EU Presidency Statement - Measures to eliminate international terrorism

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, the associated countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, as well as the EFTA Countries, members of the EEA, Iceland and Norway, declare that they align themselves with this statement.

Terrorism is a serious threat to national security and can constitute a threat to international security, to peaceful relations between States and to the development and functioning of democratic institutions around the world.

The European Union and its Member States categorically condemn all acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable irrespective of their motivation, forms and manifestation. At the same time we believe that national as well as international efforts to combat terrorism must be conducted with respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms as defined in the relevant international instruments and, where applicable, international humanitarian law.

The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 have shown that the fight against terrorism requires a concerted global action and effective national preparedness in order to prevent and suppress terrorist acts. The European Union welcomes the Security Council Ministerial Meeting of 20 January 2003 on Combating Terrorism reaffirming the importance of technical assistance to States in order to improve their capacity to prevent and fight terrorism. Regional and sub-regional organizations have also a critical role in enhancing the effectiveness of global action against terrorism. For this reason the European Union welcomed the convening on 6 March this year of a Special Meeting of the Security Council's Counter Terrorist Committee (CTC) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, which brought together the representatives of all international, regional and sub-regional organizations with counter-terrorism programmes, with the aim to ensure that these organizations act in concert in the struggle against terrorism.

Mr. Chairman,

The EU and its Member States have displayed sincere interest in co-operating more actively and closely with all major actors towards the common goal of combating terrorism. In this regard universal and full implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) and other Security Council resolutions on counter-terrorism continues to be our high priority.

We firmly support the Counter-Terrorism Committee for its important role in monitoring and encouraging the universal implementation of resolution 1373.

Mr. Chairman,

The United Nations successfully has established a comprehensive legal framework in the field of counter-terrorism. The 12 UN Conventions and Protocols are of crucial importance in combating terrorism and the European Union is fully committed to the ratification and full implementation of all these Conventions. We also urge all States, which have not yet done so, to become Parties to these Conventions, and in particular, to ratify or accede to the two most recent ones.

The General Assembly in its resolution 57/27 adopted last year, decided that the Ad Hoc Committee will continue 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 European Union remains committed to contribute to this endeavor, and support the early conclusion by consensus of the negotiations on the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism. Our view has all along the negotiation process been that the draft convention, which was submitted on the initiative of India, should provide an added value in relation to previous anti-terrorist Conventions by filling the gaps of unregulated issues. However, the ''acquis'' of these Conventions, which is a considerable achievement, must be preserved.

The European Union is of the view that the sectorial approach followed by the UN in the negotiation and conclusion of antiterrorist conventions is a most successful one. We will continue to make efforts for the early adoption by consensus of the draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism. The adoption of such a convention, the draft of which was presented by Russia, is a pressing and urgent need, in particular, in view of the risk posed, should certain terrorist groups gain access to weapons of mass destruction.

Furthermore, the General Assembly decided that the Ad hoc Committee shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The European Union reiterates its readiness to discuss such a project after the conclusion of the work on the comprehensive convention and insofar as such a conference could lead to a strengthening of the international cooperation in combating terrorism.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Statement - Measures to eliminate international terrorism (18/10/2004)
• EU Presidency Statement - Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism (15/10/2003)