UAE will continue to cooperate with partners to combat terrorism, says Noura Al Kaabi at UN

Gulf Today Report

Noura Bint Muhammad Al-Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, delivered the statement of the United Arab Emirates at the Security Council meetings held in New York, regarding “examining threats to international peace and security as a result of terrorist acts: the global approach to combating terrorism - principles and future prospects.”

At the beginning of the speech, she said: “During the past two decades, and through this organization, our country has taken many measures and policies to address the terrorist threat to international peace and security, the most prominent of which is the Security Council’s adoption of historic Resolution 1373, in response to one of the biggest challenges of this era that undermines stability and prosperity.

Despite the great efforts made by the international community over the past decades, the global terrorist threat continues to evolve, as its scope has become more widespread and its tactics more complex. Terrorist groups are still exploiting natural resources to finance their operations and modern technology to launch their terrorist attacks across borders.

She continued: “We have made great strides in our path towards strengthening international cooperation, building capacities, and developing effective strategies and means to combat terrorism, but we also realize that the road to eliminating terrorism is still long, therefore, this international momentum must be preserved and we remain vigilant in identifying deficiencies and preventing Exploitation of loopholes. We must also be more flexible to keep pace with the methods of terrorist groups, and we must even be proactive to prevent extremism and terrorism.

During the speech, she stressed the need to focus on three main points to confront extremism and terrorism, the first of which is on the expansion of the geographical scope of terrorist activities, as the African continent, like others, has not escaped the scourge of this menace, as it has become nearly half of the victims of terrorism in the world, and terrorist groups resort to it in search of shelter and a breeding ground for them.

Therefore, it is no longer possible for the Council to focus solely on some terrorist groups and not others, especially in light of the transnational nature of the terrorist threat, which necessitates harnessing all the tools available to the Security Council, including the sanctions committees, to limit the activities of terrorist groups. Regional and local efforts must also be supported, and coordination with actors, including women and youth, must be intensified, first of all.

Secondly, terrorists used sophisticated means and methods: terrorist groups have proven their ability to exploit technological advances, including drones and digital currencies, to achieve their goals. Accordingly, the Delhi Declaration on Combating the Use of New and Emerging Technologies for Terrorist Purposes represents an important step, which we look forward to building on to bridge these gaps and develop solid regulatory frameworks in which the government and private sectors participate locally and globally.

As for the third axis, it is to confront terrorism in all its forms through the development of comprehensive and multilateral strategies, whose essence is based on prevention of extremism. We will not be able to eliminate terrorism without exposing extremist ideologies that fuel violence and hatred and incite killing and destruction.

Therefore, we must immunize our societies from extremism and address its root causes, by spreading awareness and consolidating the values of tolerance. From this standpoint, my country hosted the “Human Fraternity Conference,” which witnessed the signing of the “Human Fraternity Document for World Peace and Coexistence” by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam, Sheikh Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Ahmed Al-Tayeb, in order to activate dialogue on coexistence and brotherhood among people and to promote these values globally.

At the end of the statement, I affirmed that the presidential statement that was adopted indicates that terrorism is still at the top of the Security Council's priorities, and as Chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee next year, the UAE will build on what was achieved during India's presidency this year, and we will continue to cooperate with our colleagues in the Council until The Counter-Terrorism Committee can carry out its mandate and achieve security, stability and prosperity in our societies.

It is noteworthy that the meetings of the Council were held this year under the chairmanship of the Republic of India, and many others and issues related to terrorism were discussed. Next year, India will hand over the presidency of the Council to the UAE.