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Saudi Arabia submits draft to create international counter-terror center | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) – Saudi Arabia, stressing that terrorism threatens the entire world, appealed for world support for creation of an international counter-terrorism center.

Speaking on the second day of the largest gathering of world leaders here, Saudi Deputy Prime Minister Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz said his country was introducing a draft resolution in the UN General Assembly for establishment of a task force to consider creation of the center.

&#34We greatly hope that this draft resolution will be endorsed and that we can take yet another step toward improving international cooperation in fighting terrorism,&#34 he added.

&#34Terrorism threatens the entire world. It is imperative that we make a collective effort to combat it,&#34 said the crown prince, whose country has been hit by a spate of attacks by suspected Al-Qaeda militants.

He recalled that oil-rich Saudi Arabia last February organized an international counter-terrorism conference to promote international cooperation in this field.

The conference held in Riyadh with the participation of delegates from some 50 countries and international organizations had endorsed a call by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (who was then crown prince) for establishment of the counter-terror center.

Earlier this month, Saudi security forces battled suspected Al-Qaeda militants in the eastern city of Dammam, the latest in a series of confrontations with Al-Qaeda suspects who launched a spate of shootings and bombings in Saudi Arabia in May 2003.