Kuwait City: Undersecretary General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, has expressed deep appreciation towards Kuwait and Tajikistan for their support of the Dushanbe Process. This statement was made during his speech at the High-Level International Conference on "Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms -- The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process". According to Kuwait News Agency, the two-day event is being held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with the attendance of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, was also present at the conference. Voronkov extended his gratitude to the leadership of Kuwait and Tajikistan, highlighting their crucial roles in fostering multilateral action and cooperation in combating global terrorism. The conference has seen participation from ove r 480 individuals, including ministers, representatives of member states, international and regional organizations, and civil society groups, reaffirming a collective commitment to multilateralism and counter-terrorism cooperation. Voronkov emphasized the importance of international cooperation to secure countries and prevent terrorist activities across national borders. Voronkov pointed out the evolving global security landscape, with terrorists exploiting border vulnerabilities. He cited recent reports indicating that a significant portion of political violence occurs near borders, particularly highlighting the increasing terrorist presence in West Africa. The global death toll from terrorism has also seen a significant rise in 2023, according to the Global Terrorism Index. The UN official stressed the need for a coordinated response to terrorism, highlighting the role of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the recently adopted Pact for the Future. He mentioned UN-led programs aimed at strengthen ing border security and counter-terrorist travel as pivotal initiatives. Voronkov expressed confidence that the Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process would enhance regional and international counter-terrorism efforts. He anticipated that the Kuwait Declaration, to be adopted based on conference discussions, would reflect the commitment to strengthening global border security mechanisms while upholding human rights and the rule of law. In closing, Voronkov reiterated his gratitude to the governments of Kuwait and Tajikistan for their leadership and partnership in organizing the conference, which he described as a testament to Kuwait's commitment to preventive diplomacy and international peace, and Tajikistan's support for UN counter-terrorism efforts.
