Military

DATE=03/27/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-288029

TITLE=RUSSIA TERRORISM FORUM (S)

BYLINE=SONJA PACE

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Delegates from Russia, Europe and Central Asia have gathered in Saint Petersburg, Russia, for an international forum on combating terrorism. V-O-A's Sonja Pace reports from Moscow.

TEXT: The hundreds of delegates taking part in the two-day forum were greeted with a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressing the need for global cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

The meeting was organized by the Council of Europe and the inter-parliamentary assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which includes most of the countries that once belonged to the former Soviet Union.

Delegates will discuss ways to better share information; to harmonize existing legislation to fight terrorism; and to crack down on funding for organized crime and terrorist groups.

Wednesday's forum comes on the heels of an unprecedented meeting in Saint Petersburg of some of the world's most-powerful intelligence and security services. The aim of that gathering was also how to better cooperate in the campaign against international terrorism. (signed).

NEB/SP/WD