D.Tsogtbaatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, D.Gerel, Director of the General Intelligence Agency, Thomas Greminger, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and Muhammad R. Shah of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism delivered remarks at the opening chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs B.Battsetseg. In his remarks, Foreign Minister Tsogtbaatar noted, “Terrorists’ and criminals’ area of operations will be narrowed more and more with elevation of developing countries’ potential for countering terrorism and organized crime to an appropriate level.”

“We have to bear in our mind that terrorism and transnational organized crime, in particular drug trafficking are interconnected. Drug affects a person’s mental state, making them prone to violent extremism,” he added.

At the conference, around 180 participants from Asia and Europe comprising policy makers, civil society representatives, members of Counter-Terrorism Coordination Council of Mongolia, and law enforcement officials are sharing their best practice in the fight against terrorism and exchanging views on building trust through enhancement of inter- cultural and religious dialogues and harmony, ensuring public participation in development of national policies, strategies and plans to prevent and counter the crime.

Moreover, honored guests of the conference, Milan Ciganik, representative from Slovakia - 2019 OSCE chair, G.Munkhtsetseg, Member of Parliament, and Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary shared their stance on promoting inter-religious dialogues and harmony to prevent transnational organized crime and improving laws on prevention of the crime.

The regional conference will take place until June 21.