"not to confuse terrorism with the right of people to determine their own
fate and liberate themselves from foreign occupation"

Kuwait calls on int'l community to define terrorism
Kuwait News Agency - 12 October, 2007
www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?id=349446&news_type=Top&lang=en

Kuwait called on the international community Wednesday evening to place a
legal and comprehensive definition for terrorism and terrorist acts, and to
prepare a counter-terrorism agreement as soon as possible.

This came during a speech by Kuwaiti diplomat Mohammad Al-Ateeqi before the
62nd UN General Assembly's Legal Committee, which was discussing measures to
eliminate global terrorism.

He called on the international community not to confuse terrorism with the
right of people to determine their own fate and liberate themselves from
foreign occupation, as stipulated in Charter of the UN.

"We, in Kuwait, reaffirm that terrorism clashes with all religions and human
values. While condemning all forms of terrorism, regardless of motive, we
reiterate that terrorism must not be linked to any religion, nationality,
culture, or ethnic group. We also stress respect for human rights,
international law, and international humanitarian law when countering
terrorism," he said.

Moreover, he said Kuwait was committed to the UN Global Counter-Terrorism
Strategy and the annexed Plan of Action which was endorsed by the UN General
Assembly last year, noting that this gave the assembly a more pivotal role
in fighting this "dangerous plague." The diplomat also pointed out the
importance of looking into results of this strategy and the need to
periodically review it so as to keep up with global developments.

Within this framework, Al-Ateeqi said Kuwait was working hard to take
counter-terrorism measures at all levels.

Of these measures, he mentioned the Kuwaiti cabinet's formation of an
international center for promoting moderation in 2006; the organization of
the first and second international moderation conferences in London in May
and November 2006; Kuwait's signing in July 2007 of the Protocol against the
Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and
Components, and Ammunition; and the cabinet's formation of a committee for
countering money laundering operations in 1998.

Kuwait always seeks to elevate the level of education, knowledge, and
culture among individuals in society in order to achieve global peace that
is based on justice, liberty, and equality, Al-Ateeqi concluded.