Abu Dhabi: Countries participating in a global summit here on Friday pledged to fight terrorism with every resource they can muster.

The Third Ministerial Plenary of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), an informal, multilateral counterterrorism platform, was held with the participation of 29 countries in Abu Dhabi with a focus on identifying critical civilian counterterrorism needs, mobilising the necessary expertise and resources to address such needs and enhancing global cooperation.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE foreign minister, said in the opening session that there is a need for collective effort to combat terrorism and violent extremism.

“We all agree on the need to enhance individual and collective efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism,” Shaikh Abdullah said. “Terrorists’ tactics may change, but their danger and threat remains; this highlights the importance of having a forum to exchange information and experiences. Terrorism phenomenon transcends national borders and is not linked to particular people or a particular religion.”

He added: “Violent extremism does not match the UAE’s tolerance policies, which we in the country consider as the most important asset for us and one of the most important values. It is therefore an honour for the UAE to work on coordinating the efforts of the international community in order to get rid of the threats of terrorism and violent extremism in the world and our country believes that the forum has a great role to play to combat terrorism and to reach our desires in peaceful communities.”

For his part, William Burns, deputy US Secretary of State, expressed his sincere appreciation to the UAE for hosting the GCTF meeting in Abu Dhabi, saying that the region is passing through a critical period.

“We meet at a pivotal moment in our fight against violent extremism,” he said. “In a number of places, we have made substantial progress. As a result of international cooperation, Al Qaida is finding it more difficult to raise money, train recruits and plan attacks outside the region. Its leadership has been dealt serious blows.”

He added that in Yemen, Al Qaida affiliates now hold little ground, while in Somalia, Al Shabab “had gone from controlling most of the country’s south and central regions and almost all of Mogadishu... to scrambling for places to operate.”

However, Burns stressed that serious threats remain, pointing out that in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, groups are using terror to advance their agendas.

“For some time, Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb has launched attacks and kidnappings from northern Mali into neighbouring countries. As violent extremists carve out a larger safe haven, they seek to extend their reach and networks in multiple directions,” said the American official.

“Our goal now is to take greater aim at these and other threats; to stay ahead of them as they evolve and to put into place long-term solutions that will yield lasting results.”

Burns added that because long-term solutions are essential, repressive approaches often fuel the very radicalisation they seek to fight.

“And we all realise that we must disrupt the radicalisation process by fostering opportunity, promoting tolerance and amplifying the voices of men and women who have been victims of terrorism,” he said. “We need to build governments’ capacities to take on threats within their societies through approaches grounded in the rule of law and respect for human rights — by reforming law enforcement and criminal justice systems, engaging with local communities and empowering civil society.”

Burns explained that there is a need for collective exerted efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

“We also know that no one nation can succeed alone — we must work together, as equal partners, with a shared commitment to pursuing a world with more opportunity and less violence. Today we will adopt a Plan of Action on Victims of Terrorism, to help strengthen victims’ associations and break new diplomatic ground by offering the first set of international best practices aimed at ending kidnapping for ransom,” he said.

He pointed out that First, the new facility here in the UAE in Hedayah, will train police, educators, religious and community leaders, and policymakers. A second facility is expected to open in Tunis this time next year.