A/71/PV.93 General Assembly

Before we proceed to the items on our agenda, it is my sad duty to pay tribute to the memory of His Excellency Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, who passed away on 8 June. On behalf of the General Assembly, I request the representative of Nicaragua to convey our condolences to the Government and the people of Nicaragua and to the bereaved family of His Excellency Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann. As we pay tribute to him, I would like to make a brief statement. Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann was a renowned diplomat, politician, community leader and priest who dedicated his life to social justice, upholding international law and helping the poor and marginalized people of our world. He was a steadfast promoter of peace and non-violence. As Nicaragua’s Foreign Minister, he played a key role in civil peace processes within Central America, and was a tireless voice for unity and reconciliation. In Nicaragua, Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann recognized the power of diplomacy and was an ardent defender of multilateralism. As President of the General Assembly during a period of immense challenges, including the global financial crisis, he promoted this Hall as a central forum for global debate and said: “The General Assembly enables the dialogue that is essential to identifying and, more importantly, to agreeing on solutions to our most pressing problems” (A/63/PV.16, p.52). He founded non-governmental organizations with a view to empowering the poor in Nicaragua. He mobilized assistance to help victims of natural disasters and served on civil-society bodies dedicated to protecting the environment. Seven years prior to the General Assembly’s adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann said, in this great Hall: “We must be brave enough to challenge the vast inequities that exist in the world; we must take steps to defuse the time bombs that are ticking at the heart of virtually all of our societies; and, as unappealing as it may sound, that will require sacrifices from all of us. We must reorder our priorities if we are to fulfil the promises of security and well-being that billions of people have trusted in us to keep.” (ibid., p.53) With those words, Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann was calling on all people to take up that mantle and become leaders and advocates for a more just world. Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann’s message of global unity remains as relevant today as it was during his time on the international stage. His unswerving faith in the human spirit, support for human rights and belief in equality between men and women in nations large and small shaped his life. It is fitting that, on this sombre occasion, we remember Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann’s profound words delivered to the General Assembly. He said: “[W]e are all brothers and sisters and, if we hope to climb out of the terrible mess we have created, we must treat each other with respect and love. “Call it compassion. Call it brotherhood and sisterhood. Call it stewardship. Call it solidarity. The idea is the same in all parts of the world. We owe it to one another. We owe it to Mother Earth, who is struggling to survive our abuses. We owe it to succeeding generations. Let us join forces to ensure that we rise to those challenges together, setting aside our petty differences. We can and we must make a difference.” (ibid., p.53) On behalf of the General Assembly, I again extend sincere condolences to the family of Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann and to the Government and people of Nicaragua. I now request the General Assembly to rise to observe a minute of silence in memory of the late Father.

In accordance with rule 70 of the rules of procedure, I now give the floor to Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Chef de Cabinet of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, to make a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General.

I join the members of the General Assembly in paying tribute to Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann. Father D’Escoto played a very important role in Nicaragua’s history and was a prominent figure in Latin America. As a politician, diplomat and Catholic priest, he dedicated his life to serving his fellow citizens. His invaluable contribution, as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua, to the Contadora and Esquipulas peace processes in the effort to achieve peace in Central America is a very significant legacy. The United Nations appreciates the important role that Father Miguel d’Escoto played as President of the General Assembly from September 2008 to September 2009, when he highlighted key issues such as financing for development. Father D’Escoto will also be remembered for his commitment to promoting disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and for his efforts to combat terrorism and hunger throughout the world. He fought steadfastly for reform of the United Nations and helped to emphasize the critical and central role of the General Assembly. On behalf of the Secretary-General, I would like to extend our condolences to the family of Father D’Escoto and to the Government and people of Nicaragua.

I now give the floor to the representative of Chad, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States.

On behalf of the Group of African States, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Government and people of Nicaragua and to the family of the late Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, who died on 8 June. Today we pay tribute to a man of God who made his mark on the history of his country and region. Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann viewed his priesthood as a journey for the cause of peace, justice and the dignity of his people. The commitment he made to his people made him an ardent supporter of liberation theology, which led him down the path of armed struggle as a member of the Sandinistas. After completing the work of the State, he returned to the ministry in 2014 to continue preaching the word of God, in the strong conviction that he was making the right choice. He devoted his life to helping the poor, visiting many of the world’s regions to spark hope for a better future and give a voice to those who go unheard. As a statesman who served his country for more than 10 years as Minister for Foreign Affairs, he carried the diplomacy of the Republic of Nicaragua as far as it could go, defending it boldly and with great success on the international stage. He was serious about his work, deeply committed to the principles of active non-violence and a staunch activist for peace, justice and respect for international law. His many awards and distinctions attest to a life well lived and deserving of recognition. He was the recipient of the Lenin Peace Prize for the year 1985- 1986; the Thomas Merton Prize in 1987; the Order of Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo in 2007 for his work to achieve peace; the Julio Cortázar Prize for Peace and Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean in 1985; and the Alfonso Comín Peace Prize in Barcelona in 1984. As an advocate for multilateralism, he fought to reform an international organization that served the peoples of the world. He never abandoned that dream, compiling his thoughts in a widely circulated pamphlet entitled “Reinventing the United Nations: A proposal — how to make the United Nations a functional organization capable of dealing effectively with the major challenges of the twenty-first century confronting Mother Earth and humankind”. His proposal is still valid today. He set an example for promoting a greater role for the General Assembly in delivering global justice. He was courageous and did not hesitate to criticize the injustices suffered by the Palestinian people from the very first statement he made in his capacity as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session (see A/63/PV.1). He made his mark. May his soul rest in peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of Myanmar, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asia-Pacific States.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Asia-Pacific States on this very special but sombre occasion. On behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group and myself, I wish to express our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of Nicaragua and to the bereaved family of His Excellency Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. Father Miguel d’Escoto presided over the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, from September 2008 to September 2009. During his presidency, Father Miguel d’Escoto steered United Nations deliberations towards the crucial issues of hunger, poverty alleviation, climate change and the protection of biodiversity. He was also a strong advocate of human rights, particularly the rights of women and children, and cultural diversity. International peace and security, disarmament and terrorism were high on his agenda. His contribution to reform of the United Nations and his full support to the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly have been widely recognized. Father Miguel d’Escoto was a long-time prominent leader of his country, and he served as Foreign Minister of Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990. He believed in dialogue and negotiation, and will be remembered for his tireless efforts to build relations with other countries in the region. Father Miguel was ordained a priest in 1961. In the 1970s, he embraced socialism and liberation theology. He was an unyielding person who fought alongside the people. He was a man of faith, God and humankind. Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann will be fondly remembered for his devotion and dedication and his contribution to his country and the people of the world. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of Jamaica, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

I have the sad duty and yet distinct honour to pay tribute this morning, on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, to the memory of one of our own, His Excellency Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann. President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, from 2008 to 2009, and former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, Father Miguel — or Padre Miguel, as he was affectionately known — was also a veteran statesman, politician, community leader, priest, social activist and revolutionary. Inspired by the lives and work of personalities, such as Simón Bolívar, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day and Leo Tolstoy, Father d’Escoto was a fierce advocate of multilateralism and respect for obligations arising from international law, as well as for the principles of active non-violence, solidarity and social justice. Throughout his life, he exceeded the norm and was a tireless fighter, through both his priestly role and diplomatic practice, advocating on issues critical for humankind such as peace, security, development and the fight against hunger and poverty. During his stewardship of the Assembly, he offered us wise words, saying that humanity must replace selfishness and individualism with a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood if we are all to survive. That was consistent with the core of his community- organizing passion, which was to empower the most vulnerable in our societies and to address the world’s most pressing challenges, such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, disease, climate change and war. While at the helm of the General Assembly, and faced with the mammoth task of addressing the Organization’s response to the global financial crisis of 2008, he reminded us of the critical role of the United Nations. He was convinced of the ability of our Organization to develop a meaningful response, through its system of regional commissions, specialized agencies, funds and programmes and to formulate practical solutions to problems of such global scope and dimension. As Father d’Escoto often implored, we must never forget that the solutions to the world’s sociopolitical and economic challenges require the full participation and solidarity of all Member States. As we use this occasion to pay homage to the life and work of Father d’Escoto, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States expresses its solidarity and sincere condolences to Father d’Escoto’s family and to the Government and people of Nicaragua during this difficult time of national grief.

I now give the floor to the representative of Belgium, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States.

On this solemn occasion, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States. It is with deep sadness that we learned about the passing of His Excellency Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, former President of the General Assembly. We remember his rich and remarkable career. He was ordained a priest of the Maryknoll Missionaries in the early 1960s and devoted much of his life to helping the poor and disadvantaged. As President of the General Assembly of the United Nations during its sixty-third session, he was especially committed to fulfilling the United Nations development agenda. In September 2008, at the opening of the session, he organized, together with the Secretary-General, a high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals with the objective of accelerating progress in order to improve the conditions of the world’s poorest. Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann served as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua for more than 10 years, from 1979 to 1990. More recently, he continued to serve his country as an adviser on foreign affairs to its President. We express our sincere condolences to the Government of Nicaragua and the family and friends of Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers during these difficult times.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

It is with sadness that we learned of the passing of His Excellency Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. On behalf of the members of the Group of Eastern European States, let me convey our heartfelt condolences and sincere regrets to his family, relatives and friends, as well as to the people and Government of Nicaragua. Mr. Brockmann was a friend and colleague of many in this Hall. He was a faithful servant of his country in his capacity, among others, as Minister for Foreign Affairs of his country for 12 years. Mr. Brockmann was always a strong advocate for peace and justice and had deep respect for the principles of multilateralism. He described his presidency of the General Assembly as one of the most turbulent in years, as it took place in the shadow of a massive global financial contraction and economic recession. His priorities were addressing the problems of rising energy and food prices around the world, as well as hunger, poverty and climate change. His other priorities included terrorism, disarmament, cultural diversity, the rights of women and children and the protection of biodiversity. Mr. Brockmann was not afraid to express his real and sometimes courageous views. He demonstrated an appetite for change and reform. We may recall also his dedication to the revitalization and reform of the United Nations. He called for solidarity and sincerely believed that the United Nations had the potential to be indispensable to humankind’s efforts to survive crises. He spared no effort to achieve progress in that area. He wanted the United Nations to become more worthy of trust and credibility. I would like to voice again our respect and admiration for a man who in life served both as a priest and as a diplomat. His high professionalism and dedication will be remembered forever. May he rest in peace.

I now call on the representative of Nicaragua.

Mr. President, please accept our profound gratitude for holding this special tribute today for the outstanding revolutionary priest Father Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann — whom we rightly call the chancellor of the dignity of Nicaragua and as such, the defender of the dignity of the peoples of the Americas and the world — as well as the former President of the General Assembly. On 8 June, the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity and the Presidency of the Republic of Nicaragua announced with profound consternation and sorrow Father Miguel’s unexpected departure from this world. Once our companion in our efforts to fulfil the aspirations and dreams of our people, he has passed on to that realm where, for us Christians, he is in the presence of Christ Jesus, the Redeemer of the World. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, who was a Sandinista, activist, intellectual, communicator and theologian, and a unique figure for our country and our revolution, lived for the meek, and with the poor of the world walked the paths seeking the restoration of dignity and people’s rights, and with an immovable faith in social justice. It is that faith that mobilizes us Christians and revolutionaries alike to continue to change this world. A better world, one of love, is possible, urgent and necessary. That was the motto of Miguel, Father, missionary, exceptional chancellor, companion, patriot and Nicaraguan, by the Grace of God, who fully took on, until his last moments, the commitment to fighting tirelessly, without cowardice or duplicity, for the world and Nicaragua, which we love and must make better, all of us together. Like the rain, he was a bringer of life in Chile, where he practiced the Gospel alongside the humblest and poorest families. He did the same in Nicaragua, in times of sorrow and tragedy. When an earthquake shook our country in 1972, Miguel was there immediately, spreading hope and thereby promoting life. He spread the Christian ideal and principle of justice. He did so in the United States as a member of the Maryknoll Order. He travelled to impoverished regions on other continents, especially Africa. There, Miguel encountered the ideas of leaders of developing countries that were fighting for independence and against colonialism, including Julius Nyerere, that great African leader with Christian roots. He encountered the ideas of leaders from the various continents, including developed countries, and priests, religious, laymen and intellectuals encountered his ideas. There was a meeting of the minds between Miguel and the community of men and women who are still fighting for peace on our planet. He gave all of the cultural wealth that he had been accumulating to the struggle, linking Nicaragua even more closely with the peoples of the world, and improving its struggle for peace in the face of the aggression suffered by our people. With the Government’s restoration in 2007, Nicaragua promoted the candidacy of Miguel for President of the General Assembly, receiving the immediate support of developing countries, which knew him and his ideas, principles and practice well. Latin America and the Caribbean, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Group of 77 and China immediately gave him their full support. At the United Nations, today it is clearer than ever that profound reform and re-establishment are needed so that, under new conditions, all countries will have equal rights and are equal, allowing us to truly achieve the peace that our peoples desire so much. Miguel raised that flag with great force and conviction. His testimony, ideas and proposals have been written down and supported in practice. Until his dying day, Miguel was convinced that this is a battle that we must continue to wage. A true believer and defender of international law and the equality of States, multilateralism and of the Group of 193, as Father Miguel called it, he was an unyielding defender of the sovereignty of our peoples, especially of small countries against the powerful, and of justice and respect for international law, for United Nations bodies and, in particular, for the International Court of Justice. Miguel firmly believed in the fundamental role of the Court in the attainment of peace and the peaceful settlement of disputes. It was this idea that allowed Nicaragua to obtain its greatest victory in the international area during those hard and difficult moments of its history. Miguel will continue to journey with us. Neither his ideas nor his light will be extinguished by his passing. He will support us in the daily battle that we will continue to fight, for justice, freedom, sovereignty, peace and for our peoples. That is why we have embodied in our Constitution those Christian and socialist principles for which he fought, and the principle of solidarity, which have enabled us to build peace and stability in our country. His contribution as a revolutionary priest fulfilled the Christian mandate in the quest for egalitarian solidarity, and was consistent with his efforts to combat human egoism and social injustice, even in his later years, during which, as President of the General Assembly, he defended the global principles of sovereignty and the self-determination of peoples. Palestine always had a special place in the heart of Father Miguel. He felt the pain and suffering of the Palestinian people felt as if it were his own. Peace in the Middle East was always in his thoughts and prayers, and he longed to see Jews and Arabs living in peace and harmony. That was the character and attitude of Miguel, and this is the legacy that he leaves us — to face all challenges with faith. From faith comes the strength, determination, ability and capacity to carry on. Despite the challenges and difficulties, we carry on with hope and trust, as we win one victory after another, step by step. His departure is not a goodbye. Rather, he will be with us forever. We know that he walks with us in today’s battles as well as those of tomorrow. He will always be our guide in building a prosperous Nicaragua where there is equity, social justice, an alliance, dialogue and consensus. He will always remain with the peoples of the world in their struggle for peace.

We have thus concluded our tribute to the late President of the sixty-third session of the General Assembly.

As indicated in document A/71/991, Inspector Rajab Sukayri, of Jordan, was appointed by the General Assembly for a five-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015 and expiring on 31 December 2019. On 30 June 2017, Mr. Sukayri submitted his resignation to the Chair of the Joint Inspection Unit, on the basis of an agreement between Japan and Jordan that Mr. Sukayri would step down from his position as an inspector of the Joint Inspection Unit on 31 December 2017 and that Japan would nominate a candidate for the remainder of his term, as communicated by the Chair of the Group of Asia- Pacific States in a note verbale contained in document A/71/992. In accordance with article 4, paragraph 5, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, the Chair of the Unit notified the Secretary-General of the vacancy. As a result of the resignation, the General Assembly is required to appoint a member to fill the vacancy in the Joint Inspection Unit. As indicated in document A/71/991, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, the President of the General Assembly shall consult with Member States to draw up a list of countries, in this case, one country, which would be requested to propose a candidate for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. After holding the necessary consultations, I should like to communicate to the Assembly the information received from the Chair of the Group of Asia-Pacific States that the Group has endorsed Japan to propose a candidate for the vacancy from among the Asia-Pacific States. In accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, Japan will be requested to submit the name of a candidate and the curriculum vitae highlighting the candidate’s relevant qualifications for the task. I would like to remind members that, in accordance with resolution 59/267 of 23 December 2004, the candidates should have experience in at least one of the following fields: oversight, audit, inspection, investigation, evaluation, finance, project evaluation, programme evaluation, human resources management, management, public administration, monitoring and/or programme performance, as well as knowledge of the United Nations system and its role in international relations. After holding the appropriate consultations described in article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, including consultations with the President of the Economic and Social Council and with the Secretary-General in his capacity as Chair of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, I will submit the name of the candidate to the Assembly for appointment. I would further like to draw the attention of the General Assembly to article 4, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, which provides that “an Inspector appointed to replace one whose term of office has not expired shall hold office for the remainder of that term, provided it is not less than three years. Otherwise, the duration of the appointment shall be for a full term”. In the present case, the remaining term of office of Mr. Sukayri is less than three years. The person who will be appointed to replace Mr. Sukayri would therefore normally serve a full term of five years. However, the Chair of the Group of Asia-Pacific States has indicated in his note verbale contained in document A/71/992 that the person who will be replacing Mr. Sukayri should be nominated only for the remainder of Mr. Sukayri’s term of office, that is, from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019. In this regard, notwithstanding article 4, paragraph 2, of the statute, the Assembly may wish to consider deciding that the term of office of the person who will be replacing Mr. Sukayri should be from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to decide that the term of office of the person who will be replacing Mr. Sukayri should be from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (h) of agenda item 115.

This week, the world has once again witnessed horrific terrorist attacks, this time targeting internally displaced persons in Nigeria, a crowded marketplace in Pakistan and civil servants commuting to work in Afghanistan. Those cowardly attacks have killed hundreds of innocent people and devastated the lives of thousands. They serve as tragic reminders to us of the scale of the challenge we face in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Let us never surrender to the idea that these are just statistics or that there is any kind of justification for this aberration in human behaviour. Every decent tenet of human philosophy and religion, of human rights thought and principle, of law, science and culture, abhors terrorism and violent extremism. It was in that conformity of spirit, and in an understanding of the urgency of the matter, that last month the General Assembly established the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism through its adoption of resolution 71/291. Presented by Secretary- General Guterres, this iniative marked an important step in strengthening the capability of the United Nations to assist Member States in countering terrorism, preventing violent extremism and implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Since then, Ambassador Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov has been appointed to head the new Office of Counter- Terrorism. I congratulate him on his appointment and am confident that he will enjoy the full support and cooperation of all of us in his vital role. Today’s meeting is an important next step in our efforts to pursue the successful implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and enhance the role of the United Nations in combating terrorism and preventing violent extremism. It is by sharing knowledge and increasing international cooperation that we can enable global efforts to take decisive and effective action. It is by strengthening existing partnerships and forging new connections among all stakeholders that we will resist the spread of the hate and intolerance that feeds the beast of violent extremism. And it is by faithfully implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and by bringing the full weight of the United Nations system to bear, that we will rid the world of terrorism. Let us do all this in fidelity to the memory of the countless innocent victims of terrorism and violent extremism. May they rest in peace and may we bring this historic scourge to a swift end.

I have the honour to speak today on behalf of Australia, Canada and New Zealand. On 15 June, our three countries welcomed the General Assembly’s adoption of resolution 71/291, which created the Office of Counter-Terrorism and a new Under-Secretary-General position. We are pleased to see quick action by the Secretary-General to begin implementing this important resolution, and look forward to working with Under-Secretary- General Voronkov. We see those enhancements to the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture as contributing to the Secretary-General’s overall goal of better focusing the United Nations effort on prevention. The new Office must ensure a balanced implementation of all four pillars of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, including the prevention of violent extremism. We need to work together more than ever to prevent and respond to terrorism and violent extremism, and to ensure that our collaboration includes a broad range of partners, including from civil society, youth, women and the private sector. Since the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy was adopted in 2006 as resolution 60/288, the threat posed by terrorism has evolved, and our response must also adapt to reflect the changing picture. We see a need to rebalance our collective work on international counter-terrorism, including that of the United Nations, so as to ensure enhanced efforts to prevent violent extremism and promote human rights in the fight against terrorism. The adoption of resolution 71/291 is an important step forward, but it does not mean that all of the hard work is behind us. As Member States and donors to the United Nations counter-terrorism efforts, we would like to see increased coherence and streamlining in the assessment and capacity-building initiatives of the Organization’s various agencies so as to reduce duplication and ensure that each agency focuses on its areas of relative strength. That should include a means for regular and effective coordination between the new Office of Counter-Terrorism and the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate. Australia, Canada and New Zealand will continue to advocate for those improvements and look forward to engaging constructively in the review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy next summer.

I now give the floor to the observer of the European Union.

We would like to reiterate our thanks to you, Sir, for facilitating the adoption of resolution 71/291 on 15 June. We would also like to congratulate Ambassador Vladimir Voronkov on his recent appointment as Under-Secretary-General for the Office of Counter-Terrorism. We would like to take this opportunity to assure him of our full support in his new endeavour. The European Union (EU) and its member States contributed to that process in a very constructive and substantive manner, and we are very pleased that, with the adoption of the resolution, we have achieved that important institutional step. The establishment of the new Office is indeed a necessary first step in improving the role of the United Nations and its impact in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism. We welcome the fact that the new Under-Secretary- General and his Office of Counter-Terrorism are set to address preventing violent extremism as a core part of their responsibility for implementing the entire Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a balanced manner, as stipulated in the Secretary-General’s report (A/71/858). That also resonates with the Secretary-General’s overall prevention agenda, which the EU and its States members fully endorse. We strongly supported the Secretary-General’s proposal for establishing the new Office, headed by an Under-Secretary-General who will provide strategic leadership, participate in high-level decision-making at the United Nations and ensure that cross-cutting drivers of terrorism and violent extremism are taken into account in the Organization’s work. Setting the agenda on counter-terrorism and a coherent approach to preventing violent extremism alongside other United Nations policies, in particular those involving human rights and development, will be key to its success in the field. A comprehensive approach also requires the involvement of young people, women, local communities and victims of terrorism in implementing those policies. We are confident that Under-Secretary- General Voronkov will deliver on those expectations. There is no need to stress the importance of more effective and efficient coordination within the overall United Nations system and between the United Nations and other international organizations and forums. Within the mandates of existing entities, we must increase linkages, foster a spirit of systematic cooperation and evaluate and monitor the impact of the future work of the United Nations. The EU and its States members want a strong, efficient United Nations that can drive the global effort to prevent violent extremism and its counter-terrorism agenda, while taking a balanced approach across the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. To achieve that, we are committed to closely cooperating with the newly established Office and Under-Secretary-General Voronkov.

We are meeting today to discuss the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It is deeply troubling that this topic is becoming increasingly relevant and urgent every year. Over the past year, we have seen terrorism strike throughout the world. From the United Kingdom to France, from Egypt to Nigeria, terrorists seek to harm all those who value life. Sadly, my country, Israel, is no stranger to terrorism. Only one week ago, yet another horrific terror attack took place. Three members of the Salomon family were stabbed to death in their home while their children hid in fear. That violent terror attack was not an isolated event. Terror is not committed in a vacuum. It is our goal to defeat terrorism. That is why we must truly understand what drives terrorists. We cannot allow ourselves to be misled by false narratives and attempts to deceive the international community. Our adversaries are attempting to blame last week’s attack on a supposed change in the status quo on the Temple Mount. Palestinian leaders have taken to the streets, the airwaves and social media, claiming that their religious sites are under attack. Nothing could be further from the truth. Israel has stated time and again its commitment to safeguarding the status quo on the Temple Mount, and Israel is committed to keeping it that way, that is, open, safe and secure for all worshippers and visitors. To calm the tension, we even amended our security procedures in Jerusalem as an act of good will. But how did the Palestinian leadership respond? With more calls for violence. It always has another excuse for terror. It always seeks to excuse the inexcusable. Right now, the excuse is the Temple Mount. In the past, it was the reunification of Jerusalem. Before that, it was the very establishment of the State of Israel. The truth is that the real cause of terrorism in Palestinian society is the same as it is throughout the world. It is the delegitimization of the other. It is the rejection of people of other faiths and nationalities and the glorification of senseless violence against innocent victims as legitimate forms of expression. When children in Gaza are taught in school to hate Jews and young people in Paris are taught in mosques to despise free societies, the journey to radicalization is very short. Terrorism today is an industry. It is global, it is well- funded and it is expanding every single day. We must take all necessary measures to combat that dangerous industry with one voice. That is why we welcome the Secretary-General’s establishment of the new Office of Counter-Terrorism as a necessary means to that end. We congratulate Ambassador Voronkov on his recent appointment to lead the Office, and we hope that that will provide an important step towards a common platform for collaborating on such a crucial issue. We hope that it will help turn the United Nations into a central actor in overcoming terror. We also want to thank the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde, for his important work over the past four years. We appreciate the cooperation that we have enjoyed with him and his office. The fight against terror will be a long one. In fact, we are only at the beginning. Terrorists exploit the same science and technology advances that we use daily to counter terrorism. On the Internet, it is too easy for like-minded terrorists to connect online. They join extremist chat rooms. They read terrorist propaganda tailored just for them and find accounts that incite them to kill through a simple Google search. To become a dangerous terrorist today, all you really need is access to a smart phone and a WiFi connection. While we must focus on combating terror as it occurs, we must also understand the real motivation behind such groups, which is relevant to us all. Too often, we blame terrorism on poverty or unemployment, but that is a simplistic claim. The fact is that professionals of all types from developed nations regularly join terror groups as well. Graduate students from some of the best universities in the Western world have travelled to the Middle East to join the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham. Socioeconomic class is not the cause. It is the widespread glorification of terror that fuels the global terror threat. Israel has learned that the hard way. Not only are we dealing with dangerous extremism, but we face an official industry of incitement sponsored by the Palestinian leaders themselves. Mr. Abbas encourages relentless calls for terror against Israel. The Palestinian Authority spends $300 million a year on payments to terrorists. We also have Hamas and Hizbullah on our doorstep  — two deadly Iranian proxies. Hizbullah continues to rearm in southern Lebanon, as it routinely violates Security Council resolutions. Hamas has continued to exploit the residents of Gaza as it digs its terror tunnels and smuggles in rockets in the hope of attacking our citizens. We simply do not have the luxury of pretending that those groups are so-called political organizations or resistance movements. No, we must call them what they really are  — violent, extreme terrorists. The international community must do the same. They are terrorists — plain, simple and nothing else. If we want to combat terror, we must address the real issues at stake. The four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy are a good start. But they ignore incitement. They exclude the culture of hate and they omit the glorification of terror by political leaders. Those are the central drivers of terrorism. Terrorists today view borders as meaningless. They believe that international agreements exist only to be destroyed. Those of us who value freedom, human rights and human dignity cannot walk away from this fight. Now is the time to stand together in defence of our shared values. Now is the time to stand up to the forces of hate and violence. And now is the time to stand strong and fight back until we win.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate Mr. Vladimir Voronkov on his appointment as Under-Secretary- General of the United Nations Office of Counter- Terrorism. My delegation will spare no effort to support him as required. Egypt was a staunch supporter of the idea of establishing a new office to coordinate United Nations efforts to combat terrorism. We believe that enhanced coordination among the United Nations agencies charged with combating terrorism is an important step towards improving the Organization’s performance in that area. The United Nations must continue to supervise the fight against terrorism throughout the world. We supported that idea when we became a member of the Security Council, in the belief that the establishment of the Office of Counter-Terrorism was extremely important. My delegation would like to highlight certain issues that we consider vital. We believe that it is necessary to respect the sovereignty of States and avoid any interference in the domestic affairs of States. The technical support provided by the Office should be carried out with the approval of the States Members of the United Nations and at their request. We must avoid linking terrorism to any religion. It is critical to implement the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy while respecting its four pillars. It is crucial to strengthen coordination between the Office of Counter-Terrorism and the Counter-Terrorism Committee. That is especially true of the assessments that are conducted on behalf of Member States. It is also very important to ensure that the Office of Counter-Terrorism adopts a country-focused approach. As we know, it will focus on specific issues, such as foreign terrorist fighters and the launch of counter- terrorism projects in some States. Nonetheless, the approach we envisage is one that focuses on countries that genuinely require assistance in the area of counter- terrorism so as to enable them to build their capacity to fight terrorism. That will facilitate the assessment of United Nations efforts and their impact on the ground. It is also extremely important to strengthen cooperation between the Office of Counter-Terrorism and various regional organizations, including the League of Arab States, the African Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. We call on the Office to work with the Global Counterterrorism Forum and the Global Coalition against Da’esh. We call on the Office to reflect on non-conventional measures for increasing the number of donors so as to boost financing for relevant projects. A country-focused approach will contribute to that. Countries will ramp up their financing of counter-terrorism activities if we can assure them that their funds will be earmarked for counter-terrorism efforts. We must also provide the necessary financial resources to countries that need it. In conclusion, we must focus on combating hate speech and speech that promotes extremism, and we must cooperate with institutions that are working to that end.

The United States applauds recent efforts to streamline and focus the work of the United Nations aimed at helping countries fight terrorism. Those recent reforms will advance our common efforts to implement the United Nations Global Counter-terrorism Strategy. In particular, the United States strongly supports the creation of the Office of Counter-Terrorism. We hope that the Office will raise the profile of counter-terrorism efforts across the United Nations system while reducing duplication among the 38 United Nations bodies that do counter- terrorism work. It should enable those bodies to better target and implement their programmes, as well as help us all better identify and respond to emerging terrorism threats. We welcome Under-Secretary-General Voronkov and pledge our full support for his efforts. Although it is more than a decade old, the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy has aged well. It is imperative, however, that the Office of Counter-Terrorism ensure a balanced implementation of the strategy across all four of its pillars. The General Assembly stressed the importance of that approach when it created the new Office, and we expect it to meet those expectations. For example, experience has shown that terrorists cannot be defeated through security measures alone. To counter that scourge, we must also prevent violent extremism and counter violent terrorist ideologies. The United Nations is uniquely positioned to do this. A balanced approach to implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy should therefore integrate the prevention of violent extremism. In particular, we believe that the Office should make incorporating the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism a high priority. It calls for a comprehensive approach to the prevention of violent extremism that will support security- based counter-terrorism measures, and will do so by promoting preventive measures to address the drivers and consequences of violent extremism directly. The United Nations should make the prevention of violent extremism a priority, and the Office of Counter- Terrorism can help make that happen. Engaging civil society in countering terrorism is another area in which the United Nations, with strong coordination by the new Office, can be effective. Local youth and women’s groups, academia and the media all have an essential role to play. These groups can build trust on the ground and should be at the centre of United Nations efforts to prevent radicalization and violence. We encourage the Office of Counter- Terrorism to integrate locally rooted civil-society organizations into United Nations counter-terrorism work wherever possible. We also know that respecting human rights is an essential element of an effective fight against terrorism. Research shows that when counter-terrorism tactics are heavy-handed and abuse human rights, local support for terrorism increases. For this reason, both the General Assembly and the Security Council have repeatedly reaffirmed the importance of respecting human rights while fighting terrorism. We therefore encourage the Office of Counter-Terrorism to help promote the respect for human rights as a core element of a successful counter-terrorism strategy. Finally, the United States congratulates Secretary- General Guterres on this critical first step in reforming the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture. We welcome the General Assembly’s support for this reform and we hope a successful Office of Counter- Terrorism can serve as a model for architecture reform across the United Nations system.

First of all, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important meeting, which enables us not only to assess the progress made in the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, but also to comment on actions being carried out and, especially, to assess the challenges that must be met. Terrorism is a global scourge that poses a threat both to international peace and security and to the fundamental values of the United Nations. Hence our firm condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of its motives, which are always criminal and unjustified. In 2006, the General Assembly took a historic step by adopting the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Strategy has evolved since then, particularly with the recent establishment of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism in accordance with resolution 71/291, adopted on 15 June. It is clear that its creation reflects theimportance of strengthening coordination and coherence and developing effective cooperation within the framework of the United Nations to effectively combat terrorism. We would also like to commend the Secretary- General’s determination to make reform of the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture a priority in the work of the General Assembly. My delegation would therefore like to take this opportunity to welcome the appointment of Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov to head the new United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, established by resolution 71/291 on 15 June. We believe that Mr. Voronkov’s qualifications and leadership will fully meet expectations for an effective and coordinated response aimed at combating terrorism more effectively and better preventing every kind of violent extremism through an integrated and balanced approach to the four pillars of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Strategy. My country has experience of the scourge of terrorism. We firmly believe that it is crucial to ensure that terrorists know that the international community is not only mobilized but also determined to put an end to terrorism through greater international and regional cooperation. In this regard, Tunisia has acceded to various international legal instruments related to the terrorist threat and the elimination of financing sources for terrorist groups by ratifying 14 international conventions, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings. Tunisia has also ratified all regional conventions related to the fight against terrorism, such as the Arab Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism and the Organization of African Unity Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism. At the national level, in 2015 my country adopted a law on counter-terrorism and the prevention of money-laundering. The law criminalizes any act of support, incitement, training, recruitment or excuse for terrorism, as well as any attempt to finance terrorist activities or complicity in such attempts, based on the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1373 (2001) and 2178 (2014). In addition, in November 2016 we adopted a national strategy to combat extremism and terrorism, which includes the four critical pillars of prevention, protection, prosecution and response and has been a starting point for coherent and concerted national action in the fight against terrorism. My delegation reiterates its readiness to work actively and in close collaboration with the new Office of Counter-Terrorism in order to increase efforts and initiatives aimed at capacity-building for Member States in addressing this scourge and further promoting international cooperation in this area.

Mr. President, as you said when we began consideration of this item, events unfolding around us every day have highlighted the fact that terrorism continues to be the world’s most pervasive and serious challenge to international security. Even as we struggle with the traditional methods employed by terrorist organizations to ravage our collective psyche, we are faced with ever more complex threats that have emerged with the evolution of technology and the rise of an interconnected world. Nuclear terrorism, radiological terrorism and cyberterrorism are only a few of the terms that we now use for such apocalyptic threats, which have emerged as ruthless non-State actors have evolved their ideology and adapted strategies to send out deep roots and explore new avenues in order to threaten the innocent populations of established States. Developing a comprehensive global response should therefore be our top priority. Terrorism is a global concern that demands global attention and requires global cooperation. The international community has negotiated more than a dozen instruments on combating terrorism as benchmarks for States’ commitment on the issue. The adoption and continuing review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy have demonstrated States’ continuing commitment to dealing collectively with this threat. Yet despite our persistent efforts, the relevant law needs constant updating in a world of evolving threats. We would therefore like to emphasize the importance of concluding a comprehensive convention on international terrorism as soon as possible so as to reflect our unwavering common commitment to cooperating in combating terrorism. The list of our collective limitations in dealing with the threats posed by terrorists is too long and self-evident to state in its entirety. Imagination and integration remain two of our major shortcomings, both as individual nations and collectively, in the United Nations. They have caused much distress at crucial times. As we address our limitations we should examine our approach honestly. There are important issues today before the international community that beg for answers. Where do potential terrorists go for training? How does their financing work? What are we doing to disrupt the ecosystems that promote terrorist start-ups? Do we know the answers and yet choose to look away? Of equal concern is that our reaction to terrorism in some geographic areas is different from others. In South Asia, we are seeing the international community’s efforts to combat terrorism affected by the fatigue of a long-drawn-out war in Afghanistan. While we deal with these threats, we must resist the temptation to buy individual peace for ourselves by striking deals that divert terrorists elsewhere. We need to intensify our efforts to persuade States to refrain from using terrorism as a card in the games that nations play. While non-State actors such as terrorists think globally, we representatives of States, alas, are thinking only nationally. The dangers of discriminating among terrorists — good or bad, yours or mine — are well known. Terrorism is an international threat that should not be allowed to serve national strategy. We need to move beyond discouraging State sponsorship of terrorism and take the next step of building effective inter-State cooperative mechanisms to combat it. If cooperation is to thrive, intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations must be strengthened to deal with the substance of these threats. In that context, we welcome the adoption of resolution 71/291 and the appointment of Under-Secretary-General Voronkov. We hope that the creation of the Office of Counter- Terrorism will encourage an all-of-United-Nations approach while addressing the scourge of terrorism. It is possible that some aspects of this approach may appear overly ambitious, given the turf battles common at such forums. However, we must not set a low bar for ourselves. We have, admittedly, a long journey ahead of us. Our future, however, will be defined by the steps that we take on the journey. If we falter, we will have only ourselves to blame.

I note that the representative of the Russian Federation at today’s meeting is the new Permanent Representative, and since this is the first time that he will address the General Assembly, I would like to welcome him and assure him that his colleagues in the Assembly look forward to working with him in the best interests of the United Nations.

While this is not my first time in the General Assembly, it is my first in this capacity, and I believe it is symbolic that the first statement I am making after presenting my credentials to the Secretary-General earlier this morning is in the General Assembly, the most representative body of our Organization. (spoke in Russian) Today, the fight against terrorism is a priority issue on the international agenda. Unfortunately, its salience has not abated. Our country has never ceased to call for increased cooperation in order to combat this evil and increased effectiveness in doing it. The United Nations should undoubtedly play the central coordinating role in that work. The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is an important overarching instrument for addressing many modern aspects of the terrorist threat. The implementation of the Strategy places primary importance on creating national counter-terrorist strategies, and Russia was among the first to do so. Since the Strategy was adopted in 2006, we have established a completely new security system for combating terrorism, and in those 11 years, the terrorist threat in Russia has been drastically reduced. At the same time, our citizens still face its terrible, inhumane manifestations, an example of which was the murder in December 2016 of Mr. Andrey Karlov, our Ambassador to Turkey. In April this year, a terrorist in the Saint Petersburg metro killed 15 people and injured dozens of others. These events once again highlighted the fact that today everyone must work collectively to fight the terrorist threat, because none of us is immune to it. Our delegation supported the adoption in June of resolution 71/291, creating the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism to strengthen the coordination of United Nations counter-terrorist activities. We expect that the Secretary-General’s comprehensive reforms will also produce significant results in terms of improving the legal basis of counter-terrorism and providing targeted technical support to countries in need. We are grateful to the Secretary-General and the Secretariat for the constructive and transparent manner in which they have developed the framework for this reform and for their readiness to take into account the opinions of interested States. We welcome the recent decision to appoint a prominent Russian diplomat, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, as Under-Secretary-General and head of the Office of Counter-Terrorism. We firmly believe that his broad and multifaceted experience and knowledge of the United Nations system — from his work addressing new threats and challenges, including in Vienna — will enable an effective effort in this area, and we look forward to productive cooperation with the new entity. Terrorism must be combated with unwavering adherence to the norms of international law, including respect for the sovereignty and equality of States and non-interference in their internal affairs, as well as consistent, universal implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter. It is essential to ensure a balanced implementation of all four pillars of the Strategy and to combine the military and human rights aspects of counter-terrorist activities with broad, systemic efforts to eliminate the conditions that lead to terrorism. At the same time, the most important tasks today include combating the problems of foreign terrorist fighters, financing for terrorism and the spread of terrorist ideology, including through the use of modern technology. Unfortunately, some contradictory concepts originally laid down in the strategy for preventing violent extremism have created obstacles to extracting real added value from it. We must take that into account in future preventive activities. Let me emphasize once again that the success of the Secretary-General’s reforms is not solely dependent on institutional changes within the United Nations. The political will and readiness of States to fight terrorism together is crucial. My country is resolved to do so.

At the outset, we thank the Secretary-General for his report (A/71/858) and you, Sir, for organizing this meeting. We warmly congratulate Mr. Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov on assuming the leadership of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. We believe that his presence as Under-Secretary-General in the newly created Office will improve the Organization’s counter- terrorism structures, ensuring greater coordination in the fight against terrorism throughout the entire system. Nicaragua reiterates its firme condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including State terrorism, of which our people and Government have been victims in the past. In no circumstances should States or individuals be allowed to finance terrorism. Our delegation calls for efforts to counter the illicit funding of terrorism and for all of us to come together to that end. Terrorism cannot and must not be linked to any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group, nor should such putative links be used to justify terrorism. There is much to be done in this area, and we firmly support efforts to draft a convention on terrorism, calling on all Member States to demonstrate flexibility. We reaffirm our desire to contribute to the best of our ability to ensure that such a convention becomes a reality. Our country is fully committed to implementing the four pillars of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. That is why we have played an active role in the Assembly’s fifth biennial review of the Strategy. States should implement the Strategy appropriately, transparently and comprehensively. Civic and human security is one of Nicaragua’s main strengths. It is crucial to social, political and economic stability and to a better quality of life, tranquillity, justice, peaceful coexistence and the full development of the individual. Nicaragua has developed a set of specific programmes and policies to fight the scourges of our time, including organized crime and trafficking in drugs, arms and humans. Those policies have been successful and one aspect of our strategy has been to work together with the population. That successful cooperation has made Nicaragua one of the safest countries in the region, untouched as we are by organized crime. We have been sharing those policies with our Central American neighbours and other allied countries in order to fight organized crime and make Central America a region of peace. Nicaragua has made a conscious commitment, in both its homeland and the international community, to continuing to strengthen stability, tranquillity, security and peace as essential conditions for development. With a view to achieving our national ideals and freedom, our legacy from General Sandino, we will continue to make our best efforts.

My delegation reiterates its support for the Secretary-General and his recommendations for strengthening the capacity of the United Nations to combat terrorism. Today, terrorism poses the most significant threat there is to international peace and security, hampers our national development and improvement plans and stands in the way of our ability to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Syrian Arab Republic is fully confident that the appointment of Ambassador Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov as the new Under-Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism is an important step in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. My country believes that Mr. Voronkov will seek to uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the working procedures of our international Organization, particularly with regard to the quality of sovereignty and rights of Member States. To that end, we expect that he will reject double standards, dissociate himself from political and financial polarization, considerations and pressures, and abide by the pillars of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Security Council resolutions on combating terrorism. Allow me to make the following observations, which we view as imperative for the success of United Nations efforts to combat terrorism. My country believes that if we are to ensure the effectiveness and independence of the Office of Counter-Terrorism, we must shield it from the political pressures and financial polarization that some Governments bring to bear with a view to achieving specific agendas that run counter to the goals entrusted to the new Office. My country continues to have strong reservations concerning paragraph 3 of resolution 71/291 and emphasizes its resolve to call for that paragraph to be reconsidered at the periodic review of its implementation, since it constitutes an unwarranted and dangerous consideration that gives the Government of Saudi Arabia specific privileges within the framework of the United Nations Counter- Terrorism Centre. We also call for considering the issue of the transparency and seriousness of the Security Council’s counter-terrorism resolutions. That will require a comprehensive review of the work of the task forces and bodies relating to counter-terrorism, in addition to the formulation of specific and clear-cut conclusions and recommendations. Furthermore, the various competencies of those task forces should be reviewed with a view to controlling wasteful expenditures. My country’s experience in dealing with terrorism is a bitter one. That is why we believe that the failure of the international community to grapple with the terrorism and armed terrorist groups that have overrun Syria is due to the failure of the Governments of some Member States to implement the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, their violation of Security Council resolutions on combating terrorism, and the reluctance of Member States to hold to account Governments that sponsor terrorism, of which there are numerous examples. We only have to look at the issue of foreign terrorist fighters to realize the gravity of the role played in it by the religious centres all over the world that receive millions of dollars in funding from the Governments of Member States, particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar, on the pretext of spreading religious directives while in fact they are propagating radical Wahhabi ideology, inciting hatred and calling for sabotage, destruction and death in their quest to sow the seeds of sedition and sectarian and religious differences. At the same time, they are involved in recruiting thousands of young men and women and their families, sending them into combat as foreign terrorist fighters in the ranks of Da’esh and Jabhat Al-Nusra and the terrorist groups affiliated with them. Since the very beginning of the crisis, my Government has been giving the Security Council proven information on the flow of foreign terrorist fighters through some of its neighbours, especially Turkey. Yet it took the international community three years to realize how dangerous the issue is and to begin to grapple with it. Even now some members of the United Nations are still trying to deal with it from a limited perspective, based on the possibility of such fighters returning to the countries from which they came. The message is quite clear  — the Governments of the States that have supported terrorism in Syria consider Syrians’ lives to be cheap and our country’s millennia-long civilization to be worthless. Our entire country’s present and future have become a game on which others gamble. The so-called red line is about sending the terrorists to where they can disseminate their doctrines in Europe and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, innocent people have been paying the price of that everywhere  — in Manchester, London, Brussels, Paris, Nice, New York and Boston — while the Governments of some States lack the courage to admit their policy errors in condoning the terrorism that has overrun Syria and Iraq and, as we all know, is aligned with terrorist Governments. To deal with the problem, we have to pursue the mass media, social networks and Internet sites that incite hatred, radicalism and violence, recruit terrorists and spread such directives and instructions to their cells all over the world. We have to hold various Governments accountable for condoning such activities on the pretext of the right to free expression, even at the expense of people’s right to live in peace and security. We have to review the money, financial sources and support going to terrorist groups and organizations. We have to call on those Governments to cut off the sources and end the financing for terrorist organizations that gives them direct support through illicit banking transactions and transfers of oil and petroleum, particularly for Da’esh and Jabhat Al-Nusra. By demanding transparent and serious responses to these issues, the United Nations can prove that it is facing up to its crucial responsibility to confront the dangers of terrorism and the threat it represents to the whole world.

My delegation would like to thank the President for organizing today’s meeting and notes with appreciation the Secretary- General’s report (A/71/858). We welcome the creation of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism with a view to strengthening the capability of the United Nations system and assisting Member States in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a balanced way. We congratulate Ambassador Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov on his appointment as Under-Secretary General and head of the Office of Counter-Terrorism, which we are confident will strengthen the whole-of- the-United Nations approach that the 38 entities of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force seek to reflect in its mandate for coordination and coherence. Sri Lanka looks forward to working closely with the Office and will make every endeavour to cooperate with it as it carries out its key functions. We also welcome its focus on capacity-building assistance to Member States. In that regard, in 2010, 2016 and 2017, Sri Lanka is fortunate enough to have hosted three regional workshops on effectively countering terrorism, organized by the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, for judges, prosecutors and police officers of South Asian Member States. When terrorism strikes, it is an attack on all of us, and it is therefore incumbent on all of us to show solidarity and unity of purpose in combating it. It is in that context that the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy becomes essential as a rallying call to action. Though we have made progress in its implementation since 2006, we have encountered many challenges as a result of the changing face of terrorism and violent extremism, not least owing to the phenomena of foreign terrorist fighters, the financing of terrorism, rapid technology advances, porous borders and large movements of people fleeing violence. We must also give due consideration to the fourth pillar of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which is that of ensuring that human rights and the rule of law are observed in our global efforts to combat terrorism. While terrorists may dehumanize us, the international community should not embrace their lawlessness and must never abandon its common humanity, which is what binds us together and gives us strength in our fight against terror. In many parts of the world, violent extremism targets vulnerable and marginalized communities, children, minorities, women and girls. It is therefore imperative to ensure that we proactively include and engage the entities in the United Nations system that deal with children, minorities, women and girls. While we must make every effort to prevent refugee and asylum status from being abused for the purposes of perpetrating terror, we should not close our borders or our hearts too tightly lest we fail to protect the poor, weak, vulnerable and marginalized among us. At all times in this collective fight against terror, we must continue to fulfil our obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, international law and international human rights and humanitarian law. We must also recognize that the building blocks for a normative framework for enhancing international cooperation in these areas are already present in the General Assembly’s efforts, particularly the Ad Hoc Committee on International Terrorism, which has already led to the adoption of 14 sectoral conventions on the suppression of terrorism. Despite the fact that the Ad Hoc Committee is supported most Member States and is mandated by the Assembly to come up with a comprehensive legal framework to fill possible gaps in the existing sectoral conventions on terrorism, there has been a regrettable failure to muster the political will needed to break the current impasse surrounding the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism. It is pertinent at this time to recall that concluding a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism was one of the key components of the plan of action aimed at combating terrorism in the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It is time that all States Members mustered the necessary political will to conclude the comprehensive convention, so that the international community can send out a strong signal of its collective will to combat terrorism and contribute to the effective implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Sri Lanka welcomes and supports the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and reaffirms its commitment to its implementation.

The delegation of Indonesia is very pleased to be participating in this meeting, which advances the process of reforming the counter- terrorism architecture of the United Nations. Indonesia is a nation that has first-hand experience of the suffering inflicted by terrorists. That is why my country has always taken the matter seriously and has often been at the forefront of deliberations and efforts aimed at containing and vanquishing that menace. In that connection, we join other delegations in welcoming the report of the Secretary-General, entitled “Capability of the United Nations system to assist Member States in implementing the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy” (A/71/858), issued in response to paragraph 70 of resolution 70/291 of 1 July 2016. We share the view that the restructuring of the United Nation counter-terrorism architecture proposed in the report will enhance synergy among Member States and have a much greater impact on terrorism throughout the world. Terrorism remains a major threat not only to international peace and security but also to development and social advancement. Indonesia has always been concerned about the fact that fundamental elements of our response in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy should include coordination, coherence and more effective monitoring and evaluation at the national, regional and international levels. To that end, and with a view to ensuring its seamless and consistent implementation, we have always urged that the United Nations counter- terrorism architecture be redesigned, re-energized and re-inspired, in the full certainty and understanding that terrorism and violent extremism are simply a human condition in development. We believe that if the international community is to make adequate and sustainable progress with regard to terrorism, it is essential to proceed in the conviction that the threat of terrorism bears no relation to and shares none of its root causes with any particular religion, nationality, civilization or ethnicity. In Indonesia, we are adopting a combination of soft and hard approaches in combating the threat of terrorism and radical extremist groups. For the soft approach, we focus on counteracting radicalization and optimizing the role played in this by religious leaders, women and young people, alongside local governance, local leaders, non-governmental organizations, psychologists and sociologists. At the same time, we still see a hard approach as crucial, focusing on strengthening our law- enforcement system, raising awareness and promoting and protecting human rights. My delegation therefore commends the tone, content and substance of the approach suggested in the report under consideration. We agree with the elements of coordination and coherence aimed at strengthening the capability of the United Nations system. In that regard, we believe that the new Office of Counter-Terrorism, as it is described — to be headed by an Under-Secretary- General who will report to the Secretary-General — is a strong statement that speaks to the ambition and efforts relating to the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and is aimed at enhancing the coordination and coherence that Member States have sought for many years. In that regard, we must respond to the challenge of new forms of radicalism and extremism, including terrorists’ use of social media to spread their message of hate and fear and the problems of lone-wolf terrorists and returning foreign terrorist fighters. In our view, we must consider deploying a global movement to combat violent extremism and to consider how non-State actors, such as religious leaders, women and young people, can assist effectively in the context of the fight against terrorism. We must be innovative in combating terrorism, including by using a soft approach to preventing radicalism and extremism. Lastly, my delegation hopes that the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre will prioritize supporting the capacity-building of Member States, including through information sharing, thereby enabling them to work as strong and viable partners in our common response to terrorism.

Let me begin by congratulating Mr. Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov on assuming the leadership of the Office of Counter- Terrorism. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my delegation’s sincere appreciation to him and the Secretary-General for the openness and transparency shown during the wider consultations leading to the adoption of resolution 71/291 by consensus to establish the new Office of Counter-Terrorism. The adoption is symbolic in showing that the international community stands ready to take unified action to prevent the practices and methods of violent extremism and all forms of terrorism, which are destroying the values of human dignity, peace and security. Terrorism and violent extremism are the most profound threats to human progress and human rights throughout the world. As we speak today, they are escalating and have already helped to give rise to unprecedented humanitarian crises as millions of people are being forced from their homes. Terrorism has become more pervasive. While we continue to struggle to contain all forms of threats, new and more complex ones are emerging throughout the world. The urgency of the task of implementing concrete action so as to prevent and counter terrorism has become even more imperative. The Maldives condemns all acts, methods and practices of violent extremism and terrorism in all their forms and manifestations, whoever carries them out by and on whatever grounds. The Government of Maldives has embarked on a number of concrete actions to curb foreign terrorist fighters and ensure the safety and security of all Maldivians. Consistent with that policy, the Maldives enacted an anti-terrorism law in 2015 making travelling overseas with the intent to fight in terrorist wars a serious criminal offence for any Maldivian. The Government remains vigilant in monitoring suspected acts of terror. Furthermore, the Government has also passed an act criminalizing money-laundering and terrorist financing in the Maldives. Those key acts provide a robust framework focused on preventive measures for addressing violent extremism. Our national counter-terrorism centre, established in February 2016, is mandated as the leading national authority to coordinate efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism. In 2016, it organized the Maldives’ first international meeting on counter-terrorism and violent extremism, and plans for the second meeting are under way. Maldives believes that streamlined counter- radicalization efforts must be stepped up if we are to ensure a lasting victory against violent extremism. In that regard, we are confident that the new counter- terrorism structure will better enhance the coordination of counter-terrorism-related activities across the United Nations system, while enabling it to effectively address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism. It is also important to ensure that the new Office maintains a comprehensive approach that supports the balanced implementation of the Strategy across all four pillars. Maldives believes that violent extremism and terrorism should have no place in modern societies. The perpetrators should be held accountable and their victims should be empowered. We believe that the best and strongest defence against terrorism is to present a united front against this menace, and that is exactly what we are doing here today. Maldives stands committed and ready to work with the international community on that front and calls on the States Members of the United Nations to work together to improve and sustain this 10-year-long journey to provide a peaceful environment for future generations to grow and nurture.

I thank the President for convening today’s debate on the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We thank the Secretary-General for his dedicated efforts to fulfil his commitment to creating the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, which in our view represents a key pillar of his reform agenda. We also congratulate Ambassador Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov on his appointment as Under-Secretary- General to lead that important Office. We look forward to working closely with him and his team to advance the United Nations counter-terrorism agenda. Terrorism and violent extremism constitute one of the most serious threats to a stable and peaceful international order. In recent years, the scale and scope of terrorism has expanded and reached new levels and proportions across borders, regions and continents. The enemies of humankind are still terrorizing communities, undermining the rule of law, violating fundamental human rights and disrupting the lives of ordinary people. No country is more familiar with the horrors of terrorism than Afghanistan. Our people have been at the forefront of the global fight against terrorism for more than two decades. In that struggle, thousands of our citizens, our national security forces, tribal, religious and political leaders and other members of society have sacrificed their lives to secure peace in our country and advance global security. For us, the fight against terrorism was the foundation on which we partnered with the global community to achieve a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Over the years, we have achieved considerable progress in the security, economic, political and social spheres, all of which have led to the emergence of a new Afghanistan. At this very moment, our national security forces are valiantly fighting a nexus of regional and international terrorist groups that have come to Afghanistan to destabilize our country. To name a few, we are confronting the Taliban, Da’esh, Al-Qaida, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Lashkar-e-Janghvi and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Despite logistical constraints, our security forces have inflicted heavy losses on those groups and kept them from asserting control over our territories. Consequently, they have resorted to gruesome attacks on civilians in densely populated areas that amount to blatant violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, indeed, to crimes against humanity. In that regard, I should point to some of the Taliban’s most recent atrocities. Earlier this week, the Taliban attacked a hospital in western Ghōr province, killing close to 40 people, mainly civilians. One day later, they attacked a bus carrying educated young professionals in Kabul, killing and severely wounding more than 70 people. On 31 May, a truck bomb in the heart of the capital killed 150 people and left more than 500 severely wounded. Terror and bloodshed are a frequent occurrence in Afghanistan, fomented by the terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries in our region from which extremist groups are produced, supported and dispatched to my country to carry out their evil agenda. However, our people and our security forces will never allow the enemies of peace in our country to disrupt our journey towards peace, stability and development. We will continue our long-standing struggle against that menace with fortitude and commitment. In that context, we look to our international partners, including the United Nations to continue to stand beside us in our shared endeavour. Beyond the battlefield, we are working diligently to promote and advance regional cooperation to defeat terrorism and promote a more stable and prosperous region. On 6 June, amid the carnage of the heinous attack that had occurred just days earlier, we convened the Kabul Process for Peace and Security Cooperation, for which 26 countries and organizations assembled to coordinate efforts for ending the destructive cycle of terrorism, extremism and militancy in our region. Moreover, we are also collaborating with our near and distant neighbours on counter-terrorism issues within the framework of the Heart of Asia Process whose next ministerial meeting will be held in Baku later this year. We have recently taken new measures to implement and strengthen national legislation to meet the provision of various treaties, conventions and Security Council resolutions concerning terrorism, including, but not limited to, resolutions 1373 (2001) and 2178 (2014). We have also amended our criminal code to unify all of Afghanistan’s criminal legislation and ensure that it is better aligned with various Security Council resolutions. In the area of law enforcement and border control, the National Security Council is leading inter-agency efforts on our national counter-terrorism strategy and action plan. Where countering the financing of terrorism is concerned, we have instituted new mechanisms to prevent the flow of unregulated currency. As a result, the Financial Action Task Force has recognized Afghanistan’s compliance with its standards to combat money-laundering and terrorism financing. The current scale of the terrorist threat worldwide reveals an obvious fact, which is that the international community’s collective fight against terrorism has been slow, incomplete and inadequate by comparison to the challenges at hand. This, in our view, is the result of various factors: weak implementation of counter- terrorism resolutions and sanctions regimes; inefficient coordination on counter-terrorism issues within the United Nations Organization and with States; States’ insufficient operational and technical capacity; and, in some cases, a lack of genuine effort by some to combat terrorism tangibly and in good faith, be it on the battlefield or in enacting and implementing domestic laws on counter-terrorism. These impediments must be reversed if we are to turn the tide against terrorist groups in different parts of the world, particularly in our region. Addressing the problem of terrorist sanctuaries is a fundamental imperative for any degree of success in combating global terrorism. The phenomenon remains a key driver of terrorism and violent extremism. This issue is recognized in pillar II of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, as well as various resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, including Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 2178 (2014), 2253 (2015) and 2322 (2016). In this connection, we believe the time is now for the Security Council and the international community to do more to ensure that States abide by and implement stated commitments, in accordance with international law and adherence to the Charter of the United Nations. The creation of the Office of Counter-Terrorism presents a unique opportunity to change the calculus and help facilitate real and tangible change in the global fight against terrorism. It will be critically important to ensure that the Office of Counter-Terrorism operates with a clear and strong mandate and enjoys the full trust of Member States. Moreover, efforts aimed at weakening the work of the Office should be avoided. Even though it will function within the scope of the General Assembly, it should also cooperate and coordinate activities with the Security Council, as the principal organ of the United Nations responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. Such cooperation should not be limited to the provision of technical assistance alone, but should also cover other issues essential to a successful counter- terrorism approach. Last but certainly not least, Afghanistan calls for the early conclusion of the comprehensive convention for combating international terrorism, which is of crucial importance to strengthening the international community’s counter-terrorism architecture. In conclusion, let me reassert our firm commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. For more than two decades we have resisted and combated terrorism with a deep sense of national pride. This struggle remains embedded in the social fabric of our society, and we are as committed as ever to defeating this global menace for the benefit of humankind, effectively and resolutely.

We align ourselves with the statement made by the observer of the European Union. On behalf of the United Kingdom, let me join others in welcoming the creation of the new United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and in congratulating Ambassador Vladimir Voronkov on his appointment as Under-Secretary-General. At the outset, I want to thank the Secretary- General for this, his first major architectural reform of the United Nations. The creation of this new Office marks a step forward in the way that we tackle the global scourge of terrorism. It is the first of many. We have advocated for some time that the United Nations system should deliver a more coordinated, strategic and impactful response to today’s terrorist threats. The new Office has great potential to support this step change. Now it must deliver, and the hard work starts today. For this effort to succeed, the United Kingdom believes that preventing violent extremism must lie at the heart of the work of this new Office, just as it lies at the heart of its mandate. A balanced approach to counter-terrorism by the United Nations is impossible without a proper appreciation of prevention. We believe that the expertise and resources of the United Nations are ideally suited to the challenge posed by violent extremism. We need to understand how development, human rights, education, gender and other United Nations agendas feed into the risks of terrorism in vulnerable communities. This does not mean that every United Nations intervention around the world can or should be about prevention, but most are legitimately relevant to it. At a minimum, we must avoid unintentionally causing harm, a very real risk if prevention expertise is entirely absent from United Nations programming. By preventing violent extremism, the United Nations has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect the world from the deadly call of terrorism. States owe it to their citizens, and the United Nations owes it to the world, to dedicate resources and energy to this fight.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Peter Thomson, Secretary-General António Guterres and the United Nations bodies for their tireless commitment to preventing and bringing an end to terrorism and violent extremism. Kazakhstan especially welcomes the initiative to establish the United Nations Office of Counter- Terrorism and the appointment of its head, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, whose leadership will take us forward. We believe that further implementing reforms of the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture, as initiated by the Secretary-General, will result in a more definitive coordination and response to the fight against terrorism, which is constantly challenging us with its rapidly transforming methods and tactics. We believe that a balanced geographic representation for the new structure will generate bold and resourceful United Nations activities with genuine impact and long-lasting results. A growing problem that Member States are facing is the return of radicalized militants after being recruited into conflict zones and engaged in brutal hostilities. It is therefore important for countries to take effective measures both to counteract the destructive activities of the returned militants and to work for their subsequent deradicalization and gradual integration into civilian life. The increasing number of female foreign terrorist fighters will require special programmes for their specific needs and rehabilitation. The Office of Counter-Terrorism should also give special attention to preventing the widespread and intensive use of the Internet by terrorist groups to recruit innocent citizens and spread radical ideology for the large-scale radicalization of the population, especially young people. Information technologies should be used to counter negative narratives, making the youth aware of these scourges, and should instead promote ideas of tolerance and goodwill. It should be utilized through a coordinated regional and global multilateral effort to promote goodwill and harmony in support of the measures of the Secretary-General. Security and stability in the vast area of Central Asia can be achieved only if we mobilize the potential of regional structures, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and others working closely with the United Nations counter-terrorism structures, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, INTERPOL and other organizations and partners. We are also required to develop a rapid emergency-response capacity, a strategy for disaster risk reduction and building resilience to withstand attacks on the vast complex of critical infrastructure. The latter are particularly vulnerable today, as they are powered by information technology and linked to energy systems in a closely connected globalized world. Furthermore, we should ensure the widest possible implementation of multilateral mechanisms and instruments to combat the movement of foreign terrorist fighters. It is equally vital to shut down the channels of financial support for terrorist activities through the illegal trade in drugs, natural resources and cultural heritage artefacts. Kazakhstan is ready to strengthen and expand cooperation in this much-needed area. In June 2017, Kazakhstan made a voluntary financial contribution to the United Nations Counter- Terrorism Centre fund in order to set up a project supporting the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia. We did so with a view to further improving counter- terrorism-mechanism partnerships. Such cooperation and partnerships will help us to more effectively counteract these threats under the aegis of the United Nations. Here my delegation would like to recall the initiatives of the President of Kazakhstan, Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev who, in the General Assembly in September 2015 (see A/70/PV.13), proposed the creation of a global coalition to combat terrorism under the stewardship of the United Nations. The purpose of the coalition is to develop a unified mechanism for monitoring, detaining and extraditing all those guilty of crimes of terrorism and extremism, as well as for compiling a single list of terrorist organizations. We are convinced that implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy at the regional and national levels is also crucial for promoting security, peace and sustainable development goals. Kazakhstan stands ready to strengthen multilateral efforts to build the capacities of Member States by promoting regional and international cooperation.

First of all, I would like to thank the Secretary- General for his tireless efforts to improve the United Nations systems approach to combat terrorism. We congratulate Mr. Vladimir Voronkov on his appointment to head the new United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. More than ever, the international community needs to work together closely in order to tackle those who support and finance terrorism. With that objective, we are confident that the Office of Counter-Terrorism will coordinate international efforts and enhance cooperation between Member States and United Nations entities. We call on the Office to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a balanced manner, and to focus on prevention and the strengthening of cooperation with international institutions and bodies responsible for combating terrorism in order to promote a better exchange of experiences and practices. We are cooperating with regional and international partners to combat Da’esh and other terrorist organizations and participating actively in the Global Coalition against Da’esh. We should also exchange best experiences and practices, strengthen capacity-building and ensure stability and financial support. We have donated $50 million to rebuild the city of Mosul and $350 million to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre so as to help Member States implement the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It is also important to develop the means to respond to the different ways that extremists recruit adherents. We have been cooperating with the United States in order to create the Sawab Centre, which is aimed at raising awareness and fighting extremism on social networks. Young people under the age of 25 make up 60 per cent of Arab societies, and their participation is important if we are to protect them from extremist groups. We have appointed a 22-year-old minister with a view to encouraging young people to participate in decision-making. We have also designated a minister in charge of tolerance to strengthen coexistence, peace and respect for religions and cultures. Empowering women is an important way of enabling society to counter extremism and terrorist groups, which is why we support UN-Women in its efforts to strengthen the role of women and enhance gender parity in the fight against terrorism. No State can fight terrorism and extremism alone. That is why the Riyadh summit in May saw the participation of 55 Arab States and of the United States, with the purpose of strengthening cooperation and coordination in fighting extremism and strengthening stability and international security. In conclusion, we look forward to working with Mr. Voronkov to root out terrorism.

Despite the ongoing reports of terrorist outrages that continue to devastate communities around the world, we can draw some encouragement from the progress achieved in realigning efforts in the United Nations to fight this scourge of our time. At the outset, I would like to pay tribute to the Secretary-General for his strong leadership in building on the outcome of the fifth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. His efforts to rationalize the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture are practicable. What is more, the process was transparent, inclusive and highly efficient, which was key to gaining universal support among Member States. The Office of Counter-Terrorism was established through the adoption of resolution 71/291 in June. I would like to congratulate Ambassador Voronkov on his appointment as Under-Secretary-General and head of the Office, and to wish him every success in his important role. It is crucial that the Office of Counter-Terrorism ensures the balanced and effective implementation of all four pillars of the Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. Including prevention, through the agenda on the prevention of violent extremism, is extremely important. Its focus on the values of tolerance, and pluralism provides the necessary ingredients for building peaceful and inclusive societies. We must also ensure that all measures taken against terrorism are in line with international law and international human rights instruments. It is vital to ensure that the United Nations demonstrates a singleness of purpose in tackling terrorism and violent extremism. We look forward to seeing improvements in overall coordination and assistance to Member States flowing from the Secretary- General’s reforms. We also support the Secretary- General’s grounding of his proposals in the broader context of his wider reforms in the areas of peace and security and development. Sustainable Development Goal 16 has a major role to play in addressing the drivers of terrorism. If properly implemented, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will make a major contribution to addressing the causes of terrorism and violent extremism.

I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly for convening today’s meeting. My thanks also go to Secretary-General Guterres and the Secretariat for their efforts to advance the reform of the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture. China welcomes the Secretary-General’s appointment of Ambassador Voronkov as Under-Secretary-General at the helm of the new United Nations Office of Counter- Terrorism. Terrorism is the common enemy of humankind, and it must be fought using a single set of standards. Furthermore, terrorism should not be identified with any specific ethnicity, religion or culture. It behoves the United Nations to strengthen its counter-terrorism cooperation with its broad membership and the international community, especially with a view to helping countries with their counter-terrorism capacity- building. China supports the United Nations system in further enhancing its counter-terrorism capacities with a view to improving its help to Member States in implementing the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy and the relevant Security Council resolutions in a balanced manner. With the reform of the United Nations Counter- Terrorism architecture under way, China looks forward to seeing the new Secretary-General and the Office of Counter-Terrorism get off to a good start. In the course of such reform, we urge adherence to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations in the exercise of the Organization’s stewardship; strengthened coordination within the United Nations; and the forging of synergy with improved efficiency and closer tracking of new developments, such as the phenomenon of terrorists using the Internet and other information and communication technologies in their activities. The division of functions between the General Assembly and the Security Council in the area of counter-terrorism should be respected. The support and cooperation of Member States are indispensable to counter-terrorism efforts. China looks forward to seeing the United Nations strengthen communication and coordination with its membership in order to build a broad support base and pave the way forward for future iterations of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

We join others in thanking the President for convening this meeting and the Secretary- General for his report (А/71/858). We would like to express our full support to the Secretary-General’s commitment to adapting the United Nations system to the ever-evolving threat of terrorism. The establishment of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism represents a major institutional reform. We welcome the appointment of the new Under-Secretary-General, Ambassador Voronkov, and wish him well in his new duties. I would like to reiterate our views regarding the new Office. Our main task should be giving assistance to Member States, including capacity-building, at their request, with a view to achieving balanced implementation of the Strategy across its four pillars. In that regard, while activities aimed at preventing violent extremism and individual radicalization are necessary, measures to combat terrorism and to build States’ capacities to that end remain crucial. Preventive measures should focus on combating intolerance, social exclusion and all forms of xenophobia. The new entity should pursue regular and close dialogue with Member States. It should maintain mechanisms for close coordination with the Department of Political Affairs, since the issue of terrorism cannot be addressed in isolation from its political context. Further streamlining of counter- terrorism activities and close coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force are also essential. The new Office will be handling delicate matters, which we are sure it will carry out with due care. In that regard, Turkey remains committed to contributing to the work of the Office. Recent terrorist attacks across the globe confirm that no country is immune to this threat. We would like to pay our respects to the memories of all the victims of terrorism, including those of the recent attacks in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Turkey has also experienced the ruthless face of terrorism from the Kurdish Workers Party, the People’s Protection Units, Da’esh and the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party. We are fully determined to continue our fight against those terrorist organizations. Effective bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation is required to cope with terrorism. Stopping the flow of foreign terrorist fighters joining the ranks of Da’esh is an indispensable part of our efforts. To that end, we have taken the initiative to establish both physical and technological measures, including a no-entry list, which now includes more than 53,000 names, and risk-analysis units at airports and transport operations, which have denied entry to more than 4,000 suspected foreign terrorist fighters. More than 5,000 people have been deported in that context. Furthermore, nearly 8,000 individuals with Da’esh, the Al-Nusra Front and Al-Qaida, including almost 3,500 foreigners, have been detained and more than 2,600 affiliated individuals are under arrest. However, recent military operations in Syria and Iraq have triggered the movement of foreign terrorist fighters to other conflict zones, third countries and countries of origin. In that context, prompt information exchange, intelligence sharing and genuine cooperation are crucial. In our fight against Da’esh, we should not substitute one terrorist organization for another. Adopting a selective approach is counterproductive. There are no good or bad terrorists. A terrorist organization cannot be legitimized because it is fighting another terrorist organization. In that regard, in Raqqa we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes made in Manbij. Last but not least, the processes that lead to terrorism may have different triggering factors. Protracted conflicts nourish conditions conducive to terrorism. The absence of the rule of law; violations of human rights; ethnic, national and religious discrimination, including Islamophobia; and political exclusion and socioeconomic marginalization can all contribute to creating such conditions. We should always be guided in our efforts by the principle that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any specific religion, nationality or ethnic group.

At the outset, I would like to thank the President for convening this meeting. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his focus on efforts to combat terrorism since he assumed his post, and for assisting Member States in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its four pillars. Its balanced implementation is crucial. The creation of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism was also facilitated by his inclusion of States in the negotiations. I congratulate the Under- Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office, Mr. Voronkov and wish him every success in his duties, which will focus on promoting counter-terrorism efforts within the United Nations system and with all partners. We are committed to sparing no effort to cooperate with the Under-Secretary-General and the Office of Counter- Terrorism. Together we will work to promote the activities of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre, with a particular focus on capacity-building and increasing donations to the Centre. Cooperation, coordination and the joint efforts of United Nations bodies in countering terrorism must be bolstered and reflected positively throughout the United Nations system and in its cooperation with partners. Combating terrorism is an international responsibility that requires consistent effort and coordination among States and specialized centres. To address its repercussions, we must develop programmes and strategies to implement activities under the four pillars of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. That is how we will be able to make visible progress in fighting terrorism at the global level. There are a number of important factors that must not be ignored. Terrorism should not be associated with a particular religion, culture or nationality. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia firmly condemns all acts of terrorism, regardless of who the perpetrators and victims are. We condemn all terrorist groups and States that finance or countenance acts of terrorism and we believe firmly that there can be no justification for terrorist activities. We must focus on the fact that the fight against terrorism is a long-distance race and cannot be conducted by military means alone. We must fight the terrorists’ ideologies and block their sources of financing if we want our efforts to succeed. In that regard, Saudi Arabia has intensified its efforts not only on the security front but also in the fight against the ideology of violent extremism, by establishing the ETIDAL Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, as well as other institutions at the international level, such as the Monasaha management centres, an innovative initiative aimed at rehabilitating former terrorists and preventing terrorism. As part of these efforts, it is vital that we address the underlying causes of terrorism, including foreign occupation, marginalization and the promotion of terrorist ideology. For that, we need to coordinate international efforts, and my country established the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre to that end. We will continue to support the Centre and urge all Member States to assist it in implementing its programmes and achieving its goals.

Argentina affirms its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Acts of terrorism not only pose a threat to international peace and security, they are a threat to human life and undermine countries’ stability, consolidation of democracy and socioeconomic development. Argentina’s efforts to prevent and eradicate terrorism are based on full respect for the rule of law and the fundamental guarantees of international law, international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, and on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Argentina has been a victim of international terrorism on two occasions, in 1992 and 1994. On 18 July, we marked the twenty-third anniversary of the 1994 attack on the headquarters of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association. That is why my country was one of the first to draw attention to the importance of ensuring that the international community establishes clear definitions that can help lay the foundations for a policy of cooperation and coordination in the fight against terrorism. Terrorism undermines the values and principles of States and of our democracy and liberties, which is why combating it requires that we take an integrated and multidimensional approach, based on broad cooperation, if we are to address its threat in all its forms and manifestations. Terrorism cannot be tackled solely through defence and security measures but must be based on a comprehensive approach, such as that reflected in the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, based on balanced implementation of the Strategy’s four pillars and in full respect for international law and international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law. I want to emphasize my country’s firm commitment to the Strategy and to the resolutions adopted within the framework of its review, which encompass the values and principles of the United Nations that underpin Argentina’s position on the fight against terrorism, as well as covering the new facets that terrorism and violent extremism have acquired in recent years. I would particularly like to emphasize the speed and effectiveness with which the Secretary-General has decided to carry out the mandate laid down in paragraph 70 of resolution 70/291, “The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review”, which my country had the privilege of co-facilitating with Iceland last year. The establishment of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism is a step in the right direction for improving the coordination and coherence of United Nations activities against terrorism in the areas represented by the Strategy’s four pillars, as well as the capacity of the United Nations to assist Member States and mobilize the resources needed to fight terrorism and prevent the violent extremism that leads to it. We welcome Mr. Voronkov’s appointment to head the Office and would like to assure him of our delegation’s full cooperation in the tasks before him.