Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola today participated , participated today in a Symposium on International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation in New York.
The Minister who is currently in New York to attend the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly attended the symposium which brought together world leaders in a discussion on effective responses to the scourge of terrorism.
The various causes of terrorism discussed included economic disparity, political and economic marginalisation, poverty, and prolonged unresolved conflicts.
Panelists highlighted that responses to terrorism must be comprehensive, principled and consistent –addressing the root causes of terrorism with a view to encouraging a culture of peace and toleration, and ensuring that the responses do not in themselves create greater resentment that feeds into terrorism.
Participants at the symposium noted that responses must be not just in areas of law enforcement, but also through soft power approaches to counter radicalisation including education, to encourage peaceful moderation, and to incorporate a development component.
New threats such as those posed by linkages between international organised crime and terrorism, and cyber-terrorism, were also highlighted as necessary to be incorporated into global and local responses.
A number of speakers spoke of the synergy needed between multilateral, regional and national strategies, as well as approaches by private actors and institutions.
In all, cooperation was highlighted as crucial for effective responses to terrorism. Capacity building for all States to respond to terrorism at all levels, from legislative support to cross-border cooperation and law enforcement was also highlighted as necessary for success of the global effort.
The symposium, hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, was conducted through three panel discussions, led by panelists including the Honourable Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; Dr Marty Natalegawa, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia; Mr Eric Holder, Attorney-General of the US; Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia; Trinidad Jiménez García-Herrera, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain; Mohammed Kamel Amr, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt; Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Minister of Pakistan; Roza Otunbayeva, President of Kyrgyzstan; and the Right Honourable Teresa May, Home Secretary of the United Kingdom.
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