The State of Qatar partook in the 14th Ministerial Meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) at the roundtable on addressing critical challenges in counterterrorism in Africa held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Qatar’s delegation was headed by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi.
In his address to the conference, HE Dr Al Khulaifi stressed that the State of Qatar values the forum’s added contribution to fostering a long-term strategic guideline to addressing the challenges posed by terrorism and violent extremism. He commended the forum’s progress over the past years, especially in developing framework documents for good practices and guidelines in several critical areas to improve national capacities, strategies, and plans.
He also welcomed the objectives of the forum’s five working groups for the next two years and commended the efforts made through endeavours by forum members in emerging areas of concern. Additionally, he stressed the State of Qatar’s role as a founding country and participant in addressing the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), to which the State of Qatar has made substantial financial contributions.
He stressed that fighting the threat of terrorism, which affects all nations, needs broad international coordination. He called for measures to be aligned with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, enabling the forum to collaborate with the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, particularly through the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. He stated that the State of Qatar renewed its strategic conglomerate with the office this year and remains its biggest supporter of strategic initiatives and successful programs.
Qatar continuously urged for a comprehensive approach to eliminating terrorism, which includes necessary security efforts. The Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the State of Qatar’s active membership in engagements such as the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and its bilateral and multilateral security collaboration.
Moreover, he reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s commitment as a global partner to supporting African countries in addressing critical challenges, especially counterterrorism. He stressed the State of Qatar’s efforts to provide contributions and initiatives that address the root causes of violent extremism and terrorism, including keeping peace, stability, and conflict resolution, which are abundant grounds for extremism. He added that the State of Qatar also funds education, employment, and improved living conditions, as well as recovery from disasters, measures carried out by Qatari organizations such as Education Above All and Silatech, which focus many of their activities on Africa.
The State of Qatar condemns all acts of terrorism, regardless of motives, perpetrators, time, or place. Qatar is committed to relevant international and regional arrangements and its active role in forums such as this one to eliminate terrorism.