UN finalises deal with Qatar to open counter-terrorism office in Doha

The agreement was signed on Wednesday by Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud, speaker of Qatar's Shura Council, and Vladimir Voronkov, UN Office of Counter-Terrorism's (UNOCT) under-secretary general. 

"Qatar is making every effort to assist parliamentarians worldwide in their noble task to save humanity from the scourge of terrorism," Al-Mahmoud said.

He said a plan of action is being prepared in collaboration with the UN to open the office and establish an action plan. 

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The UNOCT Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement will serve as a centre for research, knowledge, and capacity-building, leveraging on innovation and partnerships to enhance support for parliamentarians worldwide, according to a joint statement issued after the signing.

The counter-terrorism project gives further credibility to Qatar's rejection of claims from regional rivals that it supports terrorist groups.

This was used as a reason for the blockade on Qatar, by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, which began in June 2017.

In July, Qatar won a ruling at the International Court of Justice regarding airspace restrictions imposed by the blockading countries.

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