A/68/PV.96 General Assembly

While Ukraine aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union (A/68/PV.94), we find it appropriate to make a statement from our national perspective. The fourth review of the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in 2014 is an important step forward. Ukraine fully supports the United Nations in playing its key role in the prevention of and fight against terrorism and notes with appreciation the capacity-building activities undertaken by United Nations entities, including the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force working in coordination with other relevant international, regional and subregional organizations, to assist Member States, upon their request, in implementing the Strategy. Ukraine appreciates the United Nations Counter- Terrorism Strategy as a global counter-terrorism framework, which includes not only law enforcement and other security measures, but also measures to ensure respect for human rights and to address underlying conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. Ukraine notes with appreciation the up- to-date relevance of the fourth review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which, in the light of the emerging threats and evolving trends in international terrorism, is crucial for raising awareness in Member States and increasing their preparedness for tackling the new forms of terror. We share Member States’ concerns about the increase in incidents of kidnapping and hostage-taking with the aim of raising funds, and about the direct engagement of foreign fighters and mercenaries in terrorist activity on the territory of certain Member States. The issue of the use of mass media and new information and communications technologies by terrorists and their supporters to commit, incite, recruit for, fund or plan terrorist acts should be appropriately addressed by the relevant authorities of Member States. States themselves should have a clear understanding of their direct commitment to and responsibility for undertaking all necessary measures to ensure that media, television and satellite channels broadcasting from their territories are not used for the aforementioned terrorist purposes through the spread of disinformation or of destructive extremist ideas and ideologies that raise tensions and fuel conflicts. Regrettably, the issue of international terrorism has become very relevant to my country, Ukraine. Since 13 April, we have been conducting an ongoing counter-terrorism operation against heavily armed militants who are terrorizing the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The operation’s main purpose is to protect people and avoid casualties among the civilian population. Today, in the eastern regions of Ukraine, our law enforcement agencies are dealing with well- trained and heavily armed foreign mercenaries, terrorists and criminals who are taking hostages and killing and torturing people, threatening the territorial integrity and stability of Ukraine with weapons in their hands. There has been a significant increase in criminal activity in these regions. Criminals are taking advantage of the hostilities and are looting, stealing and committing assaults and robberies with a sense of impunity, creating fear among the local populations. The terrorists are seeking to gain political and territorial concessions, overthrow the constitutional system of Ukraine and violate its territorial integrity. The Government of Ukraine has assigned a clear legal status to these armed groups and their activity on our territory, officially designating as terrorist organizations the so-called People’s Republics of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. These organizations have rigid hierarchies and channels for supplying financing and arms for the purposes of planning violence, seizing hostages and carrying out subversive activity, assassinations and the intimidation of citizens. I would like to mention some examples of terrorist activity in Ukraine that clearly illustrate what is going on there at the moment and that should leave no doubt as to the terroristic nature of the activity of the armed groups operating in Ukraine. First, we are currently experiencing transborder terrorism, a fairly new phenomenon in international terrorism. It should be pointed out that such terrorist activity is possible only when the neighbouring State on the other side of a border does nothing to prevent it. In May alone, groups of unidentified armed people in military uniforms, in trucks, made four large-scale attempts to break through the State border of Ukraine in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions from the territory of the Russian Federation, covering their efforts with heavy gunfire on Ukrainian border guards. All these attempts at entry occurred while Russian border guards did nothing — absolutely nothing — to prevent them from their side. Concerning the issue of the training and recruitment of terrorists, at the end of last month Government forces eliminated a terrorist training camp located in the Luhansk region, a couple of hundred metres from the border with the Russian Federation. It was a major training centre, inducting and coordinating hundreds of militants for future terrorist activity in the region. A large military training base, where terrorists are trained and prepared to be sent to Ukraine, has also been discovered near the city of Rostov-on-Don in the Russian Federation. That information has been confirmed not only by Ukrainian intelligence data but also by the testimony of terrorists detained in Ukraine. The use of mass media for disinformation, fueling the population’s radicalization and dissatisfaction with the State authorities and creating fertile ground for the spread of terrorism, has become a real issue in Ukraine. Lies are openly broadcast through the Russian Federation’s State television channels, misinforming Russian-speaking populations around the globe, making false accusations against Ukraine’s Government and citizens and creating hysteria about our so-called national radicalization, which in the rest of the world is called patriotism. Concerning hostage-taking, a number of ordinary Ukrainians who happen not to agree with the views of the terrorist groups in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have now been taken hostage. Altogether, more than 230 individuals have been abducted in Ukraine, including, in three shocking cases, observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Ransoms have been demanded for some of these hostages, in striking testament to the real nature of these groups. Another outrageous abduction incident happened just yesterday in the town of Snizhne in the Donetsk region, when armed members of the terrorist organization known as the Donetsk People’s Republic kidnapped 16 orphans who were travelling to a neighbouring area for their health. Later the same day, the authorities on the Russian side of the border allowed these children to enter their territory illegally, despite the fact that they had no permits, only copies of their birth certificates — a fact that qualifies the incident as one of the international abduction of children, according to the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Regarding the financing of terrorism, Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies have frustrated a number of attempts to deliver considerable amounts of money in cash across the Ukrainian-Russian border; however, we can only make guesses as to how much may have managed to penetrate to the terrorist organizations in Ukraine. Cases of money transfers made by banks to terrorists have also been identified. As an example, on 8 May Ukraine’s financial intelligence agency prevented a financial transaction of $3 million to a company in the city of Donetsk. Concerning mercenary and foreign fighters for terrorism, there is large-scale evidence of a massive presence of militants from abroad in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Former soldiers from Russia’s armed forces and law-enforcement bodies with previous experience of participation in armed conflicts are potential supporters of the terrorist movements in Ukraine, with their services generously paid for by so- called pro-Russian sympathizers in Ukraine. Hundreds of soldiers from the special Vostok Battalion, the special operations forces unit based in Chechnya, as well as members of the heavily armed Russian Cossack Wolf Centurion unit, do not conceal their identities but operate openly in the Donetsk cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk and in the city of Donetsk itself. In supporting these manifestations of terrorism in Ukraine, the Russian side is violating its commitments under an array of international treaties on preventing and combating international terrorism, including the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. During this meeting, we have heard many speakers use a phrase in their statements to the effect that nothing can justify terrorism. We ask the Assembly to please think about the meaning of that phrase. “Nothing” means nothing. It means no exceptions or excuses for committing this terrifying crime. There can be no justification for the deaths of civilian victims of terrorism and those fighting against it. There should be no doubt as to the nature of these events, and any effort to call them by another name should be ignored. There is no civil war in Ukraine. The foundation of the conflict is the Russian Federation’s occupation of Crimea and its impertinent interference in our internal affairs, accompanied by support for terrorist action against Ukrainian citizens and the State’s territorial integrity. We respect those who call for a peaceful solution to the ongoing confrontation in eastern Ukraine. A full-scale national dialogue with all political actors, regional representatives and civil society is an absolute priority for the Government and President of Ukraine. But a dialogue with terrorists is impermissible and inconceivable. We do not want our people to live in fear and our country to be torn to pieces. Ukraine has every right and responsibility to protect its people’s lives and its territorial integrity, and we will do so until every terrorist has been ejected from Ukraine. We call on all Member States to join our efforts to counter and suppress terrorism in Ukraine in all its forms and manifestations. We call for the international community to unite in condemnation of the Russian Federation’s continued violations of international law. There can be no double standards in counter-terrorism activity; either one fights terrorism or one supports it. We therefore urge the Russian Federation to not only declare its commitment to fighting international terrorism but to prove it in practice, stop sending terrorists and weapons into our country, withdraw its militants from Ukrainian territory and support the further restoration of peace and stability in Ukraine and the region. That would be a significant contribution by the Russian side to implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Allow me to express the gratitude of the delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the convening of this General Assembly meeting to consider the agenda item entitled “The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy”, to which my country and the other States Members of the Organization attach particular importance. We would like to extend our congratulations to the Permanent Representative of Turkey, Ambassador Halit Çevik, as well as his team, for his excellent work as facilitator of the intergovernmental consultations on the draft resolution on the fourth United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review (A/68/L.50), to be adopted by the Assembly. Furthermore, Venezuela aligns itself with the statement made yesterday by the representative of Costa Rica on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (see A/68/PV.94). Venezuela reaffirms its categorical rejection of international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of the perpetrator and where or on what grounds it takes place, in the belief that it constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security, while also negatively affecting human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy. The dangers posed by terrorism require stronger international cooperation in order to prevent, combat and eliminate that transnational phenomenon. Our country reiterates its full support for the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the central role of the General Assembly in addressing the issue. The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is a valuable political platform for the coordination and strengthening of international cooperation efforts in the fight against that scourge, in accordance with the norms of public international law, human rights and international humanitarian law, on the understanding that its comprehensive and balanced implementation is the primary responsibility of Member States. Venezuela’s commitment to the multilateral efforts to combat terrorism is demonstrated by our country’s accession to various international and regional legal instruments and its subsequent fulfilment of the obligations incumbent on a State party to such international agreements, as well as through the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council on the issue. The international efforts promoted by the General Assembly and other United Nations bodies are essential to ensuring the effectiveness and success of measures to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism. However, we note with concern that, on many occasions, that task has been affected by the implementation of unilateral practices, such as preparing, with no justification, lists of countries that support terrorist activities, in contravention of international law, including the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. Venezuela condemns such unilateral actions. They undermine multilateral cooperation in that area, which is essential to the goals outlined in the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy since 2006. Moreover, while sharing our concerns about the risks posed to international peace and security by terrorist groups using information and communications technology to promote hatred, intolerance and violence, my country also reiterates its strong condemnation of the illegal use of such technological tools to violate the sovereignty and political independence of Member States, as well as the human rights of citizens. Venezuela has been a victim of such illegal acts, which undermine the international legal and political framework and peaceful coexistence among nations. It is unacceptable to resort to illegal methods to combat terrorism to the detriment of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, human rights and international humanitarian law. We support the calls to respect and protect the right to privacy, as established by article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including digital communications, in the conviction that the fight against terrorism must be carried out with strict adherence to international law. Judicial cooperation is another important tool for combating terrorism. Our country underscores the importance of extradition treaties to facilitate the prosecution of individuals accused of having committed terrorist acts. In that regard, in accordance with the 1922 extradition treaty signed with the United States of America and pursuant to the annex to resolution 60/288, Venezuela reiterates the request for the extradition of the terrorist Luis Posada Carriles made to that Government. Posada Carriles is directly responsible for planning to blow up a Cubana de Aviación aircraft in October 1976. That terrorist attack killed 73 innocent citizens. Similarly, we reiterate to the same authorities the extradition request for the Venezuelan citizens Raúl Díaz Peña, José Antonio Colina and Germán Rodolfo Valera, accused of and charged with having comitted terrorist acts by placing and detonating explosive devices in foreign diplomatic missions in Venezuela in February 2003. Finally, Venezuela reaffirms its full support for the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. In that regard, it expresses its solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks. We thereby underscore the role that the Organization has been playing, with the assistance of Member States, to ensure that such victims of the cruelty of terrorist barbarism, as the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Spain, Gonzalo de Benito Secades, called it, are treated with dignity and respect.

At the outset, I would like to align myself with the statement delivered yesterday by the Permanent Representative of Egypt on behalf of the States members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (see A/68/PV.94). I take this opportunity to make the following remarks in my national capacity. I would like to commend the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkey and his colleagues for their hard work in facilitating the text of the draft resolution on the fourth biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/68/L.50). My delegation takes note of the Secretary- General’s report A/68/841, which contains an update on the measures taken to implement the Strategy within the past two years. Furthermore, it contains a matrix of projects under implementation, together with submissions by Member States and regional and subregional organizations that solely and exclusively represent the views of those contributing parties, not the United Nations. The growing violent extremism and sectarian violence that plague many parts of the world today are of great concern to the international community. To address that concern, His Excellency Mr. Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has stressed the need to promote prudent moderation and to reject extremism. He further developed that theme in his address to the General Assembly in September last year, in which he dedicated a significant part of his statement to the imperative of fighting violence and extremism (see A/68/PV.6). He spoke of fears and hopes, including the fear of the institutionalization of violence and extremism and the hope of the preference for dialogue over conflict and for moderation over extremism. President Rouhani warned of the catastrophic impact of violent and extremist narratives and proposed to the United Nations that it consider the idea of a world against violence and extremism, which was adopted by consensus by this body on 18 December 2013 (resolution 68/127). Draft resolution A/68/L.50 expresses alarm about the rise in violent extremism and condemns all those behind the scourge and acts such as targeting the civilian population, attacking religious and cultural sites and disrupting the development process in societies. If we look at the current situation and the escalation of violent extremism and terrorism in Syria and Iraq, which we condemn in the strongest terms, we see how pertinent that resolution and the core idea it proposes are. It strives to promote a comprehensive collective plan to counter extremism and terrorism, and to advance respectful mutual dialogue with a view to making a secure and peaceful world for all, free from violence and extremism. The Islamic Republic of Iran has been the target of terrorist acts in different forms and manifestations, including State-sponsored terrorism, during the past two years and for the entire post-revolution era. To cite recent examples, I refer the Assembly to the terrorist attacks in Iran’s south-eastern border area, including the killing and abduction of a number of border guards. Terrorists have also targeted several Iranian diplomats and diplomatic premises in Beirut, Sanaa and Peshawar, resulting in the loss of life and the injury of diplomats, the staff of the missions and peaceful civilians nearby. Terrorism knows no border and violent extremists, fuelled by intolerance and hatred, nurtured by an environment conducive to the spread of terrorism, as well as receiving of support by their foreign sponsors, pose a high risk to the peaceful life of nations and victimize innocent civilians. Iran fully understands the untold consequences of acts of terrorism for the victims and for society at large. We hold in high regard the large number of Iranian victims of terrorism, which amounts to almost 17,000, affected by numerous terrorist attacks over the last 35 years, and the Government has taken all possible measures to address their needs and concerns properly. Those victims are the best evidence of the failed policies of terrorist groups and those who support them for the sake of pressuring our nation. Iran opposes any attempt to equate the legitimate struggle of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation for self-determination and national liberation with terrorism. Such an equation is aimed at prolonging the occupation of territories and the oppression of their people. The use of State power for suppression and violence against peoples struggling in opposition to foreign occupation and in exercising their inalienable right to self-determination should continue to be condemned. We strongly reject the unilateral preparation of lists accusing other States of so-called sponsoring terrorism and any consequences thereof, which is inconsistent with international law and is merely exploited as a political tool to advance other agendas and the political goals of enlisting Governments. Such unilateral acts encourage reciprocity by the targeted States and only undermine urgently required joint efforts on the part of all States to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We invite such Governments to reconsider their unilateral policies that in no way contribute to global fight against terrorism. The same concern also applies to the misuse of multinational financial action entities, created initially by a small group of countries, that unfoundedly label Member States in terms of financing terrorism and money-laundering. While we commend efforts aimed at capacity-building for better cooperation in cutting any support to terrorist groups, we seriously warn against any attempts to categorize States in that regard. The issue of the financing of terrorism should be addressed in an impartial, objective, technical and non-political manner. No entity is authorized or entitled to create rankings among States, which is unconstructive and only impedes mutual cooperation. We also request the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) to take into account that important criterion in collaborating with such entities wishing to work with the United Nations system. For decades, a number of root causes and factors have led or contributed to the spread of terrorism. The unlawful use of force against other States, foreign aggression and occupation, as well as foreign interference in the internal affairs of other States, are among such causes and factors to name a few. Moreover, the excessive and/or disproportionate use of military force in the name of countering terrorism creates fertile ground for vicious cycles of violence and terrorism. The United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy requires that those conditions be well addressed. The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly believes that the Strategy should be implemented in a balanced way under the auspices of the General Assembly. It is in that regard that we highly encourage CTITF to better interact with all Member States on a regular basis in order to gain more support in the overall implementation of the Strategy, and to strengthen the sense of ownership for all members. Since the adoption of resolution 66/282 during the third review of the Strategy, a notorious terrorist organization responsible for countless terrorist attacks targeting Iranian civilians was delisted from the terrorist blacklist of some States. Although the listing of the well-known terrorist organization itself did not oblige the relevant authorities to end impunity for its leaders, perpetrators of terrorist acts against Iranian people, delisting them came as shocking news particularly to the thousands of victims and their families. It unfortunately proved how terrorism can be subject to politics for some parties. We must recognize that selective or double standards and simply categorizing good and bad terrorism based on short-term political interests will not help us uproot terrorism. Such wrong approaches only undermine international trust and cooperation in countering terrorism. The international community should have a unified approach in fighting this scourge in an indiscriminate manner. As we successfully accomplish the fourth biennial review of the Strategy in the current series of meetings, we must carefully follow national, regional and global plans to implement the Strategy in a comprehensive way, with the cooperation of all, in a balanced manner, with sufficient attention to the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism while avoiding double standards and discrimination for better and lasting results.

On behalf of the Government of Japan, I would like to express appreciation for the President’s leadership in preparation for the fourth review of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. I also extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. Yaşar Halit Çevik, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkey, for his great contribution and efforts in facilitating the consultations on the draft resolution (A/68/L.50) for this review. Japan welcomes the Secretary-General’s comprehensive report (A/68/841) on the activities undertaken by the United Nations in implementing the Strategy. I firmly condemn the recent terrorist attacks and the abduction of the Turkish diplomats in Iraq, and also condemn the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Nigeria. Japan has renewed its determination to fight against terrorism. Any violence committed by terrorists cannot be justified on any grounds or for any purpose. In January 2013, the precious lives of 40 people, including 10 Japanese citizens, were lost in a terrorist attack in Algeria. Although the concerted efforts of Member States and the international community to fight terrorism have yielded certain results, those attacks show that the threat of terrorism is still profound. With the strong political will to eradicate terrorism, the Government of Japan has carried out several activities, such as regional assistance to enact a national security strategy in order to tackle international terrorism. As for regional assistance, Japan hosted the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) in June 2013, with the participation of 51 countries from Africa, including 39 Heads of State and Government, in attendance. At TICAD V, discussions focused on peace and stability in the Sahel region, so as to improve the anti-terrorism and security capacity of judicial and law enforcement units. In that regard, Prime Minister Abe announced that Japan would provide approximately $1 billion in development and humanitarian assistance over the next five years. In addition, he also announced that Japan will provide human resources development funds for the 2,000 people responsible for anti-terrorism measures and security in North Africa and the Sahel region. $16 million has been already provided for counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance in the region, in collaboration with competent international organizations, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Development Programme. Having close ties with South-East Asian countries, Japan attaches great importance to cooperation in the region. Japan has held the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Japan Dialogue on Counter-Terrorism every year since 2006, and has been extending assistance to countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in counter-terrorism capacity- building programmes. Last December, the Japanese Prime Minister announced that Japan would provide $100 million to further strengthen its cooperation to support the ASEAN community building, including in the field of counter-terrorism cooperation. We expect and support the establishment of a resilient community against terrorism in the region. At the end of last year, the Japanese Government adopted a national security strategy which sets up the basic orientation of diplomatic and defence policies related to national security. That strategy identifies international terrorism as one of the main security threats and also refers to the growing nexus between terrorism and transnational organized crime, such as drug and arms trafficking and money-laundering. It is becoming increasingly important to address the various forms of organized crime, which serve as financial sources of terrorism. In order to tackle the aforementioned issues, we must emphasize the importance of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Since the adoption of the Strategy in 2006, efforts made by Member States for its implementation have steadily progressed. The Strategy continues to be an important, holistic and comprehensive instrument for representing the full engagement in counter-terrorism by the international community. We should therefore take this opportunity to examine the progress made by all Member States in implementing the Strategy in preventing and fighting against terrorism and to reaffirm our commitment to enhancing our counter-terrorism cooperation under the Strategy. In implementing the Strategy, effective coordination among United Nations entities and Member States is indispensable and appreciated because international counter-terrorism efforts have to be concerted and integrated to maximize their outcome. We also appreciate the various measures taken by regional organizations, such as ASEAN, and multilateral counterterrorism frameworks, such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). Japan has been actively involved in the work of the GCTF and we are confident that the good-practice documents adopted by the GCTF are highly valuable and useful to all Member States. I take this opportunity to reaffirm Japan’s resolve to implement the Strategy and its strong commitment to continuing its efforts and cooperation on national, regional and international levels to eradicate terrorism. Hoping to see more effective coordination within the United Nations and with its relevant entities in implementing the Strategy, Japan is ready to continue its active contributions towards our collective endeavour.

At the outset, I wish to express my delegation’s appreciation to Ambassador Çevik, Permanent Representative of Turkey, and his team for their tireless efforts and constructive work in conducting the review process. My delegation also associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (see A/68/PV.94). Terrorism is blind and strikes indiscriminately in any part of the world — from Iraq to Colombia, from Belgium to Pakistan and from Nigeria to Norway. My delegation would like to reiterate its firm condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and would further like to express its deepest sympathy to the families affected by those heinous acts. In that context, Lebanon believes that the fourth review is timely indeed. It highlights the necessity of addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, the lessons learned, the emerging challenges and threats, and the importance of more effectively supporting the victims of terrorism. We therefore strongly commend the launch of the United Nations Victims of Terrorism Support Portal. The Strategy reaffirms the central role of the General Assembly in combating terrorism and stresses once again the importance of promoting an integrated, comprehensive and balanced approach of its four complementary pillars. Prevention remains an efficient policy in combating terrorism. It should be based on the crucial role of education. Such education should promote dialogue and tolerance among religions and civilizations. We therefore welcome the reference to the promotion of dialogue and tolerance among religions and civilizations in the draft resolution (A/68/L.50). While it is deplorable that a reference to the root causes was deleted from the final draft of the review, it remains important to address the root causes that may lead to extremism and radicalism, such as flash points of tension, social exclusion and marginalization and impunity and double standards in compliance with international law. We stress the inclusion in the review of the information and communication technology, which has been playing a growing role, as it is reflected in the Secretary-General’s report (A/68/841). One has to be aware that those instruments can assist us and be a driving force in tackling terrorism, but they shall not become a pretext to justify and violate fundamental rights contained in relevant international norms. In that regard, we commend the reference to the respect of the right to privacy in the context of counter-terrorism, and underscore the fact that combating terrorism while respecting human rights are not two conflicting principles, but rather convergent ones. Furthermore, we recall the absolute necessity of differentiating between terrorism and the legitimate right to resist foreign occupation, as it is solidly embedded in international law. However, some of the individuals who resist are the victims of terrorists who exploit their just cause and use it as a catalyst for committing condemnable acts. We would like to thank the Secretary-General for his relevant report on the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and welcome the observations and recommendations he set out. We also laud the efforts and work of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate for their significant cooperation and expertise in assisting States in countering terrorism and supporting that Strategy. In that respect, the three-pronged approach implemented by the Task Force is a positive step which will promote better cooperation and consistency. My country, which is party to 13 relevant United Nations international instruments against terrorism, has suffered the devastating consequences of terrorism, which has claimed numerous innocent lives, including those of civilians, political leaders and journalists. The Lebanese Armed Forces have made tremendous progress in bringing those attacks to an end. Indeed, the Army has arrested the perpetrators of terrorist attacks that have taken place in Lebanon since October 2013 and have resulted in more than 65 fatalities and over 400 casualties. Our Army has also been able to prevent further attacks by defusing a significant number of car bombs across the country. In that context, the newly sworn-in Government pledged in its policy statement to confront terrorism relentlessly. Finally, I would like to draw the Assembly’s attention to the alarming acts of terrorism taking place in the occupied Palestinian territory. In addition to the well-known crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the State of Israel, Israeli settlers continue to perpetrate acts of terrorism against the Palestinian civilian population and their property. Such acts should be condemned in the strongest possible terms and their authors prosecuted. Clearly, Israel’s alleged commitment to democracy and the rule of law does not extend to certain categories of populations. The Strategy should now more than ever be reflected in a comprehensive convention with a unified definition of terrorism, which will enable us to counter the scourge of terrorism around the world in accordance with international law.

I would like to thank the President for organizing this important meeting, which comes on the heels of the horrific terrorist attacks in Karachi and the kidnapping of Turkish diplomats in Iraq. We join others in condemning these acts, which remind us of the salience of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and of the importance of rededicating ourselves to its implementation. This body’s adoption of the document almost eight years ago marked the first time that all United Nations Member States agreed on a common, comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy, a landmark achievement. The Strategy remains as relevant today as when it was first agreed on, and we recognize the importance of ensuring that our efforts to implement it are not static. Indeed, as the global terrorist threat continues to evolve, so must our response. Although Al-Qaida’s core is degraded, associates in the Al-Qaida network are becoming more operationally autonomous and increasingly focused on local and regional objectives. There are now more aggressive Al-Qaida affiliates and like-minded groups, most notably in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, North and West Africa and Somalia, among others. To finance their operations, terrorist groups have turned to a range of criminal activity. Kidnapping for ransom remains the most frequent and profitable source of illicit financing, an appalling practice that the Security Council rightly condemned earlier this year in resolution 2133 (2014), and which the General Assembly condemns in its current draft resolution (A/68/L.50). Another worrying trend is the rise of foreign terrorist fighters travelling to Syria. The conflict is attracting thousands of fighters from around the world, particularly from North Africa, the Gulf, Central Asia and Europe. These fighters are travelling to participate in the fight, with some joining violent extremist groups. A number of countries have expressed concerns that some of their citizens who have gone to Syria may engage in violent extremist activities when they return home. The United States also encourages States to exercise greater vigilance in order to prevent terrorists from using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a weapon that has killed more civilians than combatants. In 2013, more than 43,700 men, women and children were maimed or killed in approximately 16,300 IED incidents outside Afghanistan. This problem is global and has become too devastating for us to ignore. To tackle it, States should share information, establish partnerships and develop strategies to combat IEDs and the networks and means used to produce them. Terrorism is a dynamic, adaptable phenomenon that is highly dependent on local, political, social and economic circumstances. We know that terrorist movements thrive on State failure, on political upheaval and on deprivation, among other factors. The United States supports the Strategy’s call for stronger efforts to prevent conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. Security and development are inextricably linked, and we must innovate along that nexus to better counter and prevent violent extremism. This includes collaborating on concrete development-based projects that mitigate the drivers of violent extremism. Leveraging partnerships is also vital to the success of our collective counter-terrorism efforts. The collaboration of the United Nations with the Global Counterterrorism Forum exemplifies an important and effective partnership, the benefits of which continue to extend well beyond the Forum’s 30 members. As a result of the rule of law-based good-practices documents that the Forum has developed with input from a variety of United Nations experts, countries from around the world have an increasingly set of practical tools to rely on as they confront the terrorist threats within their borders and in their regions. We encourage States to use the Forum’s framework documents in areas such as countering violent extremism, criminal justice, kidnapping for ransom, supporting victims of terrorism, and community-oriented policing. In addition, we look forward to the formulation of the first-ever set of global good practices for addressing the challenges posed by foreign fighters. We also eagerly anticipate the opening in Malta next week of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, which will help strengthen criminal justice systems and advance the implementation of pillar IV of the United Nations Strategy. As we help build this rule of law capacity and devote more attention to human rights, we are also working to reduce the number of recruits to terrorist groups and to counter the messaging that these groups use to appeal to a wider audience. Our efforts to counter violent extremism are most effective when conducted through international partnerships, as, for example, through the Hedayah Centre, based in and supported by the United Arab Emirates and other countries, which will focus on projects aimed at countering extremism through innovative means. And we welcome the forthcoming establishment later this year in Geneva of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, the first-ever global effort to harness the resources of the public and private sectors to support local, community- based projects on educational and vocational training, civic engagement, media and women’s advocacy. We encourage States to support and contribute to this important multilateral financing mechanism. The need for a holistic United Nations approach to countering terrorism and violent extremism has never been greater. Only with a targeted, nimble and united approach can we stay ahead of and respond appropriately to the ever-changing terrorist landscape. We welcome the important role of the United Nations Counter- Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) in building the counter- terrorism capacity of Member States, complementing the good work that the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime continues to undertake with criminal justice officials around the world. The United States looks forward to making a financial contribution to the UNCCT later this year. We also encourage the Office of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force to continue coordinating among the range of United Nations entities working on all of these issues, including by more actively engaging development actors, most notably the United Nations Development Programme. The support of the United States for the Strategy and the collaborative and long-term strategic approach it embodies is unwavering. It is clear that many Member States, and the United Nations system as a whole, have come a long way in our efforts to prevent and counter the scourge of terrorism. It is also clear, however, that our mission is not nearly complete.

The Sudan would like to express its sympathies to Pakistan and Turkey over the kidnapping of Turkish diplomats in Mosul, in Iraq, and the attacks on Karachi International Airport. We strongly condemn these terrorist acts, as we condemn every terrorist attack that has taken place recently. My delegation commends the convening of the fourth biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We associate ourselves with the statement made yesterday by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (see A/68/PV.94). The Sudan also commends the efforts of the Permanent Representative of Turkey and his team to facilitate the consensus on draft resolution A/68/L.50, entitled “The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review”, in a transparent and effective way. My delegation would like to commend the report of the Secretary-General (A/68/841), in which he outlines the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and points out the various challenges facing us in that regard. My delegation condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including State terrorism. We reiterate our full commitment to implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a comprehansive, sustained and consistent way. We also undersore the importance of strengthening regional and international cooperation on efforts in that regard through a balanced approach towards the four pillars of the Strategy. The Sudan has ratified all international counter- terrorism agreements, as well as the African and Arab regional conventions in that regard. The Sudan actively supports the efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to combat terrorism. We believe the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy to be one of the most important international legal frameworks guiding international legislation and institutions. All our national laws are in accordance with those international legal frameworks. In the context of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy the Sudan has made significant efforts to combat terrorism at the national level. In that regard, we note some of the most important initiatives of the national body to combat terrorism in the Sudan. As part of our efforts to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the national body for combating terrorism has adopted a national strategy that is the outcome of in-depth consultations with various sectors of society, including civil society groups, religious leaders and academics. The development of the national stratgey is now in its final stages and is being considered by Parliament. In the context of legal reforms, we have amended the anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism funding laws, which were adopted in 2010. The various new kinds of terror activity were included in the law. In February, we also adopted a new law on combating human trafficking. As part of its regional efforts, the Sudan has hosted several conferences and workshops under the framework of the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development in order to strengthen regional cooperation on fighting terrorism and on exchanging experiences and expertise. In order to raise awareness about the threats of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and to mobilize capacity within society, the national body organized awareness-raising programmes in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, with a focus on young people, students, women, social and religious leaders and trade unions. We have also issued several publications and pamphlets that outline the initiatives launched by the national authorities on legislation that provides for the use of mass media to combat terrorrism, as well as programmes to combat cybercrime. The national authorities have also granted scholarships at the Masters and postgraduate levels in the counter-terrorism field in cooperation with universities and research and study centres. Fighting poverty and marginalization and strengthening dialogue between the north and the south and at the international level is important so as to achieve a balance in international institutions. Such steps constitute the first step towards dealing with terrorism in all its forms and manfestations and to finding comprehensive approaches. The Sudan condemns the unilateral measures of some countries that accuse others of hosting terrorism. Those countries act on the basis of a hidden political agenda. Such unilateral measures give rise to growing tension in international relations and politicize our common efforts. Currently, the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy was adopted to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations regardless of the perpetrator or link with any religion, civilization or ethnic group. The Sudan would therefore like to reiterate that international and regional cooperation is the best way to strengthen our efforts to combat terroism, while respecting international law and human rights. My delegation would like to reiterate that the primary responsibility for implementing the Strategy lies with Member States. We therefore encourage the various Member States to join efforts to implement the Strategy and to work hand in hand with the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF). We greatly appreciate the efforts of the CTITF with regard to the capacity-building of countries and call for further work in that regard. In conclusion, the Sudan would like to reiterate its firm commitment to fighting terroism in all its forms and manifestations and to continuing our efforts to implement the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy.

At the outset, I would like to join other speakers in thanking the Permanent Representative of Turkey for his efforts in facilitating the consultations on the draft resolution (A/68/L.50) that we will adopt at the conclusion of this debate. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report (A/68/841) and, in particular, for the innovative approach in providing a matrix, thereby facilitating an appraisal of the numerous and complex activities undertaken by the entities of the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF). We most strongly condemn the abduction of Turkish diplomats and their families in Iraq, as well as other recent terrorist attacks. Serbia fully aligns itself with the statement made yesterday by the observer of the European Union (see A/68/PV.94) and wishes to make the following comments from its national perspective. The fourth biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy marks a significant milestone in the implementation of our common and concerted efforts in confronting violent extremism, whose worst manifestation is terrorism, a scourge that has continued to plague us in new and ever more challenging forms. Having grown to 34 entities, the CTITF is at the forefront of those efforts, which require a balance of all four pillars of the Strategy, as rightly pointed out in the Secretary-General’s report. Serbia has always strongly condemned terrorism unequivocally in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes. Serbia is party to 14 of the 18 international counter-terrorism instruments and is doing its utmost to fully implement all relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, in particular resolution 1373 (2001). It stands ready to contribute to all efforts, as it has done so far, through multilateral and regional cooperation, as well as through the 60 bilateral agreements with individual States on law enforcement cooperation. The Government of Serbia believes that the main threat to regional security derives from violent extremism and other transnational organized crime. However, it is aware of the global terrorism threat and the challenges involved in countering terrorism effectively, recognizing the need to employ a multidisciplinary approach. To that end, it is in the process of finalizing a comprehensive and integrated national counter- terrorism strategy that will be supported by an implementation action plan. Serbia places strong emphasis on regional cooperation, in which it actively participates in sharing information on movements of criminal and terrorist suspects. With regard to the exchange of police information among the Balkan countries and beyond, the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL in Belgrade is an active participant in different INTERPOL anti-crime activities in the region, particularly as regards projects focusing on terrorism and terrorism- related issues. It is also increasing its cooperation with a variety of organizations and networks, such as Europol and the Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre. It has been a co-organizer and participant in a number of regional workshops, sharing its experiences and best practices. It stands ready to share those good practices and expertise with countries facing similar challenges. With its European Union accession negotiating process under way, Serbia expects that its counter-terrorism capabilities will be further enhanced. On the national level, Serbia has amended its criminal code and code of criminal procedure with a view to bringing counter-terrorism measures into line with the international counter-terrorism instruments and international human rights law. In trying suspected terrorists, it accords them all rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the aforementioned legislative acts, providing them with all basic due process guarantees. In implementing its international obligations and in an attempt to streamline its legislation, it has introduced the offences of incitement to terrorism and recruitment and training for terrorist acts and is particularly concerned of late with the phenomenon of foreign fighters. Those efforts were noted in the report of the Counter- Terrorism Committee that was issued earlier this year following a visit conducted in the spring of 2013. The visit was very successful and provided important input for reflections on proceeding forward, particularly as regards further increasing national capacity. We are looking forward to discussing a follow-up visit shortly. Let me reiterate once again Serbia’s full support to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and to all the relevant documents of the United Nations. When it comes to fighting terrorism, the guidelines contained in the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy are of paramount importance and utmost urgency.

I would first like to thank you, Sir, for the welcome initiative to convene this meeting, which gives us the opportunity to review for the fourth time the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and discuss the progress made in its implementation since its adoption by consensus by the General Assembly on 8 September 2006. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the high-quality report that he has provided us with (A/68/841) and welcome the relevant recommendations contained therein aimed at, inter alia, fighting the phenomenon of terrorism and violent extremism. Recent events have been marked by the trauma of persistent terrorist attacks in recent days, including at the airport in Karachi in Pakistan; in Mosul, Tikrit and other Iraqi cities; in Aguelhok, in my country, Mali; and the kidnapping of 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria. Those despicable and unjustifiable acts amply illustrate that the hydra of terrorism is far from defeated. It is today one of the leading threats to peace, security and stability throughout the world. I would like to express, on behalf of the people and Government of Mali, our sincere condolences and sympathy to the brotherly peoples of Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey and Chad, following the tragic events that they have just experienced. Our thoughts are also with all victims of terrorism worldwide. My country, Mali, which has paid and unfortunately continues to pay a heavy toll due to the terrorist attacks following occupation of the northern regions of our territory by armed terrorist and jihadist groups, condemns in the strongest terms all forms of violent extremism. Religious extremism, particularly the phenomenon of terrorism, is completely alien to Malian society, which is known for its openness, tolerance and practice of a pacifist and moderate Islam. We have the firm conviction that nothing  — absolutely nothing — can justify terrorism. No cause can justify that scourge, which is tied to no particular religion, race or colour. In my country, Mali, the authorities have risen to the challenge of preventing violent extremism and fighting terrorism. They have developed a clear strategy and put in place measures that combine activities related to development and the fight against poverty in addition to an arsenal of suppressive measures. National laws were passed on 23 July 2008 and 30 December 2010 on the suppression of terrorism and transnational crime and on relating to the fight against terrorist financing, respectively. Mali has also signed and ratified most of the universal legal instruments against terrorism and transnational organized crime. Other initiatives also exist at the regional level involving Mali’s neighbouring countries and partners. I recall that Mali is currently chairing the ministerial coordination platform on the Sahel strategies. The aim is to unite the various strategies and initiatives to address the multiple and complex challenges that all of the States of the Sahel face. Those initiatives, as the Assembly knows, are based on, inter alia, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and rely on four main pillars: the elimination of conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, the prevention of and fight against terrorism, capacity-building for all States, and the role of the United Nations. The terrorist attack in Aguelhok in northern Mali on 11 June, on the eve of the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), must lead the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities by listing, in the new resolution on MINUSMA, the necessary measures to definitively address the issue of terrorism in northern Mali. The Council should also require the armed groups who are signatories of the Ouagadougou agreement of 18 June 2013 to distance themselves from terrorism, lay down their arms and return to the cantonment process and the path of dialogue to which my Government is inviting them. In the search for a comprehensive approach to the fight against terrorism, we must emphasize the virtues of dialogue and mutual understanding. We must fight against the appeal of intolerance and extremism. It is in that context that the President of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was the guest of honour at the United States-Islamic World forum held from 9 to 11 June in Doha, has issued a resounding call on the international community to present a common front in the fight against terrorism and religious intolerance. He has emphasized that the hydra of terrorism has not yet given up the ghost and called on the international community to pursue its efforts in Mali and at the regional level. From this rostrum, I would like to express the gratitude of the Government of Mali to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco for training 500 Malian imams in his country. His Majesty’s commendable initiative, which has expanded to other countries, will carry and spread the values of Islam — values of peace, tolerance and acceptance of differences. Today more than ever, we must replace incitements to hatred with speech that promotes peace. In conclusion, I would like to recall that it is essential that we promote international cooperation in the fight against terrorism by putting greater emphasis on its prevention and suppression. In dealing with the many challenges that have worsened the phenomenon of terrorism, particularly in the Sahel-Saharan region, we should adopt a collective approach and strengthen cooperation between the United Nations system and all stakeholders at the national and regional levels. The delegation of Mali supports the Secretary-General’s recommendations for making the struggle against terrorism more effective and welcomes the report and the draft resolution submitted for our consideration.

I would like to thank the President for convening this meeting, and Ambassador Halit Çevik for facilitating the informal consultations on the review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Kazakhstan adds its voice to those of previous speakers in condemning the recent acts of terrorism. The fight against international terrorism demands a long-term, comprehensive approach and regional and global cooperation, with the active participation of all United Nations Member States. Kazakhstan is a party to all the major international conventions relating to the fight against terrorism. We welcome the idea of convening an ad hoc committee once a year for drafting a comprehensive anti-terrorism convention, and we support the further improvement of other anti-terrorist treaty mechanisms. My country is also committed to supporting the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism. We must never lose sight of the human dimension of terrorism. My country is therefore convinced that implementing the Strategy’s main provisions through national legislation is also crucial to promoting the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development, and we therefore also support measures aimed at providing comprehensive assistance to the victims of terrorist acts. We welcome the establishment of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre and are ready to cooperate with it and in the establishment of the post of a coordinator for countering terrorism, as well as in strengthening the work of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. At the same time, however, we do not believe that approaches to terrorism should be merged with those for organized crime. While the two are interconnected, it is important that we focus on eliminating drug trafficking that helps to finance terrorism. The Republic of Kazakhstan has always stood for strengthening Member States’ national capabilities for addressing drug trafficking through regional and international cooperation, especially with regard to money laundering and the financing of terrorist organizations. Kazakhstan is guided by the Strategy and the other universal international instruments that it has ratified, and is also actively engaged in the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. As a country that voluntarily renounced possession of one-fourth of the world’s nuclear arsenal, Kazakhstan attaches great importance to implementing measures to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction into the hands of terrorists. We therefore organized a conference in Astana in 2011 on global initiatives to combat acts of nuclear terrorism, and in 2010 the first meeting of the Implementation and Assessment Group of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. Kazakhstan, as an active member of the Anti-Terrorist Centre of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, has signed the SCO Convention against Terrorism and all agreements on combating the illicit trafficking of arms, ammunition and explosives. We work closely with the Central Asian Regional Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. We fully support the joint action plan to implement the Strategy in Central Asia that has been formulated by several partners  — the countries of the region, the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, the European Union and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat. In June 2012, Kazakhstan also organized a consultative meeting with regional organizations in Almaty on implementing the Strategy in Central Asia. As the Chair of the OSCE for 2010, Kazakhstan hosted the Conference on the Prevention of Terrorism that adopted the Astana Declaration, affirming the commitment of OSCE member States and partner countries to combating terrorism. Counter-terrorist activities are also very high on the agenda of the collaboration between Kazakhstan and the European Union. In addition, my country is a participant in a NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan, thereby expanding its collaboration with the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. The Republic of Kazakhstan supports the text of the draft resolution under consideration today (A/68/L.50) and urges that it be adopted by consensus. We are deeply committed to working with other Member States to more effectively combat the ever-increasing scourge of terrorism.

I would first like to commend the convening of this important meeting and to thank the President and Ambassador Halit Çevik, Permanent Representative of Turkey, and his team for facilitating the consultations on the final text of the review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We also subscribe to the statement made by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (see A/68/PV.94). Terrorism unquestionably constitutes the greatest threat to international peace and security today. It is not confined to any place or time, and our counter-terrorism strategy must therefore be adaptable and proactive. That requires a biennial review of the Strategy in order to be able to evaluate our achievements in its implementation, develop and update its provisions and working methods with the goal of overcoming all the challenges that constrain the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. My country, the United Arab Emirates, has continued to develop its national policy, legislative systems and operational procedures aimed at countering acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as related phenomena such as money-laundering, illicit trafficking in arms and drugs, and other prohibited acts and cross-border crimes. To that end, my country has harnessed all its capabilities and available national expertise in order to coordinate and cooperate with the relevant international, regional and subregional mechanisms working to combat terrorism, with the aim of preventing any attempt to use its territory, air space or territorial waters as staging areas from which to commit terrorist and criminal acts in violation of international law. It was against that backdrop that in 2004 the State enacted a federal law on combating terrorist crimes, taking into account all obligations contained in international and regional instruments related to counter-terrorism, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions. The State has also taken many strict measures to track down perpetrators of terrorist crimes and established a national counter-terrorism committee to follow-up on the implementation of relevant Council resolutions, adoption of draft national reports to be submitted to the relevant Security Council Committees, as well as to consider the State’s accession to relevant international and regional conventions and treaties. In that regard, I note that my country has acceded to 13 international conventions. In this connection, I am pleased to inform the Assembly that, on 18 June, my country will inaugurate the Gulf Cooperation Council regional secretariat of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Center of Excellence, in cooperation with the European Union and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute. The United Arab Emirates is proud of the progress and cultural renaissance it has achieved since its inception 42 years ago, including building a multicultural and tolerant society, as well as religious freedom for all diverse communities and the achievement of gender parity. The United Arab Emirates is ranked first among the Arab countries and fourteenth internationally on the index of gender equality, which represents a formidable barrier against all forms of terrorism and extremism. The United Arab Emirates encourages the promotion of all political efforts aimed at resolving differences and conflicts, as well as the dissemination of a culture of tolerance and peace; enhanced convergence between civilizations and religions; the consolidation of the principles of justice and international law; and deepened respect for human rights, all of which represent important elements in addressing the main root causes for the phenomenon of terrorism. In addition, out of our concern to disseminate and promote the principles of Islam, which are anchored in moderation and tolerance, my country has implemented an imam-training project in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, in cooperation with the Afghan Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs; the United Arab Emirates General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, and the Zayed House for Islamic Culture with the aim of training 20,000 imams in Afghan villages and rural areas. The first class of 350 trainees graduated in September 2013. In March, the United Arab Emirates hosted a global forum on the promotion of peace in Islamic societies, with the participation of 250 Islamic scholars and intellectuals from all over the world. It was the first such meeting for Muslim scholars and intellectuals at the global level to form a united front to confront extremist ideologies that contravene human values and the tolerant principles of Islam and to counter the evils of sectarianism and violence that plague the Islamic world for decades. Convinced of the need to consolidate the notions of tolerance and the renunciation of violence, my Government has also promoted efforts to disseminate moderation and renounce violence and combate extremism in all their forms. It also took the initiative, in 2012, to establish the International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism in Abu Dhabi, known as Hedayah Center, as one of the initiatives of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum. In this context, I note the senior officials meeting on the role of education in fighting extremism, organized by the Hedayah Center, with the support of the United Arab Emirates, in New York on 25 September 2013, on the sidelines of the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly. Despite all the tireless efforts of the international community to fight terrorism in all its forms, the international community continues to see an increasing incidence acts of terrorism and organized crime. Religion has been exploited as a means for exclusion and marginalization within the coomunity, which has contributed to fueling acts of terrorism, aggravated tension and instability in general. Therefore, we support the proposal to convene an international conference on terrorism that would contribute to the definition of terrorism and distinguish it from peoples’ endeavour to achieve self-determination. In that context, we also stress the need for due compliance with all principles of international humanitarian law in implementing counter-terrorism measures. In conclusion, it is our hope that our current review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy will contribute to improving its objectives and implementation mechanisms with a view to the total eradication of all acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and to creating a world that enjoys the principles of justice, equality, liberty and peaceful coexistence among all nations and civilizations in peace, security and prosperity.

At the outset, let me thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important meeting, as well as the facilitator of the fourth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, Ambassador Çevik. I also wish to join previous speakers in expressing appreciation for their inspirational leadership and invaluable contributions to global efforts to combat the menace of terrorism. In our world today, terrorism has become a regular occurrence. No issue has dominated the strategic landscape as much as terrorism. It constitutes one of the most serious and deadliest threats to international peace and security. It is insidious in character and transnational in nature. Recent terrorist attacks and onslaughts across the world, particularly in Africa, serve to remind us that this threat is a clear and present danger. It constitutes a threat to the great and small, to the strong and weak alike. The international community understands that terrorism is organized in a tightly woven network. We believe that it takes a network to defeat a network. With that understanding comes the realization of the importance of an all-inclusive regional and international collaborative approach to deterring and defeating terrorists. The key to its defeat is best described by the naval metaphor of summoning all hands on deck. In Nigeria, over the past months we have faced an upsurge in terrorist challenges in several parts of the country by a notorious terrorist group, which has come to be identified as Boko Haram. The group indiscriminately targets civilians, Muslims and Christians alike, all places of worship, recreational centres and media establishments. Not even a United Nations bureau was spared in 2011. Those acts, rather than daunt Nigeria, helped us to strengthen our resolve to rise up against the scourge of terrorism through the development of new national plans, closer cooperation with our neighbours and the international community. In that regard, in March 2014, the Office of the National Security Adviser in Nigeria delineated a four- part plan of action to address the terrorist cycle, from radicalization to rehabilitation. The plan, designed as a soft approach to countering terrorism, is premised on Nigeria’s national experiences, as well as aspects of the Secretary-General’s report (S/2014/9) on the work of the United Nations to help States and subregional and regional entities in Africa in fighting terrorism. It involves all tiers of Government and consists of four streams. The first stream is the deradicalization of convicted terrorists, suspects awaiting trial and those who might be released through court orders or such Government decisions arising from the ongoing engagement and dialogue with repentant suspects. The second stream is targeted at the whole society, which is expected to galvanize the Nigerian society against terrorism through the family, cultural, religious and national value systems. The third stream is aimed at building capacity to communicate national values coherently and institutionalize such capacity through the military and law enforcement. The fourth stream, which took cognizance of the economic root causes of terrorism, involves the economic revitalization of six states in the north-east of Nigeria. To firm up that national initiative and create a regional basis for it to succeed, Nigeria reached an understanding with its contiguous neighbours to share intelligence and ultimately set up an intelligence fusion centre in Abuja. Joint border patrols and joint trainings are other aspects of the envisaged cooperation. At the international level, Nigeria has added the entities called Boko Haram and its splinter group, Ansaru, as well as the individual Abubakar Mohammed Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram, to the United Nations Al-Qaida sanctions list. While we realize the limitations of those sanctions against those entities and the individual, we also understand the nexus between criminality and terrorism and the growing collaboration between the two. All those measures can be implemented only with the requisite capacity, and that brings to the fore the issue of capacity-building in the war against terrorism. It is in this wise that Nigeria remains committed to working closely with the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) and all United Nations counter- terrorism entities. Nigeria is appreciative of the past and ongoing cooperation and assistance of the United Nations counter-terrorism entities, particularly the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, which is expected to undertake a follow-up visit to Nigeria in November and December 2014, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. We also note with satisfaction the role being played by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in the fight against terrorism, as well as the synergy evolving between the Centre and CTITF entities. In the face of the accelerating global security challenges, the cyber threat has become coterminus with the violence of terrorism. Counter-terrorism, which can cause mass disruption of business communications, manufacturing, service delivery and the workings of Governments, is indeed, another threat to humankind. Its danger emanates from the damage it can cause to our most valuable assets — the data and information that power our productivity and support our economies. Every attack, regardless of its target, poses a global threat and could imperil commerce and communications among all nations, due to the interconnections of digital infrastructure and networks, as well as the interdependencies of national and regional economies. We must do more by developing an analogous approach against that danger. One thing is clear — the war against terrorism on all frontiers can be achieved only through the firm and determined resolve of all States Members of the United Nations. We therefore urge the General Assembly to continue that coordinated approach towards combating terrorism. It is Nigeria’s fervent hope that the fourth review will provide new insights and impetus for enhancing the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Nigeria commiserates with the Government of Turkey on the abduction of its Consul General, his staff and their families, including three children, by militants fighting for an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Iraq a few days ago. I also wish to seize this opportunity to extend the gratitude of my delegation to all Member States for their concern and cooperation during Nigeria’s latest travails in the hands of the terrorists.

First of all, the delegation of the Republic of Paraguay thanks President John Ashe for convening this meeting on the fourth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We would also like to express our appreciation for the valuable report of the Secretary-General (A/68/841), which was introduced yesterday, and for the work of the Turkish delegation in facilitating the work on draft resolution A/68/L.50, on the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, to be adopted by the General Assembly. I take this opportunity to convey our solidarity with the Government and people of Turkey, who were recently victims of acts of terrorism in Iraq, which we strongly condemn. The Republic of Paraguay reaffirms its total commitment to the fight against international terrorism in all its manifestations, and reiterates that it will decisively continue to carry out tasks aimed at promoting the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, based on its four pillars, with a general focus on the national and regional levels and in close cooperation with the agencies involved in the fight against that evil. Paraguay believes that international cooperation is the most effective tool in the fight against terrorism. Accordingly, I would like to share with the Assembly some of the achievements we have made in the past few years. My country has ratified 13 international instruments relating to the fight against terrorism and is also party to the two treaties in force in our region. In 2010, our national Congress enacted law 4024/2010, which punishes acts of terrorism, terrorist association and terrorist financing. In 2011, law 4503/2011 on freezing funds and financial assets was enacted; and, in 2012, its respective statutory decree was also passed. In 2013, decree 11200/2013 entered into force, by which Paraguay’s strategic plan to combat money-laundering, the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was adopted. Moreover, in February 2012, the Financial Action Task Force, after noting significant progress, recognized Paraguay’s work in its fight against money- laundering and terrorist financing. As a result, it was removed from the Task Force’s monitoring process. All those steps, along with others that I will not mention here, were taken in compliance with the international commitments Paraguay has undertaken in the fight against the scourge of terrorism. I am pleased to report that, during the fourteenth ordinary session of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE), held in February at the Organization of American States headquarters, in Washington, D. C., Paraguay was unanimously elected to the vice-presidency of the Committee for the period 2014-2015, joining Canada, which holds the presidency for that same period. Being Vice-President motivates us even further to resolutely support the efforts undertaken by the United Nations and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force so as to strengthen and optimize international cooperation with medium- and long-term goals. In recent years, Paraguay has participated actively in the activities of CICTE, which helped strengthen national structures involved in the fight against terrorism and develop the plans established by CICTE. As part of those activities, in 2012, Paraguay hosted a course on technical aspects in managing and handling cybersecurity incidents. In 2013, it hosted a specialized national workshop on monitoring terrorism and terrorist financing and a course on travel document examination and fraud prevention. The Iberoamerican Congress and Fair on Information Security was also held recently. All those activities, in addition to strengthening the capacities of law enforcement personnel from immigration and customs in different areas, demonstrate the Government’s decisive work in meeting its commitments worldwide. The delegation of Paraguay reiterates that the fight against terrorism must be based on full respect for the rule of law and human rights, which are elements that we believe to be essential to eradicating that scourge. Finally, we once again express our gratitude for the holding of this event and the report of the Secretary- General, and we encourage States to continue to support the various mechanisms of the United Nations to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against terrorism in all forms.

I would like to thank President Ashe for organizing this important meeting on the fourth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Ambassador Halit Çevik, the Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations, for his efforts in facilitating the consultations and reaching a consensus on the draft resolution to be adopted at the outcome of today’s meeting. At the outset, I want to convey my Government’s profound condolences to the Governments and peoples of Pakistan and Iraq in connection with the recent spate of deadly attacks in those countries. I also wish to express my country’s solidarity with Turkey and join the calls for the immediate and safe release of all the kidnapped Turkish diplomats and other citizens in Mosul, Iraq. Those attacks are a stark reminder of the growing threat of terrorism to international peace and security and to the political independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and social and economic development of all States. Today, as the world is still suffering from terrorism and the growing frequency and magnitude of terrorist acts are aimed at shattering the edifice of our societies, a comprehensive approach to combatting that scourge through concerted international action remains as vital as ever. The nature of terrorism and its increasing connection with other threats to international peace and security require close cooperation among States, including through the establishment of a more coordinated, coherent and systematic United Nations approach. While recognizing the significance of addressing all conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism in line with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, we stress the need to intensify efforts for conflict resolution on the basis of the generally accepted norms and principles of international law, particularly those relating to respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of States. Conflict-affected territories, especially those under foreign military occupation, often provide fertile grounds for terrorists and other non-State actors who use terrorism as a means of achieving their illegal goals. The accumulation of armaments and ammunition in those territories beyond international control and the risk of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related materials to non-State actors pose a serious threat to regional and international peace and security. The war on terrorism cannot and must not be used to target any religion or culture. That principle must be part and parcel of any counter-terrorism strategy. All States should be united in supporting various initiatives towards enhancing intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Strengthening cooperation within such initiatives will serve to prevent misconceptions, defamatory manifestations and the deliberate labelling of religions and will contribute to the efficiency of counter-terrorism efforts. No State is immune to terrorism, and Azerbaijan is not an exception. For many years, Azerbaijan has been a target of well-known international terrorist groups, including State-sponsored ones, the ideology of which is based on historical, racial and religious prejudice and hatred. Those groups present a serious threat to Azerbaijan’s national security and to the security and well-being of our region as a whole. No country can completely eliminate terrorism alone, either. Therefore, Azerbaijan has always striven to strengthen the global fight against that menace. Combating terrorism was among Azerbaijan’s top priorities during its membership of the Security Council in 2012 and 2013. On 4 May 2012, Azerbaijan organized a high-level meeting of the Security Council (see S/PV.6765) on strengthening international cooperation in the implementation of counter-terrorism obligations, which was presided over by the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. In March 2013, Azerbaijan hosted an international conference on strengthening cooperation in preventing terrorism, co-organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. As a responsible member of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, Azerbaijan is actively engaged in promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue. In past years, the capital of Azerbaijan has become a destination for many high-profile and action-oriented events, such the World Summit of Religious Leaders and the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue. Furthermore, Azerbaijan organizes annually the Baku International Humanitarian Forum and various youth-related international events. My country will host the first-ever inaugural European games in 2015 and the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017. Azerbaijan will continue to play its role as a bridge, and will enhance its contributions to the ultimate goal of promoting international peace and security and fostering tolerance and understanding worldwide.

At the outset, my delegation would like to express its appreciation for the dedicated manner in which Ambassador Halit Çevik of Turkey and his team has facilitated this process. The adoption of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy by the General Assembly in September 2006 marked an important watershed in international efforts in the war against terrorism. However, eight years down the line, terrorism remains one of the greatest challenges to global peace and security. That is a clear indication that terrorist groups the world over are adopting new strategies in spreading violent extremism, destroying innocent lives and property and taking advantage of unresolved conflicts and fragile States. In the case of Kenya, continued conflicts in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region continue to provide a conducive environment for terrorism to fester. In Somalia, despite progress in stabilization and State-building, in which Kenya plays a crucial part under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the terrorist group Al-Shabaab continues to threaten Kenya’s security and regional security by staging cross-boundary attacks. Terrorist acts cannot be condoned or justified in any way whatsoever, as they constitute flagrant violations of human rights and international law. Such acts also endanger national, regional and international peace and security. Kenya, like other members of the international community, condemns and rejects the use of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as we believe that terrorism cannot be justified for any reason or for any cause. Closely related to the spread of terrorism is transnational organized crime and regional security challenges. Those include the illicit trade in and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, piracy, the huge humanitarian and refugee crisis created by conflicts, human trafficking, money laundering and the illicit trade in narcotics and ivory, among other factors. The tackling of those challenges has a direct bearing on effectively countering terrorism. My delegation reaffirms Kenya’s commitment to all the regional and international instruments established to combat terrorism and counter violent extremism. Among them are Security Council resolution 1624 (2005), which deals specifically with the issue of incitement, and resolution 1373 (2001), which established the United Nations Counter- Terrorism Committee, as well as the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, bodies with which Kenya has a constructive engagement, especially in terms of institutional and capacity-building initiatives. Kenya would therefore like to take this opportunity to underscore the need to enhance international cooperation and coordination in order to fast-track the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. My delegation lauds the creation of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre and the work being done by the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force in that regard. Kenya also appreciates the role played by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the area of capacity-building. However, much more remains to be done in terms of enhancing coordination between those institutions in order to effectively support regional and national efforts to counter-terrorism and develop a coherent and effective international strategy in that regard. As part of its obligations in implementing the Global Strategy and also to ensure regional and international peace and security, Kenya has, among other measures, legislated anti-terrorism law, created a national counter- terrorism centre and an anti-terrorist police unit. My country also works closely with its neighbours in the East African Community in combating terrorism. Kenya also continues to play a vital role as a peacemaker in Somalia through AMISOM and in conflict mediation in the region through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. My country is also involved in the African Union’s African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism and is a member of the Eastern and Southern African Anti-money-laundering Group. In conclusion, my delegation supports the adoption of the consensus draft resolution (A/68/L.50), and would once again like to reiterate its commitment to the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy and its attendant instruments and mechanisms.

At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation for the fourth biennial review of the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. I also commend the Turkish Mission’s role, in particular the tireless efforts of my good friend, His Excellency Ambassador Halit Çevik, and his team for facilitating negotiations on the fourth biennial review. Additionally I would like to welcome the Secretary-General’s recent report (A/68/841) on the activities of the United Nations system in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Afghanistan aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (A/68/PV.94). I would like to add the following in my national capacity. My country has been and still is one of the biggest victims of terrorism in the world. Afghan men, women and children are affected every day by terrorism and violence. As a result of that pernicious threat, Afghans regularly see their loved ones killed in suicide and roadside bombings, their clinics and schools destroyed, and their important public figures assassinated. Recent weeks have seen some particularly horrific attacks. My Government condemns in the strongest terms the recent attack on the Indian Consulate in Herat, the kidnapping of 35 university professors in Ghazni province this week, the recent assassination attempt against one of the two front-runners in Afghanistan’s presidential elections, and the gruesome attack on personnel of the Turkish EMTA construction company in Jalalabad province in Afghanistan. My Government also condemns acts of terrorism all over the world in all their forms and manifestations. We were deeply saddened by the most recent act of terror committed in our neighbouring country, Pakistan, where militants attacked the Karachi airport and killed over a dozen individuals. We condemn the unforgiveable acts of Boko Haram in Nigeria. We also deplore the violence in Mosul, Iraq, at the hands of terrorist groups, and the gruesome kidnapping of Turkish diplomats in that country. Recognizing the continuing threat of terrorism in our country, counter-terrorism policies are central to Afghanistan’s national security strategy. Over the past decade, together with our international partners, Afghanistan has made major strides in addressing and weakening terrorist networks in the country. Those efforts continue as the Afghan National Security Forces assume a greater role in all security activities across the country, including counter-terrorism operations. The increasing capabilities of the Afghan National Security Forces were evident during the recent first round of elections in my country, when the Afghan National Security Forces secured polling centers around the country and ensured the safety of Afghan voters on election day. Moreover, we have strengthened our counter- terrorism legal framework to appropriately address the threat of terrorism in the country. Afghanistan is party to 13 international conventions and protocols concerning terrorism, and we have adopted a multitude of national laws to combat terrorism and other forms of organized crime. Those include the Law on Combating the Financing of Terrorism and the Law on Combat against Terrorist Offences, for example. We are working closely with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, and have submitted relevant national reports on implementation. We also work closely to implement relevant United Nations sanctions regimes, and commend the valuable work of the sanctions committees, including the Al-Qaida sanctions regime mandated by Security Council resolution 1267 (1999), the Taliban sanctions regime mandated by Security Council resolution 1988 (2011), and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. While we acknowledge the effectiveness of sanctions, we call for further regional cooperation in their implementation to ensure their further success. Terrorism is a menace that plagues the whole region. It is crucial that Afghanistan’s neighbours and countries in the region play their role in contributing to peace and security in my country. My Government calls for putting an end to safe havens and sanctuaries beyond our borders, which have been used by terrorists and insurgent groups against the people of Afghanistan, international forces and the wider region. For our part, Afghanistan has intensified cooperation at the regional level, including through dialogue with regional partners through bilateral, trilateral and multilateral processes to effectively deal with the problems of terrorism and extremism in all their forms and manifestations. In order to eliminate terrorism and bring peace and prosperity, my Government is also actively pursuing reconciliation efforts with the Taliban, including through initiatives aimed at halting extremist violence at its very roots. To that end, in September 2013 Afghanistan’s High Peace Council organized an international conference for Islamic scholars and peace from across the globe in Kabul to discuss ways that religious leaders can contribute to peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. During the conference, Islamic scholars declared suicide attacks un-Islamic and emphasized the need to use the religious practices and teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah to eliminate violence and build peace. We believe that such initiatives are instrumental in promoting a culture of peace and dialogue. When the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy was adopted by the General Assembly in 2006, it demonstrated a collective international commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Today, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, along with all four of its associated pillars, has been implemented at the national, regional and international levels. The Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force has convened a number of important initiatives, in many of which Afghanistan has been an active participant. We applaud the Task Force office for organizing, in Geneva in June 2013, the high-level International Counter-Terrorism Focal Points Conference on addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, and welcome its outcome. We express our deep concern about the evolving challenge posed by non-State actors seeking weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. We call on Member States to take the necessary steps to ensure that non-State actors and terrorists do not gain access to such weapons, and we commend United Nations bodies and Member States for providing capacity-building assistance to States seeking to implement Security Council resolution 1540 (2004). To that end, the recent seminar on the contribution of resolution 1540 (2004) to regional and global disarmament, held in Kazakhstan in March, was an important step forward. Terrorism continues to threaten peace and security in Afghanistan and in the region, but ultimately terrorism is a global threat. It is not limited to any religion, region, country, national group or ethnicity. We continue to watch with horror the upsurge in terrorist attacks around the world, not only in our region but also in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. Afghanistan deplores all acts of terror in any region by any group, and is committed to the eradication of terror at its roots. To that end, we commend the efforts of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and call for its widespread implementation moving forward.

I should like at the outset to thank President Ashe for having organized this debate on the fourth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. I congratulate the Secretary-General for the quality of his report (A/68/841) highlighting the activities of the United Nations in implementing the Strategy. I would also like to thank the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkey, Mr. Çevik, for the praiseworthy efforts he and his entire team have made in facilitating the consultations on draft resolution A/68/L.50, on the fourth United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy review. My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (see A/68/PV.94). Today’s debate is of great importance because of its focus on the threat of terrorism, which continues to pose a growing threat to international peace and security, given the tensions and risks that define the current regional and international geopolitical context, as well as the rapid shifts within Al-Qaida and its affiliates on the geographic and structural levels. My delegation welcomes the opportunity to participate in this debate, which allows my country to reiterate its strongest possible condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and its full adherence to the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Tunisia has always shown a strong commitment at the national, regional and international levels to combating the threat of terrorism. Tunisia has criminalized all activities that support terrorism and undertaken a reform of Tunisian counter-terrorism and money-laundering legislation so as to ensure conditions conducive to equitable justice and respect for physical safety in accordance with its international human rights obligations. Moreover, Tunisia continues to strengthen its institutional and operational framework to fight against the phenomenon in an efficient manner. At the regional and subregional levels, Tunisia has also joined almost all the regional and subregional initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation and coordination in the field. Tunisia’s commitment has also been seen in the signing of a number of bilateral agreements with its neighbours to fight terrorism, which involve in particular assessment of the terrorism threat and the elimination of its sources of financing. Furthermore, Tunisia has ratified all regional conventions on the fight against terrorism, including the Arab Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism, the Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, and the Convention of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Combating International Terrorism. Deeply convinced that the fight against terrorism exceeds the capacities of any one State or of any international organization, Tunisia has also joined most of the international conventions and treaties dealing with the fight against terrorism and spares no effort in fulfilling its obligations pursuant to the Global Counter- Terrorist Strategy. Similarly, Tunisia appreciates the cooperation and the technical assistance of the United Nations entities responsible for the fight against terrorism, including the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, which recently organized a regional workshop in Tunisia on the freezing of assets under resolution 1373 (2001) and a regional workshop in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on prosecuting terrorist cases in the context of respecting human rights and the rule of law, from 28 to 30 May 2014 and from 2 to 3 June 2014, respectively. Insofar as terrorism has no religion or nationality and insofar as it is multifaceted with changing ways and means, terrorists today increasingly rely on new communications technologies and forge increasingly close links with organized crime. Any counter- terrorism strategy, be it regional or international, must integrate changes in the design and implementation of their modus operandi. On another level, Tunisia believes that measures for purely security purposes are insufficient. We are also convinced that the persistence of political injustices at the international level, the failure to find solutions to some conflicts, the existence of economic disparities, exclusion and defamation of religion should also be taken into account as they help to fuel hatred and the rejection of others, boost extremism and foster the indoctrination and recruitment of terrorists. The terrorist threat continues to be an international challenge that can be met only with greater international cooperation towards the emergence of a comprehensive, concerted and firm response, in particular through a balanced implementation of the Global Strategy, and a uniform approach based on consensus to which all stakeholders, including Governments, international, regional and subregional organizations, civil society and media, can subscribe, avoiding duplication of efforts and broadening our ability to prevent terrorism, fight it and limit its impact. Tunisia therefore wishes to draw attention to the importance of building the national security arrangements capacities and security arrangements of Member States, with respect to both information-gathering and the proper investment in equipment, in order to efficiently fight terrorism, money-laundering, suspicious movements of capital and the proliferation of weapons and in responding to terrorists’ use of new communications technologies.

I wish to express my delegation’s appreciation for the priority that the President of the General Assembly has accorded to the fourth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and note in particular the outstanding work done by Ambassador Y. Halit Çevik, Permanent Representative of Turkey, and his team in leading the review process. I also take this opportunity to forcefully condemn the kidnapping of the Consul General and staff of the Turkish consulate in Mosul as well as the events in Nigeria and other violent acts in Pakistan. The delegation of Uruguay associates itself with the position set forth by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and welcomes the report of the Secretary-General for this year (A/68/841). The report refers to information provided by the States Members of the United Nations denoting their commitment to the counter-terrorism strategy and international regulatory regime designed to address the problem, as well as to the issuance of domestic legislation in support of the fight against terrorism and related crimes. I also wish to express my thanks for the information provided by the organs of the United Nations system. In November 2012, our country received the visit of the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and his team, who met with public agencies of the executive and judicial branches of the Government and other State entities that have jurisdiction over regulations and actions in the fight against international terrorism. Earlier this year, we received the final report stating that our country is on track to combat this problem but must make regulatory updates, narrow border controls, link our migration databases with INTERPOL, and continue monitoring and regulating terrorist financing. In May 2014, the new Executive Director of the Committee, Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde, followed up the visit made in 2012 for the purpose of discussing areas that needed improvement and to exchange ideas about the means for technical cooperation that the Organization can provide in order to put us in the best possible position to counter international terrorism. We welcome the new visit in the understanding that it is not enough to make a diagnosis if there is no follow- up with a treatment for the problem. It is clear that the close link between Uruguay and the Counter-Terrorism Committee will benefit our country in terms of fighting crime at home and will also result in a benefit to the international community as a whole, keeping in mind that terrorism is a transnational phenomenon that only can be addressed effectively by appealing to the cooperation of all countries of the world. With respect to the issue of laundering money derived from illicit activities which are mainly responsible for funding international terrorism, our country is fully convinced that organized crime and terrorism financing have brought and are bringing inestimable damage to our societies. Suffice it to say that, according to the estimates of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the damage amounts to $2.1 trillion annually from organized crime, which has unexpected effects in our villages. We are also absolutely convinced that it is essential to confront this scourge with the greatest determination in all areas possible and with all the tools at our disposal, that is, in a complete, comprehensive and determined manner. Such has been the attitude developed by Uruguay in its role as President pro tempore of the South American Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, the regional intergovernmental organization that brings together countries in the Americas, whose principal objective is to make its member States’ legislation consistent with a complete and comprehensive policy for combating the crime of money laundering and terrorist financing, and to promote actions that integrate financial and operational aspects and all public agencies responsible for those areas. Without going into detail, the work of the Task Force and its evolution in the twenty-first century are proof of the regional and subregional commitment to combating terrorism and its attendant crimes. As recently announced, Uruguay reaffirms its decision to work in a constructive and collective manner with other delegations in order to strengthen the system for combating international terrorism in all its manifestations by simultaneously implementing the four pillars of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, with equal emphasis on each, as noted in the statement made on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. To conclude, I refer to the General Assembly resolutions that recommend that the analysis of the draft project on the articles for a framework convention on international terrorism be finalized as soon as possible. We understand that all that remains to be done is to define international terrorism and the scope of the acts to be covered by the Convention, although that will hardly be a simple task. Nevertheless, in the name of the higher goal of endowing ourselves with a general international norm on combating international terrorism, we hope that the necessary work will be concluded at the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly.

Let me begin by thanking President Ashe for convening this meeting. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Ambassador Halit Çevik of Turkey for so ably facilitating the negotiations for this year’s draft resolution (A/68/L.50), which we hope will be adopted today by consensus. Our position on terrorism is unambiguous. We strongly condemn and reject terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We are committed to working together within the framework of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy to ensure that those responsible for and involved in despicable acts of terror are prosecuted and punished. The Government of Bangladesh has strongly supported the United Nations playing active role in countering terrorism, which has unfortunately spread to the four corners of the world. We would also like to reaffirm that no motivation whatsoever can justify resorting to acts of terrorism. Those who choose to pursue that deceitful path do not have faith in their own agenda and actually delegitimize their cause. Let me also re-emphasize that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, citizenship or ethnic group. We stress that tolerance, the promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, and interfaith and intercultural understanding are among the most important pathways for promoting cooperation and successfully combating terrorism. Recurring acts of terrorism continue to pose a significant security challenge to humankind as a whole. As terrorist groups and non-State actors choose their targets without discrimination, their modes of operation continually evolve and they devise more complex ways to carry out their heinous acts with deadlier consequences. The use of technology, including information technology and social media, has enabled the creation of a network among terrorist networks, non-State actors and transnational criminals. Those developments pose new challenges to State apparatuses and traditional approaches to combating terrorism. As the terrorist threat continues to evolve and manifests itself differently in different parts of the world, we must also constantly adapt our responses. We would, however, like to underscore that any indiscriminate response to counter-terrorism without due respect for fundamental human rights would be self-defeating, and would in fact conflate the root causes of terrorism. This review is a good opportunity to update and strengthen the United Nations efforts to ensure that our responses to terrorism are as holistic and as multilayered as required to address the evolving nature of terrorism in our time. Countering terrorism remains at the top of our agenda. In recent years, the government of Bangladesh has made sustained efforts to combat terrorism and the financing of terrorism. It has maintained a zero- tolerance approach to terrorism and taken a number of bold, pragmatic and concrete steps to ensure that the soil of Bangladesh is not used by the purveyors of terrorism against the interest of anyone, including our neighboring countries, thereby making our region safer and more secure. The adoption of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009, with amendments in 2013, and the Money Laundering Prevention Act of 2009, along with supporting legislation and strategies, as well as monitoring and implementation mechanisms on countering terrorism, has helped Bangladesh combat terrorism to a great extent. The counter-terrorism strategy that the Government of Bangladesh has adopted has drawn heavily from the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Bangladesh is committed to countering terrorism not only nationally but within the wider context of South Asia, though the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). At the five most recent SAARC summit meetings, Heads of Government of SAARC countries have stressed the need to combat terrorism by strengthening cooperation at the regional level. Exchanges of experience, joint training programmes and periodic meetings of SAARC Home Ministers are indicative of that spirit of cooperation. Bangladesh is also involved in counter-terrorism initiatives under the aegis of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. As I mentioned earlier, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy remains central to our efforts to countering terrorism. We are also committed to the full implementation of Security Council and General Assembly resolutions on counter-terrorism, including Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004), which provide a fundamental framework for international efforts to prevent and fight terrorism and to develop national and regional counter- terrorism capacities. The global counter-terrorism agenda and strategy need to evolve through continued dialogue and must be strengthened through globally coordinated approaches, cooperation, capacity-building and sharing of best practices. The need for effective coordination within the United Nations system in the process of implementing the Strategy cannot be sufficiently stressed. We also believe that the United Nations has a key role to play in capacity-building at both the national and regional levels. It is only logical that every region or State will approach that process guided by its own strategic security concerns and priorities. The Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy can serve as an anchor for situating the different regional and national counter-terrorism strategies around its four pillars. We believe that combating terrorism is a collective responsibility, and that the United Nations counter-terrorism efforts reflect our collective commitment and aspiration to protecting humankind from the scourge of terrorism.

Guatemala categorically rejects all acts of terrorism and reiterates its commitment to the prevention and fight against that scourge. It is discouraging to see the scourge continue to spread and intensify with an increasing number of victims of terrorist acts. Of course, we recognize the important achievements that have been made in the fight against terrorism, but it is evident that we can and must do more. My delegation welcomes today’s consideration of the United National Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, first because it gives us a chance to assess the implementation of the Strategy, bearing in mind its successes and its deficiencies, and secondly because it contributes to a growing awareness of the Strategy with the aim of promoting its effective use. The relevance of the Strategy depends on its implementation, which depends primarily on us, the Member States. Accordingly, the current review allows us to consider appropriate actions, learn from them and identify additional measures to assist the membership in the implementation of the Strategy. My delegation thanks the Secretary-General for his report (A/68/841), which allows us to update our understanding of and assess the praiseworthy initiatives of the United Nations system. I should like to underline a few matters of importance to my delegation that were the subject of negotiations in draft resolution A/68/L.50. First, the United Nations must lead the coordination of counter-terrorism efforts in an integrated and effective way. The General Assembly is the intergovernmental forum most suited to dealing with terrorism, both because of its universal membership and because of the nature of the topic at hand. Our focus must therefore not be on the risks incurred by any one country, but on a concerted effort on the part of all countries. In the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, we have a common interest. Similarly, there is a need to ensure consistency throughout the entire United Nations system in its various counter-terrorism activities. We reiterate our support for the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, which has demonstrated its capacity for coordination and efficiency in leading the system, and we trust its work. Secondly, we stress the necessity of strengthening international cooperation as a platform for the global effort to eliminate terrorism. We are firmly convinced that only genuine and efficient international cooperation that allows us to prevent and combat all acts of terrorism will provide an effective and sustainable response to the scourge of terrorism at the global level. In that regard, we cannot pass up this opportunity to emphasize the importance of the regional and subregional dimensions. The commitment of my region to combating terrorism through the Organization of American States, which has acquired valuable experience in the fight against terrorism within the inter-American system, has been exemplary. Thirdly, we wish explain our concerns about the phenomenon of kidnapping and hostage-taking by terrorist groups. We understand that such incidents pose a major challenge in certain regions of the world. Nevertheless, this is a matter that has not been regulated by international law and that raises conceptual differences. Moreover, any future regulation must bear humanitarian and human rights considerations in mind. For all those reasons, we invite the General Assembly to continue studying the subject and to consider conducting a review of existing international law to bridge existing gaps and thereby avoid incompatibilities with the domestic laws of each country or region. Fourthly, we believe that the effectiveness of our counter-terrorism efforts are related to our capacity to deal successfully with the conditions that fuel that phenomenon. Over the past decade, we have acquired a number of operational tools to address the issue and to cooperate effectively, bearing in mind the needs and particularities of each region. Nevertheless, there is still a need to adopt a comprehensive counter- terrorism convention as soon as possible, in particular for the multidimensional character of the problem. A comprehensive convention should include existing tools to combat international terrorism and would complement the Global Strategy. Finally, we cannot have a Strategy that is not scrupulously respectful of the rule of law and human rights. We reaffirm our strict observance of due process, and we recognize the efforts and important work done by the Office of the Ombudsperson, particularly in the area of sanctions, to improve the effectiveness and transparency of United Nations sanctions. In conclusion, my delegation thanks Ambassador Çevik and his team for their leadership and guidance in the negotiation process, which was complex and extensive and in which we participated actively.

At the outset, allow me to add my voice to those of others who have condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, no matter the justification or the identity of the perpetrators. I would also like to reiterate the crucial importance of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the adoption of which was considered a culmination of efforts to combat terrorism. My delegation hopes that the fourth review of the Strategy and the draft resolution (A/68/L.50), which is the fruit of our negotiations, will lead to a better implementation of the Strategy and other international counter-terrorism instruments in order to reach our common goal of eliminating that scourge. My delegation believes that the United Nations is the principal nexus for international cooperation in eliminating terrorism as a serious threat to the international peace and security, stability and the prosperity of nations. If we are to succeed in that task, we must respect international law and the Charter of the United Nations; we must avoid duplication of effort and not politicize the fight against terrorism, while ensuring greater transparency in the work of relevant United Nations bodies. The terrorist attacks that my country, Syria, and many other Member States have suffered have demonstrated that despite the efforts made at the national, regional and international levels to combat terrorism, terrorist organizations remain capable of strengthening their capacities and of launching horrific suicide attacks and bombings. Certain terrorist organizations linked to Al-Qaida, such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, continue to find new bases from which spread and launch attacks in other countries throughout the world, all while profiting from the fact that certain States are not taking their counter- terrorism commitments seriously and are exploiting the assistance of other States that believe terrorism to be a a tool to further their own interests and policies. In that regard, Syria condemns terrorist attacks against our Iraqi brethren, and reiterates our solidarity with them and their Government as they confront terrorist groups that are causing suffering in both our countries. The challenges that we face are enormous, including the issue of foreign terrorist fighters in many areas, including Syria. Fighters in Syria come from 80 different countries, which raises doubts about those countries’ respect for and commitment to the Organization. We must therefore increase our joint efforts in accordance with international law to respond appropriately to issues such as incitement to violence and terrorism, the imperative of eliminating the sources of financing and weapons for terrorists who now have access to many different types of weapons, including weapons of mass destruction and their launching systems, and the need to prevent terrorists and their supporters from using the Internet, social networks or mass media for the purposes of glorifying terrorism or for financing and planning terrorist acts or for attracting new members through the promotion of extremist, destructive and erroneous ideas that have nothing to do with religion or any notion of civilization. We must effectively strive to protect young people from improper exposure to the Internet and social networks for they can be deceived into leaving their families and countries to go to other countries and join terrorist organizations to commit acts of murder, pillaging and destruction before they are killed themselves or return to their home countries to plan other terrorist attacks there or in other States. We must eliminate the causes that could lead a young man or woman to leave Florida, Toulouse or London or any other place in the world to join terrorist groups in other States. How could we imagine that a youth of 20 years of age, for example, could abandon the football that he loved and played every day in Florida for a bomb that would blow him to bits? We must put an end to practices that draw young people away and exploit them. We need to convince them that what they are doing is destructive and we must teach them that it will lead them to certain death. Those who are responsible — who finance them, facilitate their travel, help them to clandestinely cross borders and train them to use weapons — are Governments and States that we all know. We therefore reiterate the need to adopt additional measures to enhance border control and clamp down on work papers for and the free movement of terrorists. Today, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation stated that 15 Americans of Somali origin travelled from Minneapolis to join a terrorist group active in Syria. The people of Syria, together with all peoples of the world, are engaged in a joint effort to end the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. We welcome the steps that have been taken, even if they often come too late. In order to face those challenges, my delegation has proposed improvements to the draft resolution on the Strategy in order to address the issues of foreign terrorist fighters and the use of the Internet, information and communications technology and the media to incite and support terrorism. Other delegations have made similar proposals. My delegation participated in a positive manner in the negotiations and showed great flexibility because we are aware that the main objective is not the letter of the text — although that is important — but rather its effective implementation and the respect by all States for why we have come to an agreement. That must lead to a practical and effective steps forward. My delegation welcomes the efforts made to support victims of terrorism. Unfortunately, in my country, Syria, there are very many of them. My delegation reiterates the need to assist them in getting back on their feet and resuming an effective role in their societies and to raise awareness against terrorism. The blood and suffering of victims of terrorism move us to increase our efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and to deal with reasons that could lead to terrorism, although it can never be justified. We do that through respect for coexistence, dialogue between peoples, religions and civilizations. Combating terrorism is a crucial and immediate necessity. My delegation hopes that the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy will present us with two occasions to celebrate the achievements made in combating terrorism in the light of all the accomplishments we have made together over the past seven decades. Finally, my delegation chooses not to respond to those delegations whose remarks are an attempt to draw attention away from the main objective of this meeting.