Countering terrorism tops Sisi's agenda

Countering terrorism at regional and international levels tops President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's agenda during his current visit to New York to attend the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Egypt has managed to convince the world over the past three years of the importance of adopting a comprehensive strategy for combating terrorism not just focusing on the military side, according to a report issued by the State Information Service.

In July 2017, Sisi issued a decree on establishing a national council for combating terrorism and extremism with a view to rallying institutional and societal capacities to uproot the causes of terrorism and to address its impact.

The council is to be chaired by Sisi with the membership of the parliament speaker, the premier, Al Azhar's Imam, the ministers of youth and sports, social solidarity, interior, foreign affairs, communications and IT, justice, education and higher education, the chief of the general intelligence body and the chairman of the administrative control authority.

The council will also comprise public figures including Ali Gomaa, Farouq Geweida, Abdel-Monem el-Saied, Mohamed Saber Arab, Ahmed Okasha, Mohamed Sobhi, Diyaa Rashwan, Osama el-Azhari, Hoda Abdel-Monem, Hani Labib and Khaled Okasha.

It will draw up a national comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism and extremism in Egypt locally and internationally. It will coordinate with religious and security bodies to empower moderate religious approach and to spread the concepts of correct religion in face of extremism in all its forms.

The council will also propose plans to create jobs in regions of extremism and to review regulations related to counter-terrorism both at the local and internal levels.

Laws will be also reconsidered by the council to ensure prompt justice and promote coordination and cooperation of the security and political bodies with their counterparts in the international community.

The council will also be assigned with laying down the plans needed to get the international community posted on the truth of terrorism and groups and states that support it against the Egyptian State.

The council will meet every two months and whenever necessary.

Egypt - being a member of both the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council - can effectively contribute to discussions about security challenges, topped by terrorism, nuclear proliferation and illegal immigration, the report said.

Sisi had taken part in previous UNGA meetings in September 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Egypt is among major countries contributing to UN peacekeeping missions, with 2,659 police and military troops deployed to nine positions around the world.

Source : Mena