'Qatar dealing firmly with terrorism'

Qatar is dealing firmly with the phenomenon of terrorism by issuing legislation to tackle it and enhance the country's co-operation internationally in this direction, National Counter-terrorism Committee Chairman, Major GeneralAbdulaziz Abdullah al-Ansari, has reaffirmed.

Speaking during the opening session of the seventh conference of the International Association of Police Academies and Colleges (INTERPA), which began Monday, Major General al-Ansari said Qatar has always affirmed its rejection of extremism and terrorism in all forms and manifestations, and expressed its support for all legal measures aimed at eliminating the phenomena.
He added that Qatar has dealt with this phenomenon objectively and resolutely through the enactment of several laws and regulations, including the issuance of legislation on terrorism. "It has also acceded to several conventions on terrorism at the regional and international levels and concluded bilateral agreements with fraternal and friendly countries."

President of the International Association of Police Academies and Colleges Dr Yilmaz Colak addressing the conference

Major General al-Ansari also referred to Qatar's co-operation with the counter-terrorism committees established in line with the UN Security Council resolutions as well as its constant efforts to exchange information, expertise and technical assistance in the field of security and to implement international and regional resolutions and strategies related to combating extremism and terrorism.
Since its inception in 2007, Major General al-Ansari said, the National Counter-terrorism Committee has not been working independently of other relevant authorities in the country. "When the issue of violent extremism came to light, the committee was keen to form a national working group comprising representatives of civil society and thought leaders in society to help it carry out its mandate."
This group is helping the committee in preventing the spread of extremist ideology that leads to terrorism, preventing the recruitment of individuals to join terrorist groups, promoting the values of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance of the other, and proposing media awareness plans to highlight the danger of extremist ideology and its destructive effects on society, the National Counter-terrorism Committee chairman added.
Major General al-Ansari highlighted the theme of the INTERPA conference - "New Trends in Combating Terrorism and Extremism" - saying that convening the event is a clear demonstration of being aware of the danger of extremism and terrorism at the international level.




He added that choosing extremism and terrorism as the theme of this year's edition came after the phenomenon has become a major concern for all societies. 
"There is no difference in this between developed and developing countries. There is no society on earth that is not affected by this scourge, which has led to international conviction that preventive and curative measures should be taken to confront it and control its internal and external dimensions."
The National Counter-terrorism Committee chairman noted that the agenda of the conference is full of many topics that constitute a fundamental step towards achieving its objectives, especially in relation to combating terrorism in international sporting events, political violence in addition to the issue of dissemination of fundamentalism, on which he is presenting a paper.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Police College Brigadier Dr Mohamed Abdullah al-Mohanna al-Marri said that the INTERPA conference is an opportunity to exchange views and professional experiences and to know about the challenges faced by the member countries of the International Association, paving the way for devising effective security measures and future plans that ensure the containing terrorism intellectually and practically.
During the opening session of the conference, Dr al-Marri said that this year's conference discusses the new trends in combating terrorism and extremism, pointing out that what is facing the world at this historic stage of growing extremist movements and terrorist organisations threatens the stability and security in various countries of the world.
He called for joint action and international co-operation to face the challenges using scientific methods, and to carry out in-depth research to formulate plans and programmes that contribute to the elimination of the imminent danger on the basis of information and analysis stemming from specialists in security, legal, intellectual and cultural fields and others.
Qatar's vision, under the leadership of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, in the fight against terrorism stems from the need to protect the youth not only by combating the phenomenon through security measures, but also by spreading the values of tolerance, pluralism and dialogue, Dr al-Marri said, adding that the Emir always affirms Qatar's support for the efforts made within the framework of international legitimacy to eradicate this phenomenon.
He pointed out that Qatar is moving towards the elimination of terrorism and extremism and drying up its sources, and it is one of the leading countries to adopt law Number 3 of 2004 against terrorism and its subsequent amendments.
He stressed that laws and amendments adopted by Qatar prove that it is always seeking to stand against anyone who tries to carry out a terrorist act against innocent people and spreads terror around the globe.
Director General of the Police College noted that Qatar is one of the safest countries in the world and has remained at the forefront of the Middle East and North Africa in the World Peace Index, pointing out that this has been due to the strategic approach and advanced training plans, as well as the use of the latest technical devices and systems in the security work.
President of the International Association of Police Academies and Colleges Dr Yilmaz Colak, said in his speech at the opening session that the annual conference of the association is an important platform for exchanging information, experiences and best international practices in policing and security.
The association is making great efforts to strengthen co-operation among the 76 member-states, he said, welcoming the joining of other members to enrich the experiences of regional and international police colleges and academies.
He added that the Doha edition is one of the most important conferences in view of the number of participants who include members of the association and representatives of a number of international organisations specialised in security.
Dr Colak also noted the importance of the theme of this year's conference, "New Trends in Countering Terrorism and Extremism", stressing that the phenomenon of terrorism is not limited to a particular country but has implications for the whole world, and that all the countries of the world may become a potential target of terrorist attacks.
He pointed out that terrorism is based on extremist ideas, adding that cases of extremism of all kinds and forms must be studied and analysed. 
Moreover, he said that terrorism has no religion, gender or race, but it is a phenomenon that requires treatment through close international co-operation.