UNAMI / CTED organize joint meeting on Iraqi counter-terrorism technical assistance needs

BMUSONI — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 09:18:00 +0000

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On 25 October 2016, a joint meeting of the 51�Թ� Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) was held in Baghdad. The purpose was to enhance the collective efforts of the international community in support of Iraq’s counter-terrorism efforts within the framework of the priority technical assistance needs identified following the Counter-Terrorism Committee visit to Iraq in 2015.

“Iraq remains in dire need of bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism assistance: it needs all the help we can give it both now and in the longer term,”

Head of UNAMI and Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Kubis said in his statement, delivered at the meeting by UNAMI’s Joint Analysis Unit Head, Mr. Namik Hayderov.

Based on CTED’s dialogue and partnership with Iraqi counter-terrorism officials, the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee has identified 16 technical assistance needs. These needs, drawn up in accordance with the international best codes and practices of partner organizations, inter alia address the use of special investigation techniques, financial investigations, the freezing of terrorist assets, border management, intelligence analysis, use of INTERPOL tools, and issuance of secure travel documents.

In the joint meeting, CTED experts Ahmed Seif El-Dawla, Chief of Section, and Nicole El-Khoury, Legal Officer, presented priority key findings of the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s most recent visit to Iraq, as well as subsequent developments related to the facilitation of technical assistance needs. Both Iraqi authorities and CTED stressed the importance of keeping technical assistance priorities abreast of the latest trends in terms of the threat posed by Da’esh and other terrorist organizations in the region. Iraqi authorities, who had already endorsed the findings of the Committee, expressed their wish for continuous engagement with the donor community and partners as a means to advance the required support for the 16 areas. They also presented tailor-made projects within the framework of the 16 identified technical assistance needs.

“The people of Iraq have suffered long years of unspeakable horror and injustice

[…] There is a need for immediate action to consolidate and build upon the gains acquired through military operations and to facilitate Iraq’s development of the legal, institutional, and operational infrastructures required to counter terrorism effectively — whether in the legal sector, the judiciary, through law enforcement, the financial sector, border management, or countering violent extremism — in accordance with the relevant international codes and standards,”

Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of CTED, Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde, said in a video message for the joint meeting.

SRSG Kubis concluded:

“We are confident that today’s meeting and deliberations will be a significant contribution to moving this discussion to the next stage, which is focused on concrete funding and tangible support along the priority technical assistance needs highlighted today.”

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Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) - Baghdad

UNAMI / CTED organize joint meeting on Iraqi counter-terrorism technical assistance needs

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