UN: EU statement on measures to eliminate international terrorism

61st session of the United Nations General Assembly
VI Committee

Agenda Item 100: Measures to eliminate international terrorism

Statement on behalf of the European Union

Ms. Anna Sotaniemi
Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations

New York, 11 October 2006

(check against delivery)

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

Mr. Chairman,

Terrorism continues to be one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. The recurrent terrorist acts world-wide, as well as the recently foiled plot against international aviation reminds us that nobody is safe from the threat of terrorism. We would like to take this opportunity also to express our profound solidarity with victims of terrorism.

The EU reiterates its absolute condemnation of all acts of terrorism as criminal. There is no cause or grievance that justifies terrorist acts.

Mr. Chairman,

Terrorism is a truly global menace that requires a global response. It can only be defeated through comprehensive, effective and concerted efforts by the international community.

The European Union, therefore, applauds the adoption of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy launched during the High Level Segment of the General Assembly. Its adoption by consensus is a signal of strength and determination by the General Assembly, uniting the Member States behind our common goal of preventing and fighting terrorism.

The challenge in this regard is to ensure that the adoption of the strategy leads to results. The European Union stands ready to work with other Member States to implement the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

The implementation of the Strategy also requires the enhancement of co-ordination and co-operative efforts in the UN system. In this regard, the EU has welcomed the institutionalisation of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. The EU encourages the Task Force to continue its active efforts in co-coordinating the manifold counter-terrorism activities of the UN system. In doing so, the Task Force also assists the Secretary-General in implementing the Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Member States need to secure the necessary resources for the Task Force.

Mr. Chairman,

The 16 UN counter-terrorism conventions and protocols constitute the legal core for anti-terrorist measures. Universal adherence to these instruments is essential for the consistency of measures taken by the Member States as well as for the facilitation of international co-operation. The  European Union also stresses that all measures against terrorism must respect the rule of law and be in compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law.

The EU urges the Member States to ratify or accede to and implement all 16 conventions and protocols and in particular the 2005 International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, as well as the 2005 IMO Protocols (which amend the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, and its related Protocol), with a view to their early entry into force. In this context, the EU commends UNODC and its Terrorism Prevention Branch for its important work in delivering technical assistance to States to adhere to and implement these conventions.

The European Union remains fully committed to reach an agreement on the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism based on the Coordinator's text. Every effort should be made to conclude the convention without further delay. This should be the priority of the 6th Committee. The EU looks forward to working constructively with other delegations to this end.

The relevant Security Council resolutions that are related to counter-terrorism, decisively add to the legal regime on counter-terrorism measures. The EU is committed to their full implementation, as well as to co-operation with the Council committees that deal with counter-terrorism.

Mr. Chairman,

The long term sustainable success in defeating terrorism can only be achieved if the conditions conducive to terrorism, including unresolved conflicts, are addressed. Moreover, we need to disrupt the activities of the networks and individuals who draw people into terrorism and ensure that mainstream voices prevail over those of extremism. In this regard, the European Union is currently implementing its own Strategy for Combating Radicalisation and Recruitment to Terrorism.

The EU attaches great importance to the prohibition by law of the incitement to terrorism and urges the Member States to match their national legislation with the provisions of Security Council resolution 1624(2005). In this regard, we would like to point out that with the Council of Europe Convention on Prevention of Terrorism which was adopted on 16 May 2005, States Parties are required to adopt measures under domestic law to establish public provocation to commit a terrorist offence (including incitement to terrorism), recruitment for terrorism and terrorist training as criminal offences.

The EU will continue its efforts to strengthen dialogue and promote mutual understanding between cultures and civilisations, and welcomes the work of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in this regard, initiatives such as the Alliance of Civilisations and the Interfaith Dialogue, as well as efforts undertaken by UNESCO in this field.

Finally, Mr. Chairman,

The European Union welcomes and endorses the recommendation by the Secretary-General in his annual report on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism (A/61/210) that the modalities used to prepare his report be limited to information submitted by intergovernmental organisations and depositaries. This recommendation is well in line with the call by the World Summit to consolidate reporting requirements, as well as with the call in the Strategy to eliminate duplication of reporting requests.

I thank you.