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| Arab security officials press for unified approach to fighting terrorism | |
| 2009-06-27 | |
| [Maghrebia] The 12th Arab Conference for Combating Terrorism concluded Thursday (June 25th) in Tunis with a number of recommendations aimed at enhancing counter-terrorism efforts and promoting co-operation between relevant Arab security bodies. The two-day conference was organised by the Secretariat General of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. Delegations from 15 Arab countries and representatives from the League of Arab States, Interpol and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime attended the conference. Participants discussed a draft Arab strategy to fight money laundering and terror financing, the "mental, psychological, and social characteristics of a terrorist", the role of the internet in expanding global terrorism and the need for protections against cyber crimes and cyber terrorism. New technology makes it "easier for terrorist rings to influence weak people through TV and, most of all, the Internet", Council of Arab Interior Ministers chief Mohammad Bin Ali Koman said in his opening speech. Describing terrorism as "the incontestable crime of the age", he said that "global crime and terrorism call for global co-operation and co-ordination". More dialogue is needed to fight terrorism, participants in the conference concurred. Tolerance and understanding are other factors in that battle. They also agreed that regular citizens can play an effective role in fighting terrorism through collaboration with security forces. "Terrorism has surpassed all other forms of crime, in terms of its massive damage and perilous repercussions. It is now a thorn in the body of countries and societies," Koman told the participants. To deny terrorist groups access to financial support, participants urged the authorities to establish a firm policy to monitor this issue and analyse relevant information to keep terrorist groups from receiving any funding. They also urged development of a strategy to monitor all donations to charity institutions and social work associations, to prevent them from becoming fronts for terrorist financing. Conference president and Lebanese security official Hassan Farhat urged Arab countries to lay down strategies and identify the best means co-operate and co-ordinate counter-terrorism efforts. "Terrorism is a topic that still appears on the agendas of most conferences and meetings," said Farhat, "while no common definition has yet been reached for it at the international level." "Everyone unanimously agrees that terrorism is evil and a danger that is invading the globe."
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| Posted by:Fred |