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Ahram Online , 4 Mar 2018

Vladimir Voronkov

Egypt's interior minister discusses cooperation with head of UN Counter-Terrorism Office

The Islamic State militant group continues to pose a significant and evolving threat around the globe, even after it has suffered a series of devastating military setbacks in Iraq, Syria and the Philippines, said the head of UN Counter-Terrorism Office Vladimir Voronkov on Saturday.

Speaking during an event at the Diplomatic Club in Cairo on Satuday, Voronkov stated that terrorism remained an unprecedented threat to international peace, security and development.

"A number of crucial resolutions were adopted by the [Security] Council during these two years to upgrade the counter-terrorism responses of member states," he said specifically referencing UN Resolution 2354 of 2017.

Resolution 2354, which was championed by Egypt and co-sponsored by a 60-member statement, aims to counter terrorist ideologies and narratives.

Voronkov stated that the UN Secretary-General António Guterres would issue a report sharing his assessment of the work achieved by the UN in its counter-terrorism efforts.

He also added in his speech that member states would review the implementation of the UN global counter-terrorism strategy in April.

The global strategy is reviewed every two years to ensure it is aligned with member states’ needs

Voronkov announced that the United Nations will hold a high-level conference of member states' counter-terrorism agencies states on 28-29 June with aims to enhance cooperation, exchange information and develop new and innovative ways of tackling terrorism.

Voronkov arrived in Cairo on Saturday for a two-day visit to discuss the evolving threat of terrorism with a number of Egyptian officials.

Earlier on Saturday he met with Egypt's Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar.

The UN's Office of Counter-Terrorism was established in June 2017 to provide guidance on the implementation of General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates, to enhance coordination and coherence, and to strengthen the delivery of UN counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to member states.