This conference aims to: enhance state control of the legal production, trade and use of explosive and precursor substances; enhance capacity for effective regional co-operation and efficient mutual legal assistance in terrorist cases and in criminal matters pertaining to the terrorist use of explosives substances; better identify the role of international and regional organizations can play in supporting the interdiction of the use of explosives and its precursors for terrorist purposes.

Home made explosive devices are the weapon of choice of terrorists. They require limited skills to build and provide dramatic results for very little investment of time, money and effort.

Lawful use of explosives and precursor substances is widely used in the pyrotechnics, construction, mining, engineering, agriculture and chemical sectors. Hence proper control and monitoring of all substances is difficult, also due to a high number of individuals handling them on a daily basis. Central to improving current regimes governing the control and monitoring of explosive and precursor substances is a need for close co-operation among public institutions, industry and research agencies, at the national, regional and international levels.

Exchanging experiences, good practices and information among national practitioners, international experts and private industry, in the area of countering the terrorist use of explosive substances is vital to harmonize work on legal and structural mechanisms to strengthen control of explosive substances.

This conference, organized by the OSCE Secretariat's Transnational Threats Department / Action against Terrorism Unit (TNT/ATU), in co-operation with the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch, will also contribute to the implementation of relevant Universal Anti-Terrorism Instruments (UATIs) in national legislation and thereby also contribute to preventing terrorist attacks with these substances.

Expected participants are from:

• Ministries of Interior, Industry, Agriculture, Defense and Foreign Affairs; Security Services and Law Enforcement as well as other authorities dealing with the control of explosives and precursor substances;
• Private sector participants from the chemical, agriculture, defense, and other relevant industries and related scientific research institutions;
• International, regional and sub-regional organizations as appropriate.

We encourage those wishing to participate in the Conference, to contact their national relevant authorities. The contact person for this conference in the OSCE is Mr. Manuel Marion, Senior Programme Officer, in the TNT/ATU (E-mail: manuel.marion@osce.org)