United Nations, Sha'ban 28, 1438, May 24, 2017, SPA -- The United Nations welcomed the announcement of the launch of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology and the establishment of a center for the targeting of terrorist financing in Riyadh, describing these initiatives as important tasks for the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center. "The Secretary-General of the United Nations has made it one of his top priorities to combat terrorism and prevent violent extremism," Deputy Secretary-General Farhan Haq told Saudi Press Agency (SPA) today. --SPA 22:24 LOCAL TIME 19:24 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w413857