Dacic: Serbia committed to fighting radicalism

Dacic: Serbia committed to fighting radicalism

He noted that there are "radical Muslim preachers in the Raska District and in Kosovo-Metohija who preach religion in an extremist way in foreign-funded religious centers and are also recruiting the young for the so-called religious wars."

The number of mercenaries from Serbia, mainly from the Raska District and Kosovo and Metohija, is small compared to the total number of mercenaries in extremist groups, Dacic told a panel discussion on how to stop the tide of radicalization.

He said that the total number of people from Serbia in extremist groups abroad adds up to over 100, but the figure is not negligible for Serbia, having in mind the potential consequences upon their return after the training by religious fanatics.

The panel discussion in the Italian Embassy organized by the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence gathered Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Paolo Gentiloni and Vice President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States Ivan Vejvoda.

Balkans threatened

Due to its location, the Balkan region is threatened by radicalism, terrorism and extremism from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and Italy is a target as well, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said during the panel.

It is commendable that Western Balkan countries have established measures to oppose radicalization, Gentiloni said Tuesday during a panel discussion on stopping the tide of radicalisation, noting that it is important to exchange information on departures of foreign fighters for jihad.

For Italy and the Western Balkans, the link between organized crime and terrorism and radicalism is the main reason for concern, Gentiloni noted.

Tribal divisions in Syria and Iraq are becoming deeper and pose a threat to our countries, he said.

Islam itself is our partner - it is important that the Islamic world is with us, and radical groups can only be defeated with support from the Islamic communities, especially the Sunni community in Iraq and the region, Gentiloni said.