Turkey, US set up global fund against extremism at Global Counterterrorism Forum meeting

NEW YORK

The Global Counterterrorism Forum was created in 2011 and is presided over by Turkey and the United States. Members of the Forum gathered at the Astoria hotel in New York on Sept. 27. AA photo

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and his U.S. counterpart, John Kerry, have announced the establishment of a global fund to fight extremism, following a meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum in New York on Sept. 27.

The forum, created in 2011, is presided over by Turkey and the United States, and has 30 founding members, including the European Union.

Kerry said the fund aimed to create resources for local projects that would assist the fight against violent extremism across the world.

Mentioning last week’s deadly attacks against a church in Pakistan and a Kenyan shopping mall, Kerry said the victims were “not alone.” 

Both diplomats also emphasized that the forum created an ideal space allowing for more efficient cooperation between experts on counterterrorism.

Davutoğlu said the forum had filled an important shortcoming and would facilitate important works on counterterrorism. 

Three memorandums on best practices, including a document indicating methods to involve society in the fight against terrorism, were adopted during the session.  

Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair, EU foreign chief Catherine Ashton and United Nations Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman were also among the participants at the meeting.