Press release on Russia–Organisation of Islamic Cooperation consultations to combat terrorism

Alexander Zmeyevsky, Special Presidential Representative for International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism and Transnational Organised Crime, headed the Russian interdepartmental delegation, and Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs in the OIC, Ambassador Abdullah Alim headed the OIC delegation.

The sides discussed a wide range of issues regarding international cooperation in combating terrorism, including efforts to counter the spread of terrorist and extremist ideology and the financing of terrorism, as well as opportunities for strengthening international law on a counter-terrorist framework in regional and global formats. They reviewed human rights aspects of repelling terrorist threats and their compatibility with the goals of effectively thwarting manifestations of terrorism. The sides underscored the importance of involving the cooperation of countries with traditional religious communities and all of society, including media outlets, NGOs, education institutions and academic communities, in counter-terrorist efforts.

Russia and the OIC, the second-largest international organisation after the United Nations comprising 57 countries of the Islamic world in which Russia has observer status, agreed to continue regular bilateral and intra-UN dialogue on counter-terrorism issues, with the possible involvement of regional and international organisations.

That same day, OIC Secretary General Iyad bin Amin Madani met with Alexander Zmeyevsky.