Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- After the blockade of Qatar in June 2017 by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, which accused it of supporting terrorism, Doha has taken a number of measures to improve its international security image.
Doha staked in this direction on the UN. As of 30 June 2019, Qatar has contributed over US$75 million to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund and has become its second largest donor.
On 7 December 2020, the UN announced that a new International Center for Behavioral Analysis has been created in Doha, which will study the behavioral aspects of the activities of members of terrorist organizations. It will become a kind of research branch of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office. The goal is to use the latest technology to find out what are the reasons and motivating factors that lead people to radicalism and extremism. The Government of Qatar has allocated US$5 million to support the Center for the next three years.
The head of the United Nations Office for the Fight against Terrorism (UNODC) V. Voronkov expressed gratitude to Qatar for political and financial support, which resulted in the creation of a new International Center.
In turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh M. Al Thani explained that his country's desire to help with the establishment of the Center is the result of a policy based on “the values, culture and teachings of genuine Islam, which rejects terrorism in any form, regardless of its reasons. and motives”.
On 9 December 2020, Qatar and UNODC held their third high-level strategic dialogue, during which the parties reaffirmed their strong partnership in the fight against terrorism, exchanged views on strategic priorities for the coming year and discussed opportunities to further deepen and expand cooperation in the future.
In general, using the potential of the UN, Qatar is improving its image as a fighter against terrorism. The opening of the UNODC office in Doha will be a clear signal to the international community that the accusations against her were politically motivated and do not correspond to the real state of affairs.