UAE calls upon OIC to adopt collective approach to counter terrorism

NEW YORK // The UAE has called upon the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to adopt a collective and strategic approach that strengthens its role in international counter-terrorism efforts.

“Extremism, terrorism and sectarianism have become an international menace that seeks to undermine the nation state, dismember the social fabric and societal harmony, and threaten national and regional security as well as international peace and security,” said Sheikha Lubna, Minister of State for Tolerance, in a statement at the annual co-ordination meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the OIC. The meeting was held on Thursday on the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The meeting discussed the main issues in the Muslim world and those on the agenda of the general assembly.

Sheikha Lubna reiterated the UAE’s unequivocal position of denouncing extremism, terrorism, sectarianism, and countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations regardless of its motives, justifications and sources.

“The UAE is mobilising the international community to counter terrorism,’’ she said, citing the country’s participation in regional and international counter-terrorism coalitions.

“We believe that fighting terrorism is a collective responsibility that should be shared by all OIC member states and we must all come together and join the fight against extremism and terrorism through the adoption of a collective approach and holistic, strategy to enable the OIC play its role effectively and make significant contributions to international counter-terrorism effort,” Sheikha Lubna said.