UN, Saudi gov't agree to establish center for counter-terrorism

The United Nations and the Government of Saudi Arabia have signed a contribution agreement for the creation of the United Nations Centre for Counter-Terrorism (UNCCT), to which the latter will contribute $10 million over three years. As part of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) Office in New York, the centre will support the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, foster international cooperation, strengthen the organization’s capacity-building efforts and help build a database of best anti-terrorism practices, a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) said here on Thursday. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, presided over a signing ceremony, during which Ban said that “the center will go a long way in countering terrorism around the world”. Prince al-Faisal gave assurances of his country’s continued support for the United Nations and its counter-terrorism efforts, noting that the world body provided the best multilateral platform for international endeavours.