UN to link counterterrorism centers worldwide

The United Nations wants to institute a web-based platform to exchange information in real-time as a means of improving collaboration efforts among counter-terrorism centers worldwide, Jehangir Khan, deputy director, Middle East and West Asia Division, United Nations Department of Political Affairs, said in Riyadh yesterday.
On behalf of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Khan was making the closing statement at the International Conference on UN Cooperation with Counter Terrorism Centers. The conference, held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, came to a close yesterday.
The event was organized by the UN Counter-Terrorism Center (UNCCT) and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On behalf of Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer, undersecretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Relations, inaugurated the conference on Saturday.
In attendance were representatives from 21 member states of the UNCCT Advisory Board, in addition to other participants from the UN, the European Union, the Saudi government and 28 global centers active in combating terrorism. The final session of the conference was chaired by Prince Turki.
Khan said such a web portal would potentially involve a collection of experts that would enhance the sharing of knowledge and expertise in specific areas.
Khan said that Secretary General Moon greatly appreciated the commitment of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government to international counter-terrorism efforts and the work of the United Nations in this field.
“The secretary general attaches the greatest importance to the United Nations counter-terrorism work, including the UNCCT, which is generously supported by the Kingdom.
The Kingdom contributed $ 10 million to promote UNCCT’s activities for the first three years of its existence,” he said.
“To face the challenges of terrorism,” he said, “innovative and creative strategies should be adopted by the countries both at national and global levels.” “Intellectual and economic development aspects are also vital points to be addressed since they are among the leading causes fostering terror,” he added.
Terrorism manifests itself in many different ways and nations should adopt strategies to face these challenges successfully, he said. Such challenges demand not only the exchange of information but also an improvement in the capacity to deal with terrorism by emulating the practices of countries that have dealt successfully with the problem.
Khan said the participants praised the Kingdom’s efforts to counter terrorism and the measures it took at national, regional and global levels to eliminate terror.
The delegates condemned terrorism in all its forms.
“It has no religion, no nationality and it is a global threat,” Khan said , adding that international efforts must be made to prosecute any individual involved with financing, planning or implementing acts of terror and to foil the terrorist plans with the ultimate goal of putting an end to terrorism.
The delegates admitted that terrorism profoundly disrupts the process of development in countries and impedes the efforts of government to elevate and enlighten societies and to provide the necessities of a safe and prosperous life.
The participants welcomed the idea of collaboration between the specialized centers and the UNCCT. They also expressed intentions to continue the coordination between the regional and international centers and to go forward with the ideas and plans presented at the conference.
In his concluding remarks, Prince Turki thanked the United Nations and the conference delegates.
He exhorted them to find ways to eliminate terrorism from the world. He said that the Kingdom would continue its efforts to wipe out terror and extend its cooperation at all regional and global forums to ensure that terror does not raise its ugly head.
At the end of the session, Prince Turki hosted a luncheon for all delegates. Subsequently they were taken on a tour of the Muhammed bin Naif Center for Counseling and Care in Riyadh.