SCO experts to develop ways of countering ISIL influence
TASHKENT. Sept 18 (Interfax) - Law enforcement experts of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries will develop ways to counter ISIL influence and the recruitment of their citizens, Federal Security Service First Deputy Director Gen. of the Army Sergei Smirnov told reporters after a meeting of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS).
The decision to generate such measures was made at the previous meeting in April 2015, he said. "Officers of all the competent bodies of SCO member states realize the danger presented by the activities of this group to the world community and the harm it can do to us," Smirnov said.
The experts keep working on these measures, he said. Smirnov mentioned amongst the threats posed by ISIL "an increase in the number of people who leave and eventually come back [after they are trained by ISIL] and carry on recruitment, for instance, by use of the Internet, cyberspace and a direct engagement in the activity of this group."
"They are joining other terrorist organizations we have here, I mean those in the North Caucasus. They also come to China and continue their activity there," Smirnov said.
"All competent bodies of SCO member states have such concerns," he said.
"Being the antiterrorism structure, we cannot stay away from this problem and we will do everything it takes [to deal with it]. The measures have yet to be formulated," Smirnov said.
Cooperation will develop between the six countries, he added. SCO law enforcement agencies "have been doing this work [on a bilateral basis] for a very long time, since the moment the ISIL danger emerged," Smirnov said.
