On 16 April 2015, on the margins of a three-day follow-up visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan, the delegation representing the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee met with the Director of the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (RATS SCO), Mr. Zhang Xinfeng.
Following up to discussions held in New York in October 2014, parties discussed regional responses to the current threats and challenges, including: foreign terrorist fighters, terrorists’ abuse of the Internet, and violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism. An estimated 2,500 persons from SCO Member States have left to participate in terrorist activities in Syria and Iraq, some with families and children. The Executive Directorate of CTC (CTED) briefed RATS SCO on global initiatives, including the upcoming special meetings of the Counter-Terrorism Committees.
In addition to experts from CTED, the delegation also included representatives from other United Nations bodies and partner international and regional organisations. The delegation was led by CTED Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Weixiong Chen.
RATS SCO, headquartered in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), is a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which serves to promote cooperation of Member States against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, which it refers to as “the three evil forces.” RATS SCO includes six Member States (the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan), five observers, and three dialogue partners. More information is available here.