QNA/New York

Qatar has rejected  attempts to link terrorism with any religion, and reiterated the importance of addressing the root causes of the phenomenon.
This came in a statement of the State of Qatar to the UN sixth Committee (Legal) on “Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism”, delivered by Yasser Ali al-Malik, a member of Qatar’s delegation participating in the 70th session of UN General Assembly in New York.
Qatar also reaffirmed its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of its motives or objectives and by whomever and wherever it is committed.
Qatar stressed that it will continue its efforts to implement its obligations in the fight against terrorism and address its root causes in accordance with the international law and the UN resolutions, and in co-operation with the relevant UN agencies and member-states.
Yasser Ali al-Malik said that global developments have shown that the global community has become more aware of the seriousness of the threat that terrorism poses to international peace and security due to the expansion of terrorist groups across the borders.
He renewed Qatar’s position that the desired counter-terrorism results will not be achieved through military and security means alone. He reiterated the importance of addressing the root causes of terrorism and eliminating the circumstances leading to it, stressing that this requires commitment to international conventions and resolutions.
He added that the recent period has shown that the absence of the rule of law, violations of the rights of peoples and individuals, atrocities committed in many parts of the world and the international community’s delay or reluctance to take action contributed to the creation of favourable conditions for the growth of terrorism, and that linking terrorism with a particular religion, doctrine or race helped extremist organisations to target the minds of young people and recruit them.
He stressed that Qatar rejects and strongly condemns any attempt to link the crime of terrorism with any religion, culture or race, considering that the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is the basic document guiding our collective efforts, praising in this regard the co-operation and efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force.
Al-Malik said that Qatar will participate very effectively in the working group in order to complete the process relating to the comprehensive convention on international terrorism, and in holding a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations for this purpose, and in accordance with what is stated in the decision of the 69th session of UN General Assembly.
In this regard, he stressed that the convention should include a specific definition of terrorism and not linked to a particular religion, race or culture and confirm the international community’s commitment to strengthening co-operation in the fight against terrorism, as well as the need to distinguish between terrorism, legitimate resistance to foreign occupation, self-defence and the right to self-determination of people under occupation.
Al-Malki believed that the lack of such an convention is a legal vacuum for terrorist organisations and international criminals to benefit from.  
Yasser Ali al-Malik said that the State of Qatar has continued its efforts at the national, regional and international levels to implement the UN Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the UN resolutions, noting to the latest decision of the 69th session of UN General Assembly.
In this regard, he listed the following actions taken by the State of Qatar:
♦ Competent authorities in the state are working with the UN counter-terrorism committee executive directorate to develop a comprehensive national strategy to combat terrorism.
♦ Exchanging visits and workshops between the competent national authorities and between the UN counter-terrorism committee executive directorate and the implementation task force in the fight against terrorism.
♦ “Silatech”, a Qatar-based social enterprise, intensified activities at the regional level in organising workshops for young people from countries in the region, and is working to train them and raise their awareness to prevent them joining extremist organisations.
♦ Continuing the co-operation within the framework of the Global Forum for combating terrorism and providing financial support for the forum’s programmes to combat violent extremism.
♦ Signing several bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding in the field of security co-operation to combat terrorism with a number of countries.
♦ Enhancing co-operation between national and foreign and international judicial authorities in the field of counter-terrorism.
Al-Malik added that Qatari institutions are playing an important role in the fight against terrorism.