries, all peoples live in peace and mutual understanding. This, I believe, is a great merit of our peoples and, of course, the leadership, which pursues the correct policy in this direction,” the President said.
The Chairman of the Council of Heads of the CIS Countries' Security, the Director of the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service), Alexander Bortnikov, in turn, noted that the threat of terrorism is the main issue to be discussed at the meeting: ‘assessment of threats to countries outside the CIS, and the development of countermeasures to them,’ he said.
The 41st meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services of the CIS countries covered a wide spectrum of security issues in the CIS, including the fight against terrorism and religious extremism, and transnational organized crime.
Chairman of Azerbaijan State Security Service Madat Guliyev, who addressed the event, said that only through joint efforts and coordination, exchange of experience and information concerning counteraction to modern challenges and threats, such as terrorism and extremism, aggressive separatism and organized crime, it is possible to achieve effective results in ensuring stability and security of states.
“It has taken a relatively short time since our meeting in Minsk, and the 15th meeting of Heads of Special Services, Security Agencies and Law Enforcement Agencies of foreign states in St. Petersburg this July. During this time, the world and our countries experienced events that have had a definite impact on the nature of the operating environment. New threats and challenges have been identified, that require joint discussion and development of common approaches to address them,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Fuad Alasgarov, Head of the Department for Law Enforcement Bodies at the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, said that for almost 20 years, meetings in this format are one of the most effective international platforms for discussing critical issues.
He noted that despite the international community's efforts, the level of these threats is not reduced, and the situation remains complicated.
Alasgarov mentioned that particularly, the area of distribution of the so-called jihadist ideology, associated with the activities of “Islamic State” terrorist group, increased and this threats the world security.
The growing threat of spread of radical religious ideology and formation of “Islamic State” terrorist organizations in the CIS makes it necessary to strengthen the cooperation of all partners.
In recent years, Azerbaijan has gained considerable experience in combating terrorism, religious extremism and other threats to national security, Alasgarov said, adding that the country is constantly improving the legislation.
Other participants of the meeting also agreed that the special services of the CIS countries intend to develop joint measures to combat "Islamic state" and the spread of the radical religious ideology.
Representatives of several European countries attended the 41st meeting in Baku as observers.