Global Counterterrorism Forum: Morocco insists on multilateral partnership against terrorism

Morocco has called for strengthening further international cooperation ties in the fight against terrorism as the ISIS core and other terror groups are rebuilding their capabilities, posing serious threats to global peace and stability.

In his opening remarks at the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), convened Sept. 21 in New York under Morocco-Canada chairmanship, Moroccan Foreign minister Nasser Bourita stressed the importance of multilateralism in the fight against terror groups.

The GCTF meeting is an opportunity to assess the achievements made by the Forum during its first decade under the Moroccan-Canadian co-chairmanship, said Mr. Bourita, noting that the priority was placed on reducing the vulnerability of people to terrorism through prevention and actions to counter extremist ideology and propaganda.

Now, this forum is geared towards strengthening international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, added the minister, affirming that the GCTF actions are based on UN Charter, UN Security Council resolutions and UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Thanks to its proactive approach, the Forum has made remarkable job in tackling foreign terrorist fighters, border security, ICT and terror funding, said the Moroccan FM, describing the GCTF as a central player in the global fight against terrorism.

Set up in 2011, the GCTF is co-chaired by Morocco since 2016. It is composed of 30 members (29 countries + the European Union) and cooperates closely with many international, regional and sub-regional organizations, including the UN.

It is an informal, apolitical, multilateral counterterrorism platform. It seeks to reduce the vulnerability of people worldwide to terrorism by mobilizing expertise and resources to prevent, combat, and prosecute terrorist acts and counter incitement and recruitment to terrorism.
The Forum brings together policymakers and practitioners from around the world to share experiences and expertise, and to develop practical, publicly available tools and strategies on how to prevent and counter the evolving terrorist threat.