(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BEIRUT, Oct 28 (KUNA) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed on Tuesday that combating terrorism requires more Arab and international institutionalization of mechanisms for exchanging information, providing judicial assistance, extraditing fugitives, and implementing judicial rulings.
This came during a speech he delivered at the Regional Conference on International Judicial Cooperation in Combating Terrorism, held in Beirut, with the participation of Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul-Gheit
President Aoun praised Arab efforts and emphasized that judicial, security, and information cooperation strengthen collective defense against emerging threats like cyber and biological terrorism.
For his part, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmad Abul-Gheit praised the close cooperation between the League and the European Union in combating terrorism.
He noted that the Criminal Justice Project, jointly implemented by both sides, serves as a distinguished example of an integrated approach to tackling common security challenges in the region.
Abul-Gheit also reaffirmed the League's commitment to supporting Arab countries in developing effective legal and institutional frameworks to combat terrorism while maintaining full respect for human rights and international law.
Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar, speaking on behalf of the Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research, highlighted the need for awareness campaigns, proactive security measures, and judicial accountability to address foreign terrorist fighters.
Director of the EU-funded Criminal Justice Program Judge Jose Villalobos said the mission is to enhance judicial cooperation in combating terrorism while upholding legal diversity, human rights, and the rule of law.
Villalobos highlighted the successful cooperation with the Arab League and stressed that mutual trust is key to effective international justice.
EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Bartjan Wegter said conflicts create fertile ground for terrorists, stressing that evolving tactics of foreign fighters demand enhanced international coordination and updated legal and security measures.
EU Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra de Waal said the EU's Criminal Justice Program on Terrorism was created to unite prosecutors, judges, law enforcement, and legislators.
De Waal added that the conference offers a platform to strengthen collaboration with the League of Arab States through this program to address evolving security challenges.
The conference, a joint initiative of the League of Arab States and the European Union, builds on the Arab-European Cooperation Forum to strengthen judicial collaboration and expertise exchange through the Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research and the EU-funded Criminal Justice Centre.
Attended by Arab and EU judicial and security officials, the two-day event addresses topics such as foreign terrorist fighters, law enforcement cooperation, information exchange, international coordination, and capacity-building in counterterrorism. (end)
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