Sebastian Kurz, Chairman of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Austrian Foreign Minister, speaks during a press conference in Vienna, Austria on Jan. 12, 2017. Sebastian Kurz announced plans on Thursday for a tougher approach to counter terrorism and radicalization. (Xinhua/Liu Xiang)
VIENNA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Sebastian Kurz announced plans on Thursday for a tougher approach to counter terrorism and radicalization.
In his first address in the new role, a role he took on when Austria took over chairmanship of the OSCE on Jan. 1, Kurz said extremists presented a "massive security risk."
He announced terror expert Peter Neumann as the newly-appointed special representative in the fight against radicalization, and also said OSCE member states should work together and develop "best-pratice models" in tackling the problem.
He said it was not enough to fight Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Syria and Iraq, but that with an estimated 10,000 terrorist fighters in the OSCE region, one must also tackle radicalization.
Kurz also said there would be an anti-terrorism conference in May.
