New York, October 08 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has reaffirmed its strong commitment to combating terrorism and violent extremism, expressing readiness to continue close cooperation with the United Nations and international and regional partners in a way that contributes to promoting international peace and security and fostering a safer and more stable global environment.

This came in the State of Qatar's statement, delivered by Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Abdulaziz Fadala Al Sulaiti, before the United Nations General Assembly Sixth Committee Agenda Item 109:آ Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, at the UN headquarters in New York.

Al Sulaiti reiterated the State of Qatar's unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of its motives or justifications, and its absolute rejection of any attempt to associate terrorism with any religion, culture, or people. He emphasized that combating this scourge requires a sincere collective commitment to the principles of international law, respect for human rights, avoiding selectivity or politicization in counterterrorism efforts, and refraining from using it as a pretext to violate rights or discriminate against peoples living under occupation, who are guaranteed the legitimate right to self-determination by international law.

He further explained that the State of Qatar contributed during the 2023 UN Counter-Terrorism Week to the launch of the Compendium of Good Practices on monitoring and evaluating counter-terrorism and preventionآ of violent extremism initiatives, in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), to provide governments and civil society with evidence-based, practical tools to address the root causes of extremism.

He noted that Qatar continues to support intercultural and interfaith dialogue, promote mutual understanding, and protect religious and cultural sites, out of its recognition of the importance of these efforts in countering hate speech and preventing extremism.

The State of Qatar actively participates in multilateral forums to combat terrorism, foremost among them the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), whose coordination meeting will be hosted in Doha later this month, Al Sulaiti said.

In this context, he noted that the State of Qatar continues its role as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and supports regional efforts within the framework of the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, through information sharing and close coordination to confront common terrorist threats.
In terms of partnership with the United Nations, the State of Qatar is proud to be the main partner of UNOCT, he said, pointing out that since 2020, the State of Qatar has committed to providing USD 15 million annually to the UN Trust Fundآ forآ Counter-Terrorism, making it the office's largest donor, accounting for 37% of total contributions, with cumulative funding reaching USD 139 million by the end of 2024. This support has enabled the Office to plan long-term projects and implement core programs covering all pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. In 2023 alone, Qatar's contributions helped the Office implement 40 capacity-building programs.

He underlined that recent global developments have shown that terrorism remains a complex and evolving threat, as terrorist organizations continue to exploit advancements in technology and cyberspace to spread propaganda and recruit new members. There are also increasing links between terrorism and transnational organized crime, including illicit arms trafficking and terrorism financing, he added.
Al Sulaiti also stressed that this necessitates the development of more comprehensive and adaptable approaches, based on prevention, strengthened international cooperation, and the use of innovation and behavioral sciences to confront these challenges.

The Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations noted that the success of international efforts to eradicate terrorism requires multilateral action that addresses all its dimensions, including its root causes, while ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights. He affirmed that the State of Qatar will continue to play an active role and maintain a strategic partnership with the United Nations and member states, in order to build national and regional capacities capable of confronting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. (QNA)