ABU DHABI // Dr Anwar Gargash has responded to the spate of terrorist attacks across the Arab World in the past week.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs tweeted about the threat of extremism and its effect on the region. He said the Arab Spring “revolution has failed” and called for a clear vision to fight extremism.
His tweet read: “Many Arab states scarred by Spring’s chaos will never look the same again. The cost is enormous.
“Revolution has failed. Time for evolution. The threat of extremism/ terrorism/ sectarianism in the Arab world [is a] direct product of breakdown of the state. Chaos has created the environment.”
He said the recent terrorist attacks in Kuwait, Tunisia, Egypt and Somalia would not be the last, and a strong state agenda was needed to successfully fight terrorism. “It’s perhaps a luxury to lecture us from afar. In the Arab world we have to be practical, the storm of extremism/ terrorism continues,” he said.
He said the UAE realised the relationship between extremism and terrorism, and that extremism represents an “incubator environment” that encourages terrorism. He said extremism could only be dealt with through civil society, humaneness and loyalty to one’s country.
“The tension which spanned three decades cannot be eliminated in a few months,” he said.
“Those responsible for these extremist ideals are known and their tracks are clear,” he said.
Dr Gargash tweeted about the anniversary of the June 30 protests in Egypt, which led to the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood government.
He also mentioned the death of Egyptian prosecutor Hisham Barakat, who was killed on Monday in a car-bomb attack.
“The true challenge now is developmental and economic, but Egypt will be victorious,” Dr Gargash said.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
