OSCE explores ways to prevent extremism in the Balkans

OSCE explores ways to prevent extremism in the Balkans

Experts discuss approaches to counter radicalisation of potential terrorists.

The OSCE and the Balkan countries are working to address political and socio-economic factors that lead to radicalisation and recruitment of terrorists, officials said.

The OSCE organised a seminar in Skopje that brought together 50 security experts, government and civil society representatives.

The recent gathering was part of a series of seminars in the past two years organised by the OSCE's transnational threats department.

In Skopje, participants discussed the broader context of the threat of violent extremism that leads to terrorism, and how public-private partnerships, community policing and regional police co-operation can prevent and combat terrorism.

Police co-operation is crucial to regional security given the threat posed by returning Islamic fighters from the Middle East, said Ralf Breth, head of the OSCE mission to Macedonia.

"Radical groups work jointly and go to training camps in other countries to learn more. It usually ends in terrorist activities. The terrorism often comes back to the country where these people originate from. So our idea is to exchange information on the roots of the problem and create a strategy for how to attack this problem together," Breth said.

Experts also said the new approach should seek to counter the factors leading to radicalisation through providing training and practical tools for police, religious and community leaders as well as government and NGO personnel to design effective anti-radicalisation programmes.

There are two kinds of factors that radicalise returning Islamic fighters, according to Blagoja...