HE Nasser bin Abdulaziz al-Nasr, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations has urged participants of the Doha Forum to strengthen co-operation among international communities, non-governmental organisations and civil society institutions to address the roots of terrorism and extremism.
Addressing a session on security, which brought together a number of UN officials along with foreign and defence ministers and discussed the regional situation and means to meet the global challenges, al-Nasr, stressed that that extremism and terrorism grow when human rights are violated and the aspirations of the people are ignored.
The lack of prosperity in communities leads to marginalisation, exclusion and unemployment among youth which prompt extremism, he added.
He said the role of communities is to provide channels and means of social, economic and political integration to ensure the right to work, he said, stressing that the fulfilment of these elements would limit the risks posed by violent extremism and terrorism especially.
Al-Nasr said Alliance of Civilizations is one of the soft means created in order to contribute to a more secure and peaceful world through tackling extremism and radicalism, promoting cultural exchange and addressing the problems and challenges facing the contemporary world.
Participants at the Forum stressed the importance of regional and international co-operation to combat extremism and violence, in addition to the need for the United Nations to play its role without any discrimination.
For his part, the President of the 70th session Mogens Lykketoft said the challenges faced by the Middle East are various, referring to Syria and Yemen conflicts, the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the flow of refugees to Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, the escalation of tension between the regional powers and sectarian divisions that promote violent extremism along with climate change and land degradation in areas where there is no sharing of wealth.
He urged governments to take more initiatives aimed at ending divisions and tensions that deprive millions of people of hope for a better future, stressing the United Nations’ role in implementing further initiatives in this regard.
For her part, Argentinian Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra said peace, security and stability play a pivotal and significant role in achieving international and regional balance, asserting that building confidence, promoting transparency, participation and political consensus are basic pillars for enhancing global security as one of the main universal values.
Addressing the current challenges requires enhancing dialogue between all parties, implementing international law and bringing together international efforts to tackle the issues facing the world, she went on saying.
 She stressed the importance of meeting peoples’ need, the empowerment of women, unconventional solutions and promoting regional and international integration.