Summary: October 15, 2003: Statement on behalf of the European Union by Professor Giuseppe Nesi, Legal Adviser of the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations. Sixth Committee - Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism ITEM 156 (New York)
Mr. Chairman,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, the associated countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA country, member of the European Economic Area, Liechtenstein, align themselves with this statement.
Mr. Chairman,
The scourge of terrorism is a serious threat to peace and security. The EU condemns all acts of terrorism and remains convinced that terrorism is never justifiable, irrespective of its motivations and objectives, forms and manifestations. The EU is strongly committed to defeating this threat having recourse to all pertinent means. At the same time, the EU believes that the fight against terrorism should go hand in hand with the respect due to those values that are at the foundation of the EU
and are shared by the overwhelming majority of the international community: respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and, where applicable, international humanitarian law.
Mr. Chairman,
The EU reaffirms its support for the central role of the United Nations in the fight against international terrorism everywhere. The fact that the United Nations has successfully established a comprehensive legal framework in the field of counter-terrorism is a significant sign of the UN's central role in the fight against international terrorism. The 12 International UN Conventions and Protocols relating to various forms of international terrorism remain fundamental tools in the international
community's effort to root out this terrible phenomenon. In this regard we wish to reiterate the high priority that the EU attaches to the universal participation in and full implementation of all these legal instruments. We therefore urge States which have not yet done so, to become parties to them.
Mr. Chairman,
By its Resolution 1373 (2001), the Security Council required Member States to cooperate in a wide range of areas, from suppressing the financing of terrorism to providing early warning, cooperating in criminal investigations and exchanging information. Under Resolution 1373 (2001), the Security Council has also created an efficient mechanism to fight international terrorism, the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC). This Committee is an important mechanism for ensuring that all States comply with
their anti-terrorism obligations and assisting them to implement fully the provisions of that Resolution. In Resolution 1373 (2001) the Security Council also noted with concern the close connection between international terrorism and, inter alia, transnational organized crime, illicit drugs and money-laundering. In this respect, the EU supports the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and its Terrorism Prevention Branch as well as its activities under the Global Program against Terrorism.
Mr. Chairman,
In the Declaration annexed to Resolution 1456 (2003) the Security Council stressed the need for closer cooperation between the CTC and regional and sub-regional organizations in the struggle against terrorism. In this regard the EU reiterates its strong support for the CTC and its important work. The EU also works in close coordination with international, regional and sub-regional organizations and fora by supporting and participating in many of the counter-terrorism activities that are carried
out within these frameworks. After the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the Council strengthened Resolution 1267 (1999) provisions by adopting several Resolutions, in particular, Resolutions 1333 (2000), 1390 (2002) and 1455 (2003), imposing targeted sanctions on the individuals and entities belonging to or associated with the Taliban and Al-Qaida. The Council charged the Committee established by Resolution 1267 (1999) with monitoring the implementation by States of these
measures.
Mr. Chairman,
A legal framework applicable in all EU Member States has ensured proper and timely implementation of all the relevant UN Security Council resolutions in this field. The effectiveness of this framework has been amplified by the voluntary alignment to it by all acceding countries to the EU. A wide range of legal instruments has been adopted and is constantly reviewed with the aim of strengthening the restrictive measures imposed by the UN, notably to combat the financing of terrorism.
With the aim of providing substantive and effective support to third countries in implementing their commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001), the EU has adopted a strategy directed at offering technical assistance to those countries in the accomplishment of their obligations. The EU will continue to work closely with the CTC, notably with a view to establishing how relevant assistance can be targeted most effectively to facilitate implementation of the Resolution.
Mr. Chairman,
The tragic events of the 11th of September 2001 prompted the UN to take unprecedented action to combat international terrorism in all its forms. This fight has not lost momentum and the UN's firm endeavour to eradicate terrorism continues unabated today. On 20 January 2003 the Security Council met at Ministerial level to discuss combating terrorism and reaffirmed the importance of technical assistance to States in order to improve their capacity to prevent and fight international terrorism; on
6 March 2003 a Special Meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee was held at the UN Headquarters, in New York, which gathered the representatives of many international, regional and sub-regional organizations with counter-terrorism programs, with the aim of ensuring that these organizations act effectively in the fight against terrorism; on 23 July 2003 the Security Council discussed the item: "Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts". The same item will be on
tomorrow's agenda of the Security Council.
Mr. Chairman,
In the UN framework, the fight against international terrorism is also on the agenda of the General Assembly, and namely of this forum, the Sixth Committee. While the Third Committee deals with crime-related aspects and prevention, the Sixth Committee elaborates the legal framework. The UNGA resolution 57/27 adopted on 19 November 2002 assigned to the Ad Hoc Committee the task of continuing the elaboration of a draft comprehensive Convention on International terrorism, and the consideration of
outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of a draft International Convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism. The EU reaffirms its commitment to contribute to the debate aimed at overcoming the difficulties encountered in those endeavours. With regard, in particular, to the draft comprehensive Convention on international terrorism, submitted by India, we reiterate that its scope should be to provide added value in relation to pre-existing specific Conventions by filling
the gaps of unregulated issues. The EU believes that negotiations on those provisions of the draft Convention on which agreement had been reached, should not be reopened. The EU reaffirms its readiness to contribute to reaching a consensus on the outstanding issues.
Turning to the draft International Convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, submitted by the Russian Federation, the EU recalls the conclusions reached at the European Council in Thessaloniki. On that occasion the EU reaffirmed its full awareness that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and means of delivery constitutes an actual and serious threat to international peace and security. In light of the above, and in particular in view of the risk posed by the fact
that terrorist groups might enter in possession of such weapons of mass destruction, we strongly reaffirm that the adoption of the draft Convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism is a pressing and urgent need.
Finally, we recall the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the UN to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. On this issue, the EU reiterates that it is ready to discuss this proposal only after agreement has been reached on the text of the comprehensive Convention on international terrorism and on the understanding that such conference could contribute in strengthening international
cooperation against terrorism.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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