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17:50 GMT
TUNIS, Jan 4 (KUNA) -- The Arab Interior Ministers' Council (AIMC) makes the combat against extremism and terrorism a top priority to ensure security and stability, said Secretary-General of the Council Mohammad Bin Ali Kuman on Sunday.
In a message marking the Arab Week for Awareness of the Dangers of Extremism and Terrorism which started on January 1, Kuman called, in a statement on Sunday, for scaling up cooperation among the Arab countries to address the security challenges.
"This occasion provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of programs aiming to raise the public awareness about the risks, posed by the menace of extremism and terrorism, to the international peace and security, he said.
AIMC works to activate the joint efforts of its member states in various areas related to combating extremism and terrorism through a package of programs, strategies executive action plans, specialized teams and data bases, Kuman pointed out.
Terrorism is one of the most horrible crimes that could intimidate not only individuals but the community in its entirety and inflict large-scale human and material damage.
This crime poses a flagrant transgression on human rights and freedoms, foment hate speech and discrimination, cause damage to property and infrastructure, and hinder economic growth and development, in addition to the long-run psychological and social impacts, he cautioned.
Kuman called for adopting an integrated approach to combating extremism through individual and collective actions within the framework of the updated Arab strategy adopted in 2022.
The Arab strategy for combatting extremism and terrorism was the first regional action consistent with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006.
AIMC endorsed the executive plan of the Arab strategy in 2023, the Council's chief recalled. (end)
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