Multisector effort to combat terrorism

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Kyrgyz authorities hosted a conference Tuesday aimed at engaging the government, civil society and the private sector to jointly combat terrorism.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe set up the two-day conference to bring top authorities from Central Asian governments together with security officials, the private sector and international organizations in order to develop new partnerships to combat terrorism in the region, the OSCE reported.

Officials say the conference, held in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, was organized to examine the role of the banking sector, religious organizations and non-governmental organizations operating in Central Asia and how they can work with government authorities and defense officials to address the root causes of extremist ideologies.

"The multiple forms of terrorism require a coherent and coordinated response that calls for measures both from government and civil society; from the public and private financial sectors; from the uniformed and non-uniformed services; and from ordinary citizens, all working together in the face of a shared danger," Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, head of the OSCE Center in Bishkek, said in a statement.