26th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk

MINSK, 8 July (BelTA) – The General Committee on Political Affairs and Security of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) adopted the draft resolution on bolstering the OSCE’s role in counteracting terrorism during the session in Minsk on 8 July, BelTA has learned.

The document was prepared by the Russian MP Nikolai Kovalev. The document emphasizes the need to step up criminal responsibility specified by the national legislation of the OSCE member states for people, who are involved in financing, planning, preparing or committing acts of terrorism. The draft resolution also emphasizes the importance of preventing the transboundary movement of persons, weapons, and money as part of terrorism activities.

According to Nikolai Kovalev, the draft resolution is aimed at preventing international terrorism leaders from using social networks to recruit young people as militants, at preventing terrorism lobbyists from using printed mass media and other mass media channels, and at getting the OSCE PA member states to remove the conditions that allow terrorists to establish control over the territories they have penetrated and where they intend to enforce their own rules upon the population.

During the discussion two amendments were suggested by the USA and one amendment came from a Belgian MP. However, the amendments do not contradict the spirit of the document. The Belarusian side backed the resolution.

The 26^th summer session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is taking place in Minsk on 5-9 July.