Qatar stresses use of technology to counter terrorism, financing
Qatar has affirmed that modern technology provides unprecedented capabilities to enhance measures taken to combat terrorism and its financing, pointing out that creative and constructive thinking is necessary to find ways to utilise technology for this purpose.
This came in the statement delivered by HE the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counter-terrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani at the 3rd “No Money for Terror” Ministerial
Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing in New Delhi.
He said that in light of the rapid development of information technology and other technologies, there are increasing threats presented by terrorists using these technologies to fund terrorism, through suspicious financial transactions, including the use of social media to raise funds, and digital wallets to transfer funds.
HE Dr al-Qahtani said that it is important to keep pace with these threats and constantly assess their nature and consequences, as well as address them with an integrated and multidimensional approach.
He said the starting point to facing these challenges lies in a clear understanding of these risks at the national level, and the promotion of effective regional and international co-operation in accordance with the provisions of international law and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, in addition to applying the latest international standards, and participating in international and regional arrangements to eradicate terrorism and its financing.
HE Dr al-Qahtani added that at the national level, the legislative framework for combating terrorism and its financing has been strengthened, through the updating of national laws and regulations in Qatar, as reported in the recent review of the country’s implementation of the recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
He added that at the international level, Qatar actively participates in the multilateral arrangements concerned with combating the financing of terrorism, including the FATF, the MINI FATF, the Terrorist Financing Targeting Centre (TFTC), the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), the Global Coalition Against Daesh, and the Egmont Group.
HE Dr al-Qahtani said that because Qatar is aware of the centrality of the United Nations’ role in co-ordinating and supporting international efforts to combat terrorism and its financing,
Qatar is one of the most important partners for the international bodies concerned with combating terrorism and its financing, including the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).
Incidentally, the CTED concluded in its latest report that Qatar has accumulated experience in this regard and is able to provide technical support to other countries in the context of combating terrorism and combating its financing.