Regional Counter Terrorism meeting inaugurated in Maldives

Ninth Regional Counter Terrorism meeting jointly organized by United Nations (UN) Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and Global Center on Cooperative Security for judges, prosecutors and police officers of South Asian countries to develop their expertise in working against terrorism has begun today.

Defense Minister Colonel (retired) Mohamed Nazim was the chief guest of the opening ceremony of the meeting organized with assistance from Denmark and America at Ban’dos Island Resort from second to fourth November 2014.

Minister Nazim in his address said that terrorism was a threat to all the countries and an everlasting solution to this problem can only be established through joint effort of all the nations at regional and international level.

Minister Nazim highlighted in his address that one of the most important areas to work against terrorism was facilitating the exchange of ideas by bringing together experts and experienced personnel to such kind of meetings that are organized through UN framework and individual regional systems.

Speaking in the ceremony, Director General of Department of Counter Terrorism, Brigadier General Zakariyya Mansoor mentioned the crucial role of the members in the justice system and law enforcement officers in fighting against terrorism. He said that this meeting would help to build capacity for counter terrorism, exchange information and strengthen relationship among judges, prosecutors and police officers.

Head of the Section of United Nations (UN) Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), Jason Ipe, Deputy Director of Global Center on Cooperative Security, Shambhu Simkhada, Ambassador of Nepal and Lolita Lukose, Prosecutor of Department of Justice of America gave their speeches in today’s ceremony.

Judges, prosecutors, and police officers from SAARC countries, UN office for Defense Cooperation, experts from CTED and Global Center and representatives from America and Australia participated in this meeting.