Putin Stresses Need for Deeper International Cooperation Against Terrorism

The Russian security services should intensify forces in anti-terrorism fight, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian security forces should intensify their collaboration with foreign partners in combating terrorism, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

"We must strengthen [our] cooperation with foreign partners through international organizations, first of all, of course, the United Nations, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization," Putin said.

Speaking at the expanded Interior Ministry Board, Putin noted that the ministry’s area of responsibility includes efforts to combat extremism and terrorism.

"The Ministry of Interior, all law enforcement agencies and special services should step up [their] work to preempt and suppress the activities of radicals, who attempt to use nationalist and extremist slogans, as well as criminal groups which, as we know, sometimes coalesce with terrorists and serve as their source of funding," he stressed.

Putin underscored the same need for cooperation with international and regional groups at a Federal Security Service (FSB) board meeting on February 26.