UNIS/CP/571
14 November 2008

States from Central and Southeast Europe Examine Nuclear Terrorism Issues

VIENNA, 14 November (UN Information Service) - The first event to include participation by counter-terrorism and forensic experts took place in Budapest, Hungary, from 12 to 13 November. A Sub-Regional Workshop on international cooperation against terrorism hosted by Hungary saw experts from 14 Central and Southeast European States discuss best practices and legal tools in combating terrorism, particularly nuclear terrorism.

Andras Turi, Hungary's State Secretary for Law Enforcement welcomed the cooperation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and INTERPOL in trying to resolve the problem of nuclear terrorism, in line with the UN Security Council counter-terrorism resolutions.

Also on the agenda were the role of prosecutors and judges in the implementation of the conventions against terrorism, human rights aspects of international cooperation in combating terrorism and cooperation between forensic laboratories. Experts shared their experiences in prosecution and international cooperation on cases of terrorism.

Participants considered ways to facilitate international cooperation and to foster ties with the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate of the Security Council, international and regional organizations.

The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism entered into force in July 2007. UNODC assists Member States in ratifying and implementing the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism.

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For further information, please contact:

Walter Gehr
Chief, Counter-Terrorism Legal Services Section I, UNODC
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-4512
Email: walter.gehr@unodc.org