Algeria Advocates For Adapting Mechanisms Of The Arab Strategy For Combating Terrorism

On Wednesday, the Minister of Interior, Local  Assemblies, and  County Planning, Mr. Said Sayoud, underlined Algeria’s continued diligent efforts to enhance joint Arab action and its commitment to contributing to various initiatives supporting security and stability.

During his participation in the 43rd session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers via video conference, Mr. Sayoud highlighted Algeria’s commitment to continuing its diligent efforts to enhance joint Arab action, which has become indispensable in the current circumstances, along with its commitment to positively contribute to various Arab and international initiatives supporting security and stability to ensure the sustainability of development and security in the Arab region.

He stated that “Algeria, based on its firm principles, emphasizes the importance of respecting state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and adopting dialogue as a means to resolve disputes, which contributes to neutralizing our region from the repercussions of conflicts and enhances opportunities for achieving security and stability for our peoples.”

In this context, Mr. Sayoud expressed “Algeria’s solidarity with the sisterly Arab countries affected by the unjustified and unacceptable Iranian military attacks,” in the context of the dangerous military escalation in the Middle East, expressing Algeria’s condolences and sympathy to the victims’ families and its wishes that “all brothers overcome the catastrophic material losses they have suffered.”

He also noted that this stance “has been consistently expressed by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to his brothers in the Arab countries affected by this escalation,” which “goes beyond temporary and immediate considerations to fall within a firm principled commitment,” recalling the President’s keenness on “continuous and regular communication with his brothers and Arab counterparts during this critical stage in the history of the Middle East and the history of the Arab world as a whole.”

In view of this situation, the Minister indicated that Algeria “is following with great concern the escalating tensions in the Middle East, due to their direct implications for the security and stability of the region, as well as their repercussions on the global and Arab economy,” which is evident through “the disruption of energy markets, the imbalance of supply chains, and the increasing economic and social pressures affecting the livelihood of the Arab citizen.”

In this regard, Mr. Sayoud warned that these situations “contribute to providing a conducive environment for the exacerbation of security threats, the enhancement of the activities of terrorist groups and cross-border criminal organizations, and the increasing overlap between them, especially in light of the growing phenomenon of drug trafficking, particularly synthetic drugs, in addition to the phenomenon of illegal immigration and cybercrimes.”

Considering all of this, “Algeria affirms its support for various initiatives aimed at developing joint Arab action, including the second interim plan for the Arab Strategy for Combating Terrorism,” Sayoud continued, highlighting “the necessity of continuous adaptation of implementation mechanisms and strengthening strictness in combating the financing of terrorism, especially by firmly confronting the phenomenon of drug trafficking and limiting its spread.”

He also  referred to the urgent need to adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach based on “enhancing Arab security coordination, intensifying the exchange of information and expertise, and developing mechanisms for combating terrorism and its financing, while focusing on preventive aspects that address the roots of these phenomena,” in addition to “linking security efforts with the developmental dimension through supporting governance, combating corruption, enhancing social awareness, and investing in technological capabilities, especially in the field of cybersecurity.”

In conclusion of his speech, Mr. Sayoud said that “despite the enormity of the challenges facing the Arab world today, they also constitute an additional incentive to unite efforts and enhance Arab solidarity to build a more integrated and effective Arab security system, capable of responding to the requirements of the current stage and safeguarding the interests of our states and peoples.”

It should be noted that the agenda of this session included the study of a draft second interim plan for the developed Arab Strategy for Combating Terrorism, as well as recommendations issued by conferences and meetings organized by the General Secretariat between the Council’s sessions, in addition to a number of other important topics.