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Terrorist tracking system introduced at airports of 13 countries — UN counter-terror chief

Last year alone, the UN Counter-Terrorism Office realized 39 projects and provided technical aid to strengthen the counterterrorism potential of 60 member states

© AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

UNITED NATIONS, February 15. /TASS/. The system of tracking terrorists’ movements has been introduced at the airports of 13 countries and will soon come into operation in 20 more states, UN Under-Secretary-General, Head of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office Vladimir Voronkov told TASS on Friday.

Speaking about the specific plans the UN Counter-Terrorism Office was implementing, the diplomat cited as an example "the program of countering foreign militants - terrorists by way of strengthening air security," which envisages getting preliminary information about passengers.

"These are specifically practical projects aimed at introducing the technologies contributed by the Dutch government to the UN Counter-Terrorism Office’s intellectual property," the diplomat explained.

"The technology has been introduced at the airports of 13 counties by now and we plan to implement it in 20 more states in the next two years," Voronkov said.

The diplomat mentioned among the other programs, which the UN Counter-Terrorism Office was implementing or planning "the support of terrorism victims, the prevention of violent extremism and the efforts to counter the financing of terrorism, including arms deliveries, and also counter-terror sports."

"Incidentally, the latter two themes - arms and sports - have been initiated and are being promoted by the Russian Federation," the diplomat said.

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Voronkov recalled that UNOCT realized 39 projects in 2018, providing support to 60 countries. "In 2018 alone, the Office realized 39 projects within the framework of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and provided technical aid to strengthen the counterterrorism potential of 60 member states," the diplomat stated.

According to him, the UNOCT has signed memorandums of understanding with several international organizations, including the African Union, Interpol, the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center, the CSTO Secretariat, the OSCE Secretariat and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. "We also have a close relationship with the EU," Voronkov pointed out.

\On June 21, 2017, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Voronkov as Under-Secretary-General of the newly created United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office as established by the General Assembly resolution 71/291 on June 15, 2017. The UN Counter-Terrorism Office deals with coordinating international efforts to fight terrorism.

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