Counterterrorism Special November 2017
You’ll find in this edition:
- Combating the Terrorist threats
- Saudi Arabia’s Counter-terrorism strategy reinforced
- Stopping terror-financing
- Saudi Arabia’s Milestones in overcoming terrorist financing
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Supporting extremism and terrorism will not be tolerated
For Immediate Release
Brussels, 6 July 2017. The Ambassadors of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates jointly express their disappointment with the negative response received from the State of Qatar regarding the calls for it to fulfill its obligations to stop supporting extremism and terrorism. The position taken by Qatar makes it clear that it does not intend to retract from its policies and practices threatening international, European and Arab national security and peace.
The position of our four countries, reaffirmed by our respective Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting in Cairo on July 5th, is based on the adherence to international conventions, charters and resolutions as well as the principles stipulated in the charters of the United Nations, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the conventions on combating international terrorism. The relationship between Arab peoples and the people of Qatar remains of high importance for us. We hope that wisdom prevails and that the State of Qatar makes the right decision.
In particular, we wish to emphasize the following principles, largely shared by the international community, which the State of Qatar must adhere to in order to bring itself out of isolation.
1. Commitment to combat extremism and terrorism in all its forms and to prevent their financing or the provision of safe havens.
2. Prohibiting all acts of incitement and all forms of expression which spread, incite, promote or justify hatred and violence.
3 – Full commitment to the 2013 Riyadh Agreement and the supplementary agreement and its executive mechanism for 2014 within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States.
4 – Commitment to all the outcomes of the Arab-Islamic-US Summit held in Riyadh in May 2017.
5. Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of States and from supporting illegal entities.
6. The responsibility of all States of international community to confront all forms of extremism and terrorism as a threat to international peace and security.
The four countries affirmed that supporting extremism, terrorism and interfering in the internal affairs of the Arab countries is a matter that cannot be tolerated or procrastinated and that the list of demands made to the State of Qatar came within the framework of ensuring adherence to the six principles outlined above, as well as to protecting Arab national security, maintaining international peace and security, combating extremism and terrorism, and providing the appropriate conditions to reach a political settlement in a number of the region’s crises. It is no longer possible to tolerate the destructive role being played by the State of Qatar.
The measures taken and sustained by our countries are the result of the State of Qatar’s violations of its obligations and commitments under international law and its continued interference in the affairs of Arab States and its support for extremism and terrorism and their consequent threats to the security of the region.
We are grateful and appreciate all efforts being made by the Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to resolve this crisis with the State of Qatar. We express our dismay over the State of Qatar’s negligence, lack of seriousness and its negative response in dealing with the roots of the problem, as well as its lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation.
We believe that the time has come for the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and to put an end to the support of extremism and terrorism. There is no room in the international community for any entity or party involved in practicing, supporting or financing of extremism and terrorism or for it to be a partner in the efforts of peaceful settlement of political crises in the region.
Ehab FAWZY, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Abdulrahman S. ALAHMED, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Bahiya J. ALJISHI , Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Mohamed I. ABUSHAHAB , Ambassador of United Arab Emirates
Le soutien à l’extrémisme et au terrorisme ne sera pas toléré
Communiqué de presse conjoint issu par les Ambassadeurs de la République Arabe d’Egypte, du Royaume d’Arabie Saoudite, du Royaume du Bahreïn et des Emirats Arabes Unis. (Traduction depuis la version originale en anglais)
Bruxelles le 6 juillet 2017 – Les Ambassadeurs d’Egypte, d’Arabie Saoudite, du Bahreïn et des Emirats Arabes Unis ont conjointement exprimé leur déception suite à la réponse négative qu’ils ont reçue de l’Etat du Qatar concernant l’appel de remplir ses obligations en cessant de soutenir l’extrémisme et le terrorisme. La position du Qatar confirme qu’il n’entend pas se rétracter de la politique et des pratiques qui menacent la sécurité et la paix internationale, européenne et arabe.
La position de nos quatre pays, réaffirmée par nos Ministres des Affaires Etrangères respectifs durant leur réunion au Caire le 5 juillet, est basée sur le respect des conventions internationales, les chartes et les résolutions ainsi que sur les principes stipulés dans les chartes des Nations Unies, de la ligue Arabe et l’Organisation de la Coopération Islamique, ainsi que les conventions sur la lutte contre le terrorisme international. La relation entre les peuples arabes et le peuple du Qatar reste d’une haute importance pour nous. Nous espérons que la sagesse puisse prévaloir et que l’Etat du Qatar prenne les bonnes décisions.
Nous souhaitons souligner en particulier les principes suivants, largement partagés par la communauté internationale, auxquels le Qatar doit adhérer afin de sortir de l’isolation.
- L’engagement de combattre l’extrémisme et le terrorisme dans toutes leurs formes et d’empêcher leur financement ou de les protéger.
- L’interdiction de tout acte d’incitation et toute forme d’expression qui propage, incite, promeut ou justifie la haine et la violence.
- L’engagement total à l’accord de Riyadh de 2013, à l’accord supplémentaire et ses mécanismes d’exécution pour 2014 dans le cadre du Conseil de Coopération des Pays Arabes du Golfe (C.C.G.).
- L’engagement vis-à-vis de toutes conclusions du sommet Arabe-Islamique-US tenu à Riyadh en May 2017.
- L’abstention d’intervenir dans les affaires internes des Etats et de soutenir les entités illégales.
- La responsabilité de tous les Etats de la communauté internationale est de combattre toutes les formes d’extrémisme et de terrorisme qui représentent une menace pour la paix et la sécurité internationale.
Les quatre pays affirment que le soutien à l’extrémisme, au terrorisme et l’ingérence dans les affaires internes des pays arabes, est une question qui ne peut être tolérée ou tergiversée. La liste des exigences faites à l’Etat du Qatar reflète la nécessité de garantir son adhésion aux six principes énoncés ci-dessus. Ces exigences visent à protéger la sécurité nationale arabe, maintenir la paix et la sécurité internationales, combattre l’extrémisme et le terrorisme, fournir les conditions appropriées pour parvenir à un règlement politique dans un nombre de crises régionales. Il n’est plus possible de tolérer le rôle destructif mis en œuvre par l’Etat du Qatar.
Les mesures prise et soutenues par nos pays sont le résultat des violations commises par l’Etat du Qatar contre ses obligations et engagements en vertu du droit international et son ingérence continue dans les affaires des pays arabes, de son support de l’extrémisme et du terrorisme ainsi que leur menace significative à la sécurité de la région.
Nous sommes reconnaissants et apprécions tous les efforts fournis par l’Emir de l’Etat du Koweit Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dans le but de résoudre cette crise avec l’Etat du Qatar. Nous exprimons notre consternation à l’égard de la négligence de l’Etat du Qatar, son manque de sérieux et sa réponse négative pour traiter les racines du problème, ainsi que son manque de compréhension de la gravité de la situation.
Nous croyons qu’il est temps que la communauté internationale prenne ses responsabilités et mette fin au soutien de l’extrémisme et du terrorisme. Il n’y a pas de place au sein de la communauté internationale pour les parties ou les entités qui pratiquent ou financent l’extrémisme et le terrorisme, ou pour être partenaire des efforts de règlements pacifiques des crises politiques dans la région.
Ehab FAWZY, Ambassadeur de la République Arabe d’Egypte
Abdulrahman S. ALAHMED, Ambassadeur du Royaume d’Arabie Saoudite
Bahiya J. ALJISHI, Ambassadeur du Royaume de Bahreïn
Mohamed I. ABUSHAHAB, Ambassadeur des Emirats Arabes Unis.
بيان إعلامي مشترك صادر عن سفراء كل من جمهورية مصر العربية، المملكة العربية السعودية، مملكة البحرين ودولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة
” لن يتم التسامح مع دعم التطرف والإرهاب “
بروكسل في 6 يوليو 2017م
أعرب سفراء كل من جمهورية مصر العربية، والمملكة العربية السعودية، ومملكة البحرين، والإمارات العربية المتحدة عن خيبة أملهم إزاء الرد السلبي الصادر عن دولة قطر بشأن الدعوات إلى الوفاء بالتزاماتها لوقف دعم التطرف والإرهاب وتمويلهما. ويوضح الموقف الذي إتخذته قطر، عدم نيتها في التراجع عن سياساتها وممارساتها التي تهدد الأمن القومي والعربي والدولي والعالمي والأوروبي.
إن موقف دولنا الأربعة، الذي تم التأكيد عليه مجددا خلال اجتماع وزراء الخارجية في القاهرة يوم 5 يوليو 2017م ، يقوم على أساس الالتزام بالاتفاقيات والمواثيق والقرارات الدولية، وكذلك المبادئ المنصوص عليها في مواثيق الأمم المتحدة وجامعة الدول العربية ومنظمة التعاون الإسلامي واتفاقيات مكافحة الإرهاب الدولي.
ولا تزال العلاقة بين الشعوب العربية وشعب قطر ذات أهمية كبيرة بالنسبة لنا، ونأمل أن تسود الحكمة وأن تتخذ دولة قطر القرار السليم.
ونود أن نشدد بشكل خاص، على المبادئ التالية التي يتقاسمها المجتمع الدولي إلى حد كبير، والتي يجب على دولة قطر أن تلتزم بها من أجل الخروج من العزلة.
١- الالتزام بمكافحة التطرف والإرهاب بجميع أشكاله ومنع تمويله أو وتوفير الملاذات الآمنة.
٢- منع جميع أعمال التحريض وجميع أشكال التعبير التي تنشر أو تحرض أو تشجع أو تبرر الكراهية والعنف.
٣- الالتزام الكامل بإتفاقية الرياض لعام 2013م والاتفاق التكميلي وآلياته التنفيذية لعام 2014م، في إطار مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربي.
٤- الالتزام بكافة مخرجات القمة العربية الإسلامية / الأمريكية التي عقدت في الرياض في مايو 2017 م.
٥- الامتناع عن التدخل في الشؤون الداخلية للدول ودعم الكيانات الخارجة عن القانون.
٦- مسؤولية كافة دول المجتمع الدولي في مواجهة كل أشكال التطرف والإرهاب بوصفها تهديدا للسلم والأمن الدوليين.
أكدت الدول الأربعة أن دعم التطرف والإرهاب والتدخل في الشؤون الداخلية للدول العربية أمر لا يمكن التساهل فيه أو المماطلة، وأن قائمة المطالب المقدمة إلى دولة قطر تأتي في إطار ضمان التقيد بالمبادئ الــ6 المبينة، فضلا عن حماية الأمن القومي العربي والحفاظ على الأمن والسلم الدوليين ومكافحة التطرف والإرهاب، وتوفير الظروف الملائمة للتوصل إلى تسوية سياسية لعدد من أزمات المنطقة. كما لم يعد من الممكن التسامح مع الدور المدمر الذي تقوم به دولة قطر.
تأتي التدابير التي إتخذتها بلداننا والتي تحافظ عليها، نتيجة لانتهاكات دولة قطر لالتزاماتها وتعهداتها، بموجب القانون الدولي وإستمرار تدخلها في شؤون الدول العربية ودعمها للتطرف والإرهاب وما يترتب على ذلك من تهديدات لأمن المنطقة.
نحن ممتنون ونقدر كل الجهود التي يبذلها أمير دولة الكويت الشيخ / صباح الأحمد الصباح لحل هذه الأزمة مع دولة قطر. ونعرب عن إستيائنا إزاء إهمال دولة قطر وعدم جديتها وإستجابتها السلبية في التعامل مع جذور المشكلة، فضلا عن عدم فهمها لخطورة الوضع.
نعتقد أن الوقت قد حان لكي يتحمل المجتمع الدولي مسؤولياته وأن يضع حدا لدعم التطرف والإرهاب. ليس هناك مجال في المجتمع الدولي لأي كيان أو طرف يشارك في ممارسة أو دعم أو تمويل التطرف والإرهاب، أو أن يكون شريكا في جهود التسوية السلمية للأزمات السياسية في المنطقة.
إيهاب فوزي، سفير جمهورية مصر العربية
عبد الرحمن سليمان الأحمد، سفير المملكة العربية السعودية
بهية ج. الجشي، سفيرة مملكة البحرين
محمد أبوشهاب، سفير دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة
Fact Sheet – Qatars History of Funding Terrorism and Extremism
Saudi Foreign Minister: Demands on Qatar to Stop Funding Terrorism are Non-Negotiable
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir called on Qatar to end its support for terrorism and extremism in the Middle East.
“This idea that you can fund extremist groups, that you can pay ransom to terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, that you can send $300 million to the Shi’ite militias in Iraq with most of it ending up with the Quds Force in Iran, is not acceptable,” he said in a press briefing at the Saudi Embassy in Washington on 27 June. “I think most countries in the world would agree with the demand to stop this.”
“We hope that reason will prevail and that our brothers in Qatar will do the right thing and respond to the demands of the international community to cease these activities. Because we think we can’t be on both sides of this issue. You cannot fight against ISIS, you cannot commit to participate in the global center against extremism, you cannot commit to participate in a financial center to combat terror financing and at the same time allow these things to go on,” he said.
Minister Al-Jubeir said that Saudi Arabia has expressed its grievances and it is now up to Qatar to make amends, and he said Saudi Arabia’s demands are non-negotiable. Specifically, Saudi Arabia has demanded that Qatar end its practice of harboring known terrorists, prohibit funding from within its borders to Al-Qaeda and Daesh (ISIS), and shut down its news network, Al-Jazeera, which has been inciting violence throughout the region.
“It’s very simple. We made our point. We took our steps. And it’s up to [Qatar] to amend [its] behavior. And once they do, then things will be worked out. But if they don’t, they will remain isolated,” said Minister Al-Jubeir. “If Qatar wants to come back into the GCC pool, they know what they have to do.”
The Foreign Minister reiterated that the decision to cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar was made after taking into account the history of its behavior, including harboring known terrorists and funding extremist groups throughout the region.
“It was an issue that has been building up, and then a decision was made that enough is enough. Zero tolerance,” he said.
- June 28, 2017
- Adel Al-Jubeir, Counterterrorism, Terrorism
L’Arabie Sa0udite et la Lutte Antiterroriste
La lutte contre le terrorisme exige des politiques appropriées, des efforts gouvernementaux concertés ainsi qu’une coopération internationale. En étroite collaboration avec ses alliés, l’Arabie saoudite traque les extrémistes, coupe les vivres des organisations terroristes et cherche à déconstruire l’idéologie djihadiste sur laquelle ces organisations prospèrent.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States have signed a historic agreement announcing their intent to establish the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC), a collaborative approach to confronting new and evolving threats arising from terrorist financing. The TFTC represents a new and creative response that leverages existing tools and formalizes cooperation between the United States, Saudi Arabia and partners in the Gulf to counter terrorist financing. The TFTC will be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and the US, and will work collaboratively with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to counter global terror networks. The TFTC’s goals are to:
- Identify, track, and share information regarding terrorist financial networks;
- Coordinate joint disruptive actions; and
- Offer support to countries in the region that need assistance building capacity to counter terrorist finance threats.
The United States and the Gulf have worked hard to strengthen cooperation on countering the financing of terrorism. This relationship is exemplified by information sharing, regular high-level and expert-level engagement and joint disruptive actions that the U.S. and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council have taken together over the years.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States, together with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have all signed a new memorandum of understanding on countering the financing of terrorism.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz has urged Arab nations to promote a genuine partnership with the United States of America and fight “the forces of evil and extremism” together. He made the remarks at the historic Arab Islamic American Summit over the weekend in Riyadh, where he and U.S. President Donald Trump urged more than 50 leaders from the Arab and Muslim world to cooperate in the fight against terrorism.
King Salman thanked President Trump for visiting Saudi Arabia on his first official trip abroad. He praised the Kingdom’s partnership with the U.S., which he said was aimed at achieving “peace, security and positive development.”
“We are meeting today at this summit to express the seriousness in taking rapid steps to promote a genuine partnership with the friendly United States of America in a way that serves our common interests and contributes to achieving security, peace and development for all mankind, which is confirmed by our Islamic religion,” said King Salman.
“Due to our responsibility before God and then before our peoples and the world, we have to stand united to fight the forces of evil and extremism whatever their source,” said King Salman.
King Salman criticized Iran for “rejecting good neighborliness” and instead pursuing regional expansion, engaging in criminal behavior, interfering with other countries’ internal affairs and violating international law.
“The Iranian regime has been the spearhead of terrorism since the Khomeini revolution until today,” said King Salman.
Following the Summit, King Salman and President Trump inaugurated the Center for Combating Extremist Ideology. The Center will work to counter and prevent the spread of extremism by promoting moderation, compassion and productive dialogue.
White Paper: Saudi Arabia and Counterterrorism – April 2017
This new report provides a comprehensive overview of the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to combat terrorism. It describes Saudi Arabia’s close cooperation with the international community to fight Daesh (ISIS), Al-Qaeda and their affiliates. And it discusses Saudi Arabia’s programs to counter terror financing and attack the mindset that leads vulnerable people to support terrorism.
- April 26, 2017
- Al-Qaeda, Counterterrorism, Daesh, ISIS, King Salman, Saudi Arabia
An official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation of the bombing attacks that struck Mar Girgis Church, Tanta and St Marks Coptic Orthodox Church, Alexandria killing and wounding tens of people.
The Source emphasised that such heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks that took place in Egypt on Sunday violate all religious principles as well as ethical and human values.
The Source offered the Kingdom’s condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of the Arab Republic of Egypt, wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded.
The Saudi council of Senior Ulema (Muslim Scholars) condemns twin Egypt Church Attacks
The Council of Senior Muslim Scholars released their statement on twitter saying:
ThE bombings that targeted two churches in Egypt are criminal acts and forbidden by Islamic law. Muslims are in agreement that these acts are a violation to the security, stability and safety of people.
A Muslim who believes in God and the Last Day will not commit such crimes. These crimes are committed by those who deviate from their faith.
These acts are forbidden in Islam for they are acts of treachery, betrayal, sin and aggression.
The Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent his condolences and sympathy to Egypt’s President Abdulfattah Al-Sisi following the two terrorist bombings that struck churches in the Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria.
In his cable, the Monarch said he was deeply pained to receive the news of the killing and injuring of dozens of innocent citizens. He expressed in the strongest terms his denunciation and condemnation of the two sinful criminal terrorist acts, confirming to the President that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands alongside the Arab Republic of Egypt and its brotherly people against all those who attempt to threaten its security and stability.
In his own name and on behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Monarch sent his sincere condolences and sympathy to the President, the families of the victims and the Egyptian people, wishing the injured a quick recovery and the Egyptian President and people safety against any harm.
The Council of Senior Muslim Scholars also released the following statement following the horrific terrorist attack in Egypt.
“The bombings that targeted two churches in Egypt are criminal acts and forbidden by Islamic law. Muslims are in agreement that these acts are a violation to the security, stability and safety of people. A Muslim who believes in God and the Last Day will not commit such crimes. These crimes are committed by those who deviate from their faith. These acts are forbidden in Islam for they are acts of treachery, betrayal, sin and aggression.”