RIYADH: The UN and the Riyadh-based Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology (Etidal) have signed a collaboration agreement to fight terrorism.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between the UN Counterterrorism Center (UNCCT) of the UN Office of Counterterrorism (UNOCT) and Etidal is aimed at strengthening cooperation in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.
UN under-secretary for counterterrorism and UNCCT executive director, Vladimir Voronkov, penned the MoU with Etidal secretary-general, Dr. Mansour Al-Shammari, in the presence of the Saudi permanent representative to the UN and chairman of the UNCCT advisory board, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi.
The deal is part of the UNCCT’s ongoing efforts to unite the international community in tackling the scourge of terrorism and combating the spread of extremist ideologies.
Under the terms of the MoU, a number of joint projects will be developed to support the implementation of the UN’s global counterterrorism strategy. Activities will include capacity building workshops on strategic communications to prevent violent extremism and the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, as well as awareness campaigns on youth engagement, tolerance, and support for victims of terrorism.
Al-Mouallimi said: “The memorandum of understanding with the UNCCT reflects Saudi Arabia’s keen interest and its continuous commitment to combating terrorism.”
Voronkov said: “The MoU marks the start of our plan to develop a sustainable, practical partnership between our two organizations, leveraging our respective comparative advantages in technology, analysis, and global capacity building.
“It will also allow the UNCCT and Etidal to find synergies in our work as centers of excellence in preventing and countering violent extremism and to share good practices in combatting the spread of violent extremist ideology.”
Al-Shammari noted the commitment of Etidal to support the UN’s global strategy for defeating terrorism.
“This is what we embody today in signing the MoU as we seek for cooperation and partnership in a systematic, accurate, and professional manner, using the center’s capabilities of ideological, media, and digital assets in order to achieve the desired noble goals,” he said.
UN, Saudi Arabia sign collaboration agreement to fight terrorism
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UN, Saudi Arabia sign collaboration agreement to fight terrorism
- The deal is part of UNCCT efforts to unite the international community in tackling the scourge of terrorism
- A number of joint projects will be developed to support the implementation of the UN’s counterterrorism strategy
Saudi mine-clearance project in Yemen destroys 4,235 explosive devices in a day
- Project Masam aims to rid Yemen of all mines to help ensure the highest standards of safety and security for the Yemeni people
LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam cleared 4,235 mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive devices in a single day from Bab Al-Mandab region in southwestern Yemen, as part of its mission to protect civilians.
Osama Al-Gosaibi, the project’s director general, said it aims to rid Yemen of all mines to help ensure the highest standards of safety and security for the Yemeni people.
On Wednesday, the project’s teams destroyed 33 anti-tank mines, 31 anti-personnel mines, 86 miscellaneous shells, 2,750 assorted rounds, 1,291 breakers and valves used in devices, 12 grenades, two Katyusha rockets, a missile, 15 shell arrows, and 14 other explosive devices.
Masam’s teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and areas around schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid.
The project trains local people to become demining engineers, provides them with modern equipment to do the job, and also offers support to Yemenis injured by explosive devices.
