(WASHINGTON, DC) - In a speech at the Homeland and Global Security Forum organized by the Crans Montana Forum, held in Geneva on Friday, Dr. Ahmed Al-Salem, Saudi Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, stressed that the fight against extremist ideology is an important part of any strategy to combat terrorism.

During his speech, Dr. Al-Salem said that terrorism poses a global threat to all people in the world. “From our experience, it has become crystal clear that terror has no religion, no ethnicity and no nationality,” said Dr. Al-Salem. 

Dr. Salem reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to combating terrorism locally and globally. He warned that terrorism remained a serious threat to international security. “The situation demands that all countries intensify their efforts to combat, and root out the menace and bring terrorists to justice wherever they might be,” he said. “This can only be achieved with reinforced international, regional and bilateral cooperation.”

In 2005, Saudi Arabia hosted the Counter-Terrorism ‎International Conference in Riyadh, during which the proposal for the establishment of the ‎United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center (UNCCT) was unanimously adopted. King Abdullah ‎pledged $10 million to the U.N. to establish the center and, in 2011, Saudi Arabia signed an ‎agreement with the U.N. to launch the UNCCT. In August, King Abdullah provided the ‎center with a donation of $100 million to enhance its capabilities and effectiveness in helping ‎countries combat terrorism.