2004 News Story
 
01/05/2004
Arab Interior Ministers Council issues final statement

Minister of Interior Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, as Honorary President of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, today praised the outcome of its 21st session, which has just concluded in Tunis. He described the session as successful, with unanimity of views, notably concerning the fight against terrorism and the call for international action under the umbrella of the United Nations. In its final statement, the Council announced approval of implementation of the third phase of the Arab strategy for combating terrorism, including a number of programs to be carried out by the Secretariat and by the Nayef Arab University for Security Sciences, the council's scientific body; and noted that the former Academy had changed its name to University as a result of its remarkable development that has made it outmatch many Arab universities.

The Council also approved certain amendments to the Arab Agreement for Combating Terrorism, such as making a crime the instigation of terrorist acts, their encouragement, or the issuance of any publications promoting them; approved the fourth phase of the plan to implement the Arab strategy for combating the illicit use of drugs and psychotropic substances; stressed enhancement of efforts exerted to combat money laundering; urged continuous cooperation with the Council of Arab Justice Ministers and the Council of Arab Information Ministers; reiterated its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and sources, while affirming the need to differentiate between terrorism and the right to resist occupation and foreign aggression; and absolutely rejected the attempt to attribute terrorism to Arabs and Muslims, stressing its support for efforts aimed at holding an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss and define the phenomenon of terrorism.

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