Saudi Gazette report

KUWAIT — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed Al-Khereiji emphasized Saudi Arabia’s belief that achieving security, stability, development, and prosperity requires ongoing international efforts and collective action to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Addressing the Fourth High-Level Conference on the Dushanbe Process in Kuwait, he also stressed the importance of the international community standing firmly against terrorism, uprooting it, and drying up its sources of funding. The conference was held under the theme of “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase.”

Al-Khereiji said that Saudi Arabia was among the first countries to give paramount attention to countering terrorism at all levels. "Nationally, the Kingdom has taken numerous measures and actions to combat terrorist organizations and their criminal activities. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has paid significant attention to youth and their issues, viewing them as a central focus within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030," he said while adding that the efforts in this respect include protecting youth from ideological infiltration, extremism, and violence and fostering strong religious and national values.

Al-Khereiji highlighted that the international nature of terrorism "compels us to enhance cooperation in the global efforts led by the United Nations, its specialized agencies and offices, and relevant subcommittees." He pointed out that the Kingdom has established effective communication channels and close cooperation with international and regional organizations, as well as with friendly and brotherly countries, to collaborate and exchange information and expertise in combating terrorism and transnational crimes within the framework of security cooperation and international agreements.

Al-Khereiji reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to being an active member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for combating money laundering and terrorism financing and a founding member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. He also mentioned several Saudi-led initiatives on the international level, most notably the establishment of the King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, the Ideological Warfare Center, and the formation of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition in 2015.

The deputy minister thanked Kuwait for its warm reception and hospitality and Tajikistan for the kind invitation, and hoped the conference would yield fruitful results reinforcing joint efforts and shared aspirations for building a safer and more stable future.