EU, UN to step up counter-terrorism cooperation

BRUSSELS, May 26 (KUNA) -- EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and UN Undersecretary General for Counter-Terrorism discussed cooperation in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism late Friday.
The two sides also discussed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' efforts to reform and strengthen the UN's counter-terrorism work during the meeting held in Brussels.
In a joint press release, Mogherini and Undersecretary General Vladimir Voronkov said they spoke of possible steps the UN Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) could take in further developing global counterterrorism policy, and in coordinating capacity-building efforts undertaken by the various UN entities in support of UN Member States.
Mogherini confirmed the European Union's commitment to the fight against terrorism both internally and globally, with full respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law.
Their meeting took place on the occasion of the first high-level EU-UN Leadership Dialogue on Counter-Terrorism. The Dialogue initiated a new spirit of practical collaboration aimed at strengthening multilateral coordination efforts in counter-terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism.
Discussions centered on collaboration between the UN and the EU in areas of common concern such as addressing the challenges of retuning/relocating foreign terrorist fighters, counter-terrorism capacity building efforts in Central Asia, South and South-East Asia, the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin.
Both sides agreed on the need to adopt an "all of society" approach to preventing violent extremism and to include civil society organizations, the private sector, think tanks, as well as with governments at national and local levels in the process, noted the press release.
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism was established in June 2017 to provide leadership on the implementation of General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates, to enhance coordination and coherence, and to strengthen the delivery of the United Nations counter-terrorism capacity building assistance to member-states, it added. (end) nk.ag