TIRANA, March 10 – Early warning and conflict prevention brought together diplomats and experts in Tirana on Thursday to discuss threats of terrorism, radicalization and foreign fighters. The conference organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Albanian Institute for International Studies came in the frame of the German chairmanship of the rotating OSCE presidency.
Speaking at the event, German ambassador to Albania Hellmut Hoffmann said Germany had assumed the OSCE chairmanship in turbulent times. He cited German Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier when he stressed that “Germany is assuming its new role in turbulent times. Facing what may be the most serious crisis to peace and security in Europe since the end of the Cold War, Germany stands ready to take on this responsibility.”
“Terrorism can hit everyone of us. States cannot act on their own and early warning can defuse conflicts,” said Ambassador Hoffmann.
AIIS executive director Albert Rakipi described terrorism and foreign fighters joining ISIS as a global threat different from classical terrorism as the so-called Islamic State is promising fighters a state and basic services they may lack in the areas where they come from.
“Radicalization is a global phenomenon. It might become a threat to the unique religious harmony in Albania,” said Rakipi.
The Albanian Institute for International Studies has been researching on radicalism after more than 100 Albanian citizens were reported to have joined ISIS, focusing on what drives them to join extremist violence.
The AIIS study has unveiled most of Albanian fighters in Syria come from poor undeveloped areas where they live in isolation and are lured to join ISIS because of socio-economic conditions.
Participants in the conference urged tackling high unemployment rates among youth and improving living conditions in order to prevent the risk of radicalization which could undermine Albania’s religious co-existence.
