KUWAIT CITY: Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya announced the endorsement of the "Kuwait Declaration" on border security and management during an international conference focused on strengthening global counter-terrorism cooperation. This declaration serves as a guideline document for anti-terror efforts and capacity building. According to Kuwait News Agency, Al-Yahya made this statement during a joint news conference with Tajikistan's Foreign Minister Sirodjidin Mukhriddin and UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov. The conference, held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was part of the High-Level International Conference on "Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms - The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process." The event was recognized as a pivotal platform for enhancing international and regional collaboration in the fight against terrorism. The c onference provided an opportunity to exchange expertise, discuss strategies to counter threats, and bolster regional and international partnerships against terrorism. Kuwait's decision to host the event underscores its commitment to playing a significant role in combatting terrorism and supporting regional and UN initiatives to eradicate this global threat, which jeopardizes both international and regional security. Talks during the conference emphasized the importance of combating ideological extremism and supporting international efforts to dismantle terrorist groups. The conferees agreed on the necessity of unified efforts to achieve the desired goals of security and stability both in the region and globally. Al-Yahya stressed the importance of continued collective action to counter terrorism, its criminal networks, and extremist ideologies that contradict religious, moral, and humanitarian values. Furthermore, Tajikistan's Foreign Minister highlighted the significance of the 'Dushanbe Process' and its p otential to expand beyond Central Asia. Discussions over the two-day conference revolved around border security concerning global challenges and counter-terrorism. Tajikistan places special emphasis on enhancing international cooperation and launching initiatives aimed at collaborative measures, expressing gratitude to Kuwait for hosting this crucial conference. UN Under-Secretary-General Voronkov noted that the 'Kuwait's Dushanbe Process' presents new avenues for cooperation and partnership across regions including Central Asia, the Arab League, Africa, and ASEAN. The discussions covered enhancing pluralism and international collaboration in counter-terrorism and strengthening border security. He emphasized that around 40 percent of terror-related violence occurs near borders, underscoring the need for robust border security mechanisms to prevent exploitation by terrorists. The UN remains committed to implementing robust systems to oversee borders through projects managed by its anti-terror office. The con ference, which began on Monday, saw participation from hundreds of representatives, including ministers, international and UN organizations, and civil society organizations.
