Statement Briefing on Threats to peace and security by terrorist acts, at the United Nations Security Council

May 04,2012

Allow me, at the outset, Mr. President, to extend you a very warm welcome to the Security Council. Your presence in the Council is indeed a defining moment, as Azerbaijan assumes the Presidency of the Security Council for the first time in its history. I would also like to express our deep appreciation to you, Mr. President, and to your delegation for organizing today’s meeting on this important subject of threats to peace and security caused by terrorist acts and for chairing this meeting.

2. I would also like to acknowledge the participation of ministers and high officials of Germany, Togo, Colombia, Morocco and Russian Federation in today’s meeting. Their participation and valuable statements underscore the importance of the subject for the international community. Our thanks are also due to the Secretary General for his comprehensive and insightful briefing.

3. Mr. President, terrorism today constitutes the most serious challenge to international peace and security. Over the years, the visible landscape of international terrorism has changed vastly. In our globalized world, terrorists are also globalized in their reach and activities and are able to wage an asymmetric warfare against the international community.

Terrorists have established linkages with transnational organized crime, and their veritable nexus with drug, human and arms trafficking, are now well established. Terrorist financing, illicit money laundering, drug trafficking and illicit arms trade remain intertwined in a complex web of toxic relationships.

4. There is also a growing risk of weapons of mass destruction of different kinds falling into the hands of terrorists, which will only exacerbate the existing and grave security challenge to the international community.

5. In today’s internet-based age, there is also increasing misuse of cyberspace and related technologies by terrorists and their supporters for the purposes of recruitment, training, financing, planning, preparation and incitement of their activities.

6. An effective counter-terrorism strategy, therefore, requires greater international and regional cooperation than the international community has so far been able to achieve. International cooperation and concerted action against terrorists and their sponsors, including the complete dismantling of terrorist safe havens, sanctuaries, training grounds and financial and ideological support structures, are the critical imperatives to defeat this scourge.

7. Mr. President, my own country, India, has faced the scourge of terrorism for several decades. And, indeed, our entire region, South Asia, has been wracked by the activities of the biggest terrorist actors in the world, be they Al Qaida, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamat-ud Daawa, elements of Taliban and others. Terrorism, extremism and radicalization continue to pose a serious challenge to peace, progress and prosperity in the region.

8. India condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of the motivation that may be invoked to justify them. We have been in the forefront of global counter-terrorism efforts. India is part of all major global initiatives against international terrorism, including the FATF.

9. We fully support all efforts, which strengthen international and regional cooperation, and most importantly, help ensure the effective implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, including 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005) and a comprehensive and integrated implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

10. We also endorse the two consensus benchmarks that have been reflected in the Outcome Document adopted on 28 September 2011 by the Special Meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council, which is being chaired by India since January 2011.

The Outcome Document is a major landmark in providing strategic direction to the work of the Committee aimed at strengthening capacity of states in their counter-terrorism efforts. It raises the benchmark in the fight against terrorism to a higher level and urges all Member-States to ensure ‘zero tolerance’ towards terrorism and take urgent action to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations through the full and effective implementation of resolution 1373 and other relevant international instruments. We urge all UN member-states to strive to implement this approach in their counter-terrorism efforts.

11. Mr. President, we believe that terrorism cannot be countered by law enforcement means alone. Prevention is also critical, and effective responses will necessarily include other aspects of legal and social policy. Among these, development, education, social integration, tolerance, rule of law and respect for human rights are among the key components of such responses. The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is a wholesome document that incorporates various aspects in its four pillars and provides guidance to member States in implementing global strategy in a balanced and integrated manner.

12. Mr. President, despite various daunting challenges in the fight against terrorism, significant progress has been made over the past decade, by strengthening cooperation, enhancing solidarity and facilitating dialogue among Member States in their efforts to counter the terrorist threat.

13. The UN has played a seminal role in capacity building of member States. States do need assistance to fulfill their obligations under UN anti-terrorism conventions to which they are a party, as well as Security Council counter-terrorism and other relevant resolutions. We commend the efforts and commitment of the relevant UN agencies, including Security Council’s subsidiary bodies, in developing capacities of countries in this regard.

14. While the Security Council has remained steadfast in its fight against international terrorism, it must enhance further the level of international cooperation to counter this threat decisively. We encourage the subsidiary bodies of the Council with counter-terrorism mandates to continue to enhance their ongoing dialogue with Member States, donors and beneficiaries on the facilitation of technical assistance for capacity-building, at the national, sub-regional and regional levels.

15. We also welcome the recent initiative of the Secretary General for Member-States to consider creation of a United Nations Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and express our willingness to fully engage in all deliberations aimed at further improving cross-institutional coherence and effectiveness of UN counter-terrorism efforts.

16. Mr. President, India has long held the belief that the UN also needs to strengthen its counter-terrorism normative framework through the adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. I can only echo the call of the Secretary General that the time has come for the CCIT to be adopted.

I thank you.