ZAGREB, September 10, 2019 – Opening a conference at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović said that terrorism was one of the greatest security threats and that there were not many indications that the situation would change any time soon.
All the more so because terrorist groups and their ideologists have demonstrated an exceptional ability in embracing new trends on social networks and technology, he added.
“Empowered by the internet and social media, terrorist groups have managed to attract new followers and encourage individual terrorist acts in seemingly distant locations. Recently both right-wing and left-wing extremists have used similar digital platforms,” Božinović said in his address at the conference called “Terrorism 2020: Understand the Present, Prepare for the Future.”
Božinović signed a cooperation agreement with ICT’s executive director Boaz Ganor which will enable Croatian police officers to participate in innovative training programmes in the field of homeland security and in combating terrorism.
In a statement to Hina, Ganor said he was very proud that he had signed the agreement with the Croatian Ministry of the Interior.
We all here believe that this is a growing global phenomenon that we can oppose only through international cooperation, said Ganor.
Božinović told Hina that he was honoured with the fact that he was able to open the conference that has gathered more than 1,000 experts from 60 countries. “I am certain that this agreement reflects our common values, above all, democracy and our readiness to defend them from contemporary challenges with terrorism being very high on the agenda,” said Božinović.
During his visit to Israel, Božinović will be accompanied by Croatia’s Ambassador Vesela Mrđen Korać during a meeting with Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Information Gilard Erdan and Minister of Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi.
Božinović said that the EU is particularly concerned lately because of the influence of terrorist groups in radicalising citizens who even decide to go abroad to become terrorist fighters.
“Now, following ISIL’s failure on the battlefield, focus is being shifted to returning fighters. Their number varies in European countries,” Božinović said, adding that an estimated 5,000 fighters have returned to the EU from Syria and Iraq.
Europe is struggling with ethno-nationalist and separatist terrorist groups but also with right-wing extremists who have exploited public concern over the perception of excessive migration trends in Europe, said Božinović.
That, however, has strengthened solidarity and improved cooperation between countries, he added.
Our intelligence agencies are exchanging information and working together like never before. In the meantime, we are witnessing more and more foiled terrorist plots, the minister said.
Božinović said that joint preventative operations include new directives and legislation, distribution of funds and more resources but also improved supervision of external borders, information exchange and cooperation between the private and public sectors. In particular, efforts to implement harsher laws throughout the EU which now cover a broad spectrum of terrorist acts.
As far as Southeast Europe is concerned, Božinović said that the region is particularly vulnerable even though there have not been any serious terrorist attacks there.
This is mostly due to ethnic tensions and unresolved political problems following the armed conflicts in the 1990s, migration routes across the Balkans to Western Europe, terrorists returning but also “external actors” who are trying to prevent countries in the region from joining the EU and NATO.
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