Algeria willing to share counterterrorism expertise
Ambassador Amar Bendjama chaired Wednesday in New York a public meeting on the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the recommendations of the Committee by Southeast European states.
The meeting, part of the work program of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), of which Algeria holds the presidency, was an opportunity for the Algerian diplomat to express Algeria's condolences to the victims of the latest terrorist attack in Burkina Faso, before hailing the efforts made by countries in the region to combat the terrorist threat.
He also stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation in this fight, drawing on Algeria's experience in combating the scourge of terrorism.
While acknowledging the relatively low risk of terrorist attacks in Southeast Europe at present, Ambassador Bendjama said that Algeria shared the concerns raised about organized crime and trafficking networks in the region, which could facilitate terrorist financing and recruitment.
"Constant vigilance is paramount,” he insisted.
On this occasion, he reiterated Algeria's readiness to share its expertise in implementing a comprehensive, rules-based approach to combating terrorism, with interested countries in the region, as well as its commitment to cooperating to address the interconnected threats of terrorism, organized crime and human trafficking.
The meeting provided an opportunity for representatives of the countries in the region to make their contributions to the briefing, highlighting the threats they face and the efforts they are making in this area.
The debate was also enriched by contributions from the Under-Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office against Terrorism (UNOCT), the Assistant to the UN Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC).
The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) was set up under Resolution 1373 adopted by the Security Council in 2001, to monitor the implementation of this resolution by member states. It works closely with countries to help them implement UN resolutions on counter-terrorism.
As the current Chair of the Committee, Algeria plays a central role in monitoring the implementation of counter-terrorism resolutions by States, and its recognized experience in this field gives it credibility in promoting a global approach to the fight against the terrorist threat.