Egypt backs efforts to combat terrorism

Egypt's chief delegate to the United Nations (UN) Ahmad Abul-Gheit said the recent terrorist attacks on the world superpower means there is a defect in the security system put by the founders of the United Nations in its charter.

He said that the issue of terrorism requires joint efforts and mature and creative thinking to remedy the defect and intensify efforts to deal with roots of terrorism.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Abul-Gheit hailed efforts exerted by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan with world leaders to contain the volatile situation in the Middle East, which resulted from the continued Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territories.

He called on the international community and the UN to translate its declared concern with stability and security of the African continent and prosperity its people into effective steps.

On the issue of disarmament, the Egyptian diplomat said the majority of world countries gave priority to working in the field of disarmament which was outlined clearly by the final document o the first special session of the UN General Assembly that was dedicated to disarmament in 1978.

On the issue of youth employment, he said that Egypt believed in the importance of finding appropriate jobs to 70 million young people, referring to the summit Egypt will host in Alexandria in 2002 on strategies for employing youths.