KUWAIT CITY, Feb 11: Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Cooperation Ambassador Hamad Al-Mishaan has confirmed that Kuwait is taking measures to combat terrorism and financing it. Al-Mishaan made the statement on the sidelines of a workshop on developing investigation capabilities, effectively pursue cases of financing terrorism and implementing Security Council sanctions; in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through video conference at Saud Al- Nasser Al-Sabah Kuwaiti Diplomatic Institute on Tuesday. He disclosed “this is part of a series of measures we are taking, because Kuwait is currently going through the evaluation phase in the Financial Action Task Force. We are intensifying workshops and awareness on this issue, not only for employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; but also for the concerned parties in banks and investment companies in order to raise awareness on this matter.”
He added that the workshop was held through the coordinated efforts of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNODC, shedding light on the issue of financing terrorism and the implementation of Security Council resolutions in this regard. On the upcoming evaluation of Kuwait, he said “we are now in the one-year phase of the review. We are improving the laws and procedures, and amending the regulations in Kuwait to be in line with international requirements. We passed the previous evaluation and we are optimistic about the next one.” On the meeting held with the minister of Social Affairs one day ago, Al-Mishaan disclosed that “it was a coordination meeting with the Ministry of Social Affairs, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned with the issue of charitable societies outside Kuwait while the Ministry of Social Affairs is in charge of Kuwaiti charitable societies operating inside the country. We are coordinating with the Ministry of Social Affairs. Our work is unified, and we ensure that the work is within the legal and correct frameworks.” He added “we are improving all decisions and procedures for the benefit of Kuwaiti charitable societies and ensure their funds reach the rightful beneficiaries. This step improves the reputation of Kuwait in the international community.” He went on to say that the number of participants in the previous workshop was about 300; while Tuesday’s workshop had more than 500 participants. “We made it easy for everyone to participate through the audio-visual communication system, as we are keen to have the largest possible number of participants in this workshop. Both the private and government sectors responded massively,” he asserted. He also underscored the need for everyone to follow the instructions. He said the Central Bank has launched a campaign called, ‘Be Aware,’ to educate the public on the subject of donation and participation in any project in which the citizen may not know who the participants are.
With regard to cryptocurrencies, he pointed out “we are currently facing terrorist operations that have developed and entered into financing their operations with cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence. We must keep pace with this development to combat it, especially in the matter of cryptocurrencies.”
He then expressed his “deep appreciation and gratitude to the staff of the UNODC for their relentless efforts to make the workshop a reality. It was launched within the framework of cooperation between the State of Kuwait and the Office to reach new horizons of joint cooperation.” He continued: Our workshop today is one of the outcomes of the High-Level Conference to Enhance International Cooperation to Combat Terrorism and Secure Borders, which was hosted by the State of Kuwait in November 2024 during which the ‘Kuwait Declaration’ was issued. We are holding our workshop amid worrying geopolitical developments in the region, which is witnessing an increased pace of operations related to financing terrorism and financing the proliferation of weapons, which threaten the security and stability of societies and hinder efforts to achieve development and sustainable peace.
Although these challenges are cross-border and require international coordination to coordinate efforts in this regard, it is the responsibility of countries at the national level to enhance their capabilities to keep pace with developments arising from this scourge. It requires coordinating national efforts with international standards for combating terrorism and the proliferation of weapons, given the threat this phenomenon poses to peace and stability.” He also revealed that terrorist organizations launch attacks, plan operations, recruit individuals, and raise funds in new ways that exploit the financial system and the legal framework to spread their influence and carry out their activities, especially artificial intelligence and digital currencies to avoid monitoring and follow-up procedures.
By Fares Al-Abdan Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
