Introductory speech of the chairman of the
International Antiterrorism Unity
Alexander Dichek

Dear participants of the Forum, foreign guests, ladies and gentlemen!

Let me welcome you all who gathered here – representatives of all branches of state power, political and public figures, members of parliament, prominent scientists, specialists, practitioners, journalists and all who agreed to participate in this important and necessary discussion. Our efforts in this field are supported by the parliament, the government of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

We are grateful to everybody sharing our idea of this socially important event and supporting it for the second time as it is organized. Let me remind you, dear colleagues, that the First International Forum held in May last year resulted in the Declaration calling on world community to consolidate efforts in counteraction to international terrorism. Our today’s forum which will consider the Model of the National Program of Terrorism and Extremism Counteraction is a logical continuation of the important and constructive dialogue. Our goal is to bring the issues of the influence of international terrorism on world and national security systems, the necessity to form new approaches of systematic counteraction to this dangerous phenomenon into the spotlight of public attention stressing the importance of consolidated position of the civil forces of society.

Let me inform you that seven states are represented at this forum. Representatives of OSCE and the Council of Europe have sent their greetings. Tomorrow the Head of the Counter-Terrorism Task Force Rafael Benitez and the member of a terrorism expert group, the advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Andres Djugash will join the Forum. Our forum has accommodated more than 200 participants, 30 accredited mass media. I have to exercise the duty given to me by the organizing committee and declare the II International Antiterrorism Forum open. I welcome you all at the first stage of the Forum – plenary session.