About this UN facility, the Minister noted that this “reference center”, the only one established in Africa by the UN, aims to train and “disseminate” practices in the fight against terrorism 

RABAT (DNA) – – Morocco is “unquestionably” positioned as a provider of regional stability and a reference in the field of peace in Africa, said, Tuesday in Rabat, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita.

“Thanks to the Royal Vision, Morocco is unquestionably positioned as a provider of regional stability and a reference in the field of peace and stability at the level of the Continent,” Mr. Bourita told the press on the sidelines of the signing of a headquarters Agreement for the establishment in the Kingdom of the Program Office for Counter-Terrorism and Training in Africa of the UNOCT (United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism).

About this UN facility, the Minister noted that this “reference center”, the only one established in Africa by the UN, aims to train and “disseminate” practices in the fight against terrorism.

In this regard, the Minister said that the signing of this agreement and the upcoming opening of this structure in Morocco have much significance. It is, according to Mr. Bourita, a recognition of the comprehensive and multidimensional approach put in place by the Kingdom in the fight against terrorism, an approach that is distinguished by a “preventive dimension led with professionalism by Moroccan security forces”, an approach that concerns both the religious sphere as well as the social and economic fields.

“This approach has become known and recognized at the regional and international levels and the opening of this office by the United Nations in Morocco enshrines the recognition of this approach,” he stressed.

The second significance is related to Morocco’s African policy, he went on, noting that under this triangular approach, the Kingdom is a partner of international organizations but also African countries to develop training models, good practices at the continental level, in order to confront the scourge of terrorism.

This is an important significance, Mr. Bourita said, insofar as this signing comes at a time when Morocco and the UN note the resurgence of the terrorist threat at the level of the African continent as evidenced by the number of terrorist attacks (between 650 and 700 in 2012 against 4000 currently), the number of victims which has increased by more than 3 times in recent years, in addition to the proliferation of terrorist groups in all sub-regions of the continent.

The headquarters Agreement for the establishment in Morocco of UNOCT’s Programme Office for Counter-Terrorism and Training in Africa was signed, via videoconference, by Mr. Bourita and the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov.

This center reflects the ambition to combine efforts to meet the challenges posed by the growing terrorist threat in Africa in recent years.

RABAT (DNA) : The establishment in Morocco of a Program Office for Counter-Terrorism and Training in Africa of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) is a “natural step” in reinforcing the kingdom’s counter-terrorism capacity in Africa, said, Tuesday, UNOCT Under-Secretary-General, Vladimir Voronkov.

It is a “historic event” and a “logical” step forward, given Morocco’s “leadership” in the UN counter-terrorism efforts, the UN official said during the signing, via videoconference, of a Headquarters Agreement for the establishment in Morocco of the UNOCT Program Office.

The agreement was inked, on the Moroccan side, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita.

The UNOCT office, the first of its kind in Africa, will provide training in counter-terrorism, law enforcement, border security management, prevention of the presence of radicals, and human rights in the fight against terrorism, the UN official said.

According to Voronkov, this new center is a “very innovative” structure that will help neighboring countries and African States to upgrade their counter-terrorism activities, making them more efficient.

The office will be in charge of coordinating counter-terrorism activities in the region, Voronkov noted, highlighting the geographical importance of sub-Saharan Africa, which, he added, is also a “source of concern due to the very rapid spread of terrorism.”

To counter this development,”We need making an extra effort to be more effective, better coordinated and more results-oriented,” he concluded.

DNA

BAKU , OCT 6 – Azerbaijani Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva issued a statement in connection with the missile attack of the city of Mingachevir by the Armenian Armed Forces, where a large dam and power plant are located.

We once again bring to the attention of the world community that starting from September 27, 2020, the Armenian armed forces continue to fire heavily on densely populated civilian settlements, social, cultural facilities and strategic objects using heavy artillery, aircraft, special missile systems and prohibited weapons.

Thus, starting from 11 pm, October 04, 2020, according to the instructions of military-political administration of Armenia, that has not yet renounced its policy of occupation and aggressive actions, the armed forces of this country shelled from rockets the densely populated civilian settlements of Mingachevir city.

We stress especially that one of the missiles deliberately fired by the Armenian armed forces targeting at a power plant in Mingachevir, more than 100 km away from the area where the fighting took place, with the population of more than 100,000, fell in front of the power plant and the other near the house of civilians. Unfortunately, as a result of the rocket attacks on a private house, 5 people were hospitalized with various injuries, and the house was severely damaged.

We would like to inform you that Mingachevir, the industrial city of Azerbaijan, is of crucial importance from the strategic standpoint and the largest Water Reservoir and power plant in the South Caucasus region is located here. Targeting this reservoir and power plant could have serious environmental consequences for the whole South Caucasus region.

According to the Rio Declaration On Environment And Development (1992), the states shall therefore respect international law providing protection for the environment in times of armed conflict and cooperate in its further development, as necessary.

In this regard, we state that missile launch targeting Mingachevir reservoir and power block by Armenia, which severely violates the norms and principles of international law, including the norms of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, is a serious threat to the environment and energy supply not only in Azerbaijan but throughout the region.

We once again call on international organizations to demand from occupant Armenia to unconditionally refrain from the criminal acts that infringe on the right of the civilian population to live, also to a safe and healthy environment, which is a gross violation of human rights and freedoms and poses a risk of a profound environmental disaster for the region, to liberate Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent districts, which are historical territories of Azerbaijan, and to undertake urgent actions to establish international legal responsibility.

Bouznika, (DNA) – The inter-Libyan dialogue sessions, the second round of which is currently taking place in Bouznika with a view to reaching a political solution to the Libyan crisis, constitute “a real opportunity to put a definitive end to this long conflict,” said Monday the acting UN envoy to Libya, Stephanie Williams.

In a speech delivered during the dialogue session between delegations from the High Council of State and the Libyan House of Representatives, Williams said that the meetings in Morocco, in addition to the discussions held in Switzerland to provide recommendations on crucial and necessary issues for the political resolution of the Libyan crisis, have “greatly contributed to creating this unique opportunity to revive the Libyan political dialogue”.

The UN official said she is satisfied with the meeting, around the same table in Bouznika, of the two delegations, in order to reach an agreement on the criteria for the selection of the persons who will occupy the posts of sovereignty, in accordance with the provisions of the Skhirat agreement concluded in December 2015, calling on the parties to continue their efforts to achieve this goal.

After praising the “tireless efforts” made to help resolve the Libyan crisis, Williams described the cessation of hostilities and direct clashes between the two sides in recent months as “encouraging”.

However, she said the cessation of hostilities may not be sustainable if the Libyan protagonists do not reach a permanent ceasefire agreement and a comprehensive political solution to the crisis as soon as possible.In addition, Williams stressed that the resolution of this crisis remains a top priority for the United Nations, given the “very difficult” conditions in which Libyans are living as a result of the continuing conflict.

Williams called for a comprehensive political agreement that meets the aspirations of all Libyan parties and sets Libya on the path to peace, stability and development.She also urged all Libyans to continue to work in support of the ceasefire and political dialogue, while promoting the interests of the country and the Libyan people with a view to restoring Libya’s legitimacy and sovereignty and building a democratic State.