A/75/PV.90 General Assembly

My delegation thanks the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly for their comprehensive statements, and we take note of the Secretary-General’s report (A/75/729). As a country that had to face the scourge of terrorism for more than three decades, Sri Lanka wholeheartedly condemns terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It is in that context that the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is an essential tool to rally us in our collective call for action. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism strategy review resolution — resolution 75/291 — provides a clear and solid road map for our common counter- terrorism efforts for the coming years. It is appropriate that we have adopted the new strategy as we mark the high-level Counter-Terrorism Week in New York and have held the second High-level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States. That meeting provided an opportunity for Member States to create networks and partnerships and share information and strategies in order to strengthen cooperation, as is envisaged in the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. At the conference, the Secretary-General noted this week that the fight against terrorism has seen important advances, with some attacks having been thwarted across the world and hundreds of terrorists being brought to justice. However, the threat continues to loom, and many terrorist groups continue to thrive on the continued exploitation and manipulation of social grievances and injustices to inspire lone actors and co-opt other groups, with deadly results. We remain concerned at the increasing polarization and normalization of hate speech, which have benefited many such groups. It is clearly evident that terrorist groups have exploited hardships and inequalities related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and used much disinformation and many false narratives to further their twisted causes. Terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism are not exclusive to any one country or region but spread across national borders. That growing scourge threatens the very fabric of the principle of sovereign States upon which the international legal order is based. We extend our most sincere condolences to the families of the victims of terrorists and sympathize with those around the world who have suffered injuries since the year began; we heard about the most recent of those incidents this morning, with the terrible assassination of the President of Haiti. In this evolving context, the core principles of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy remain fully valid and have been updated to meet many of the new challenges. There is a need to intensify consistent, coordinated and comprehensive efforts across our countries in terms of human rights and the rule of law. Information-sharing must take place, not only on an international or cross-regional level but also between local State institutions and other counter- terrorism mechanisms, including the private sector and civil society. Countering terrorism is not only an all-of-United Nations approach; it must be an all- of-country approach. We would like to commend the tireless work done by Ambassador Mohamed Al Hassan of Oman and Ambassador Agustín Santos Maraver of Spain as co-facilitators of the lengthy, in-depth negotiations on the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, during which discussions were held on the gamut of issues related to terrorism and counter-terrorism and which featured an inclusive process of consultations with Member States and regional groups, including stakeholders such as United Nations entities, academia and civil society. We are aware of the fact that the issues are complex and that the quest for consensus was often not the easiest in the endeavour to bridge differences and encompass multiple different views and concerns. However, in this common fight against terrorism we need to ensure that we work together and reaffirm consensus, diplomacy and dialogue in the work before us. A modern and updated strategy cannot be pushed on States or decided on the basis of might or by a group of States, large or small. There is no one-size formula that fits all instances, nor can we ever seek to encompass every eventuality or issue. We must be united, with a spirit of equity and togetherness, and be able to listen to one another to look for common ground in our larger purpose to update a strategy to work collectively to confront the menace of terrorism. Since 2006, we have implemented a counter- terrorism strategy and sought to update its plans to address many of the challenges that we face as a result of the changing dynamics of terrorism, transnational crime and violent extremism. Those issues have been further compounded by the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters; the financing of international terrorism; the rapid advancement of technology, including social media; porous borders; and large movements of people due to strife and conflict. The international landscape of terrorism is not static and has continued to expand. International networks increasingly linked to organized crime are a crucial lifeline that sustains terrorists and violent groups. It is therefore vital that all Member States work together with greater dedication to pool resources and share intelligence databases, expertise and best practices so that we can effectively combat that scourge. Issues must be looked at holistically. The coronavirus disease pandemic has brought the world together to tackle a virus. We must use the same unity, urgency of purpose and cooperation to work together to address terrorism and its root causes. We should not take refuge in saying that terrorism is another country’s problem or an issue that only holds sway far from our shores. We are dismayed that in the past decade the world has seen an increase in the number of terrorist attacks, and civilians the world over have been affected. It is a sad reflection of our era that no country is immune to terrorist attacks. In our work before us, with the exponential growth of the media, and particularly the rise of social media, while acknowledging the importance of the freedom of expression and the flow of information to inform people, we must be vigilant that it is not used as a platform for hatred, bigotry and extremism. We must be increasingly aware and actively seek to prevent people from using social media to promote a culture of racism, hate and intolerance. As we fight terrorism, we must ensure the promotion of the fourth pillar of the Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy — ensuring human rights and the rule of law. In our common fight against terrorists, we should not embrace the lawlessness of the terrorists and must never abandon our common humanity, which is what binds us together and gives us the strength and purpose to pursue our fight against terror. Finally, the adoption of resolution 75/291, on the seventh review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, provides the means to enhance national, regional, and international efforts to fight terrorism. We must use this movement and make further renewed commitments to strengthening our normative framework and international cooperation in this area, in particular through measures in the Ad Hoc Committee to eliminate international terrorism and in the Working Group, which has already resulted in the adoption of a large number of sectoral conventions on the suppression of terrorism. Despite the strong support of Member States and the General Assembly mandate to come up with a comprehensive legal framework to fill possible gaps in the existing sectoral conventions on terrorism, it is regrettable that we have not been able to break the current impasse surrounding the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism. While work has been accomplished in the Ad Hoc Committee, we need the necessary political will to move forward to conclude the convention at the earliest. In closing, Sri Lanka welcomes and supports the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and reaffirms Sri Lanka’s commitment to implementing the Strategy across its four pillars.

Allow me, on behalf of my delegation, to thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his report (A/75/729 and A/75/729/Corr.1) and Under- Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov for convening the United Nations High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States. Our thanks also go to the President of the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session for convening this meeting on the seventh biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. In particular, we would like to thank the facilitators for their efforts and dedication throughout the review process, which culminated in draft resolution A/75/L.105 being submitted for adoption and in its adoption by consensus in resolution 75/291 on 30 June 2021 (see A/75/PV.88). The adoption of the Strategy demonstrates the commitment of States Members of the United Nations to work together in the face of a threat that continues to dominate the global security agenda. Continued terrorist attacks around the world have shown us that no nation or region is immune and that there is no short-term solution to the threat of terrorism and its devastating consequences. If we are to triumph over this scourge, we must, in addition to our national efforts, strengthen cooperation and coordination efforts at the international, regional and subregional levels. The Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains that a multilateral framework remains essential to preventing and combating the diverse and evolving aspects of this threat. It is imperative to reinvigorate a multilateralism that is not only consistent with international law and the United Nations Charter, but also is adapted to the problems of the day. The leadership of the United Nations is therefore very important in efforts aimed at helping Member States and international, regional and subregional organizations to intensify their actions in implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in an integrated and balanced manner through its four pillars. My delegation commends the work done by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office, the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and all their affiliated entities and hopes that the necessary means will be made available to them to enable them to assist States and regional and subregional organizations in implementing the Strategy. In this regard, we believe that there is a need for the international community to support the efforts of States and regional and subregional organizations to combat terrorism and violent extremism by sharing experiences and best practices and by providing technical assistance and adequate resources for capacity-building. At the national level, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has ratified several international counterterrorism instruments. It has established, inter alia, the National Coordination Committee to Combat International Terrorism, the National Financial Intelligence Unit, the Consultative Committee to Combat Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and the Fund for the Fight against Organized Crime. The Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to improve its national measures to fight terrorism and violent extremism by strengthening its legislative framework. These initiatives include incorporating into its Military Penal Code and other specific laws terrorist acts provided for in international instruments; the preparation of a draft anti-terrorism law that provides, among other things, for the transfer of jurisdiction to ordinary courts to try cases of terrorism, given that these matters were previously under the jurisdiction of military courts; the law on combating money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, particularly in terms of criminalizing the financing of terrorism; and the mechanism for implementing targeted financial sanctions relating to Security Council-designated entities. At the regional and subregional level, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a party to the regional framework agreement on police cooperation to strengthen the fight against transnational organized crime, radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism, signed in April 2019 in Tanzania. Currently, my country is revising its national counter-terrorism strategy, which takes into account the content of the Global Strategy, the Strategies adopted by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), respectively. In order to enrich our national strategy, a consultation workshop with civil society will be held in September of this year. However, in view of the rise in terrorism and violent extremism in the region, there is a need for ECCAS and SADC countries to intensify their cooperation by pooling their efforts to eradicate these scourges. As mentioned in paragraph 6 of the report of the Secretary-General, the signs of the threat emanating from the Islamic State in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Mozambique through local entities affiliated with the group remain of great concern. Indeed, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been experiencing insecurity for more than two decades as a result of the activism of several armed groups identified in its eastern part, including the jihadist Forces démocratiques alliées (ADF), which is considered the terrorist group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. The ADF is known for forced recruitment of children, indoctrination into radicalization and massive human rights violations against civilians, including massacres, killings, beheadings, looting, arson, rape, and abductions, as well as attacks on humanitarian workers, security forces and United Nations peacekeepers. This terrorist group relies on a ruse to deceive young people and even adults that they will be sent to study the Koran abroad, specifically in Medina, so that they can become imams, or they promise them paid work, when in fact they are sent to Madina, a town located in the territory of Beni, where they are indoctrinated in the holy war. The use by those terrorists of improvised explosive devices and the use of suicide bombings observed recently in Beni should be condemned here. While alarmed by the proliferation of such new practices, the Democratic Republic of the Congo welcomes the United States Department of State designating affiliates and leaders of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Democratic Republic of Congo as terrorists and its imposition of sanctions against them. We also welcome the Government of Canada designating the ADF — an armed group of Ugandan origin responsible for several massacres in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo — as a Da’esh-affiliated terrorist group. The Democratic Republic of the Congo calls on the United Nations to take very seriously the connection between the ADF and ISIL and to avoid waiting until it is too late to make the appropriate recommendations to the Counter-Terrorism Committee. Several events have demonstrated and confirmed the presence of Islamist terrorists in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We must not wait to take action before their roots have taken hold, as the situation could become more complex. In that context, my delegation welcomed the decision by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to conduct an assessment to monitor, promote and facilitate the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions on countering terrorism. Due to the pandemic, the visit was scheduled to be conducted in two parts, the first by virtual means and the second in person. The virtual visit was conducted in April, when we had a constructive and mutually beneficial exchange. The in-person visit will be conducted as soon as health conditions allow. We hope that, after the Committee’s visit, an evaluation will be made to enable the Democratic Republic of the Congo to benefit from appropriate technical assistance and capacity-building support. In conclusion, we would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm that the Democratic Republic of the Congo stands ready to work with the Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and other United Nations entities for the comprehensive and balanced implementation of the Strategy and to pursue our counter-terrorism efforts in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and respect for national ownership and priorities.

At the outset, on behalf of my delegation, let me extend my condolences to the family of the Haitian President, His Excellency Mr. Jovenel Moïse, and to the Government and the people of Haiti for his appalling assassination. We stand in solidarity with our colleagues and friends from the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the United Nations. The past months have confirmed our belief that only through a strengthened multilateral framework can we better and more effectively address challenges of a global nature. That is ever-more relevant when it comes to the evolving and multifaceted terrorist threat. Nearly 15 years since its adoption in the General Assembly Hall, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy remains as relevant as ever. The adoption by consensus of resolution 75/291, on the seventh biennial review of the Strategy, reflects the continued commitment of Member States as well as the pivotal role of the General Assembly in preventing terrorism and the violent extremism leading to it. In that regard, I would like to thank the co-facilitators, Ambassadors Agustín Santos Maraver of the Kingdom of Spain and Mohamed Al Hassan of the Sultanate of Oman, as well as their teams of experts, for their commendable work and tireless efforts throughout the negotiations. We also extend our gratitude to the Office of Counter-Terrorism for its support during the process. Moreover, I wish to align myself with the statement delivered by the representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (see A/75/PV.88). Terrorist and violent extremist groups have always been on the lookout for grievances to exploit and use to fuel their narratives and propaganda. The pandemic and consequent related measures have multiplied such grievances and, in some cases, have further eroded trust in Governments, while giving rise to further misinformation and disinformation campaigns. That has mainly been happening via online platforms, aggravating the challenges posed by the misuse of technologies. It only shows how rapidly the terrorist threat can evolve, as well as how reactive such groups can be, highlighting ever more the imperative of a constant review of the Strategy — but, most important, the imperative of the implementation of all four pillars of the Strategy. We value the inclusion in the text of the resolution of the reference to the need to monitor and address the short-, medium- and long-term impacts of the pandemic on the evolution of the global terrorist threat. We also welcome the strengthening of the language on gender, civil society and the private sector. In such times of turmoil, prevention and human rights compliance are essential and must be at the forefront of any fight against terrorism. As inequalities, marginalization and human rights violations run rampant, addressing them will surely contribute to the achievement of fairer and more inclusive societies. It implies the continued involvement of all relevant actors of a society — Governments, young people, women, civil society organizations and the private sector. The alarming crisis in Lebanon and the hardship faced by the Lebanese people are a real threat to its stability and future. The responsibility of getting Lebanon out of the crisis rests primarily with the Lebanese themselves, but the support and help of the United Nations and Lebanon’s friends have been tremendous in mitigating the crisis and helping the Lebanese people. We hope that help and support will continue as Lebanon extracts itself from this situation. Despite that, the determination of Lebanon in combating terrorism, in accordance with the Strategy and our international obligations, remains unabated. The Lebanese army, for instance, dismantled earlier this year terrorist cells linked to Da’esh and continues to fend off terrorist threats on Lebanese soil. We are working towards finalizing a comprehensive national counter-terrorism strategy, which will be in line with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. As we look around the world, terrorism has claimed many lives, especially those of leaders and journalists just this past year. Lebanon is no stranger to that and has had its share of lives lost in the past two decades. That is why Lebanon is committed to the completion of the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon — the first and only tribunal of its kind established to prosecute terrorist acts. Lebanon is grateful to the United Nations and all the countries that have supported the Tribunal since its establishment to bring long-awaited relief to the victims and their families and end impunity for the perpetrators of the heinous terrorist acts committed in 2005, which claimed the lives of Prime Minster Rafic Hariri and his associates. International tribunals are important to bring about justice and end impunity, but international tribunals should be effective and complete their work in a timely fashion. Otherwise, they send the wrong message about tribunals and international justice. The saying “justice delayed is justice denied” is only too true in that context.

At the outset, the Republic of Korea would like to align itself with the statement made by the representative of Turkey on behalf of the MIKTA countries — Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia (see A/75/PV.88). First of all, my delegation welcomes the adoption by consensus of resolution 75/291, on the seventh review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the co-facilitators, Ambassador Mohamed Al Hassan, Permanent Representative of Oman, and Ambassador Agustín Santos Maraver, Permanent Representative of Spain, and their teams for their tireless efforts in facilitating the consultations and achieving consensus. It is truly meaningful that the General Assembly speaks with one strong voice against terrorism. We have seen the various impacts of the coronavirus disease pandemic, many of which are also related to the terrorist landscape. Although we had to postpone the seventh review, owing to the pandemic, we achieved our goal of updating the Strategy by successfully adopting resolution 75/291. The international community has witnessed evolving terrorist threats for the past three years. Those who are responsible for terrorist acts have justified their atrocities based on a variety of reasons, but terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purpose, should not be forgiven and cannot be justified. Terrorists have used new as well as traditional ways of carrying out terrorist acts. We are deeply and especially concerned about the use of new technologies for terrorist purposes. Hostility, hatred and violence have been propagated by such groups using information and communication technologies for terrorist ends. We should take special heed of the possibility of young people being exposed to terrorist content through the Internet and social media platforms. In the course of the seventh review, all Member States tried to reflect that reality in resolution 75/291, and my delegation believes that the international community can move forward based on the direction suggested by the resolution. We have also seen ongoing threats and the direct targeting by terrorists against civilians, women, children and humanitarian actors. The seventh review resolution reflects, to some extent, that worrisome reality and the willingness to address it, but the international community should go further to protect those entitled to be protected in accordance with international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The international community has recognized the need to prevent violent extremism conducive to terrorism and made various efforts in that regard. We have witnessed various forms of violent extremism and realized that there are a variety of causes behind them, which requires a whole-of-society approach to address them. At the same time, it is important to develop and implement plans of action to prevent violent extremism in a way consistent with international law. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to mention a few elements of the resolution on the seventh review of the Strategy that we should duly take note of. First, considering the many voices expressing concern about the financial situation of the Office of Counter-Terrorism, the General Assembly has come together to give clearer direction on how to move forward. We expect the Secretary-General to make an in-depth assessment of the Office’s finances and, based on that, to provide convincing budgetary recommendations to the General Assembly in 2022. We are all aware of the important role that the Office has played, especially in coordinating global counter- terrorism activities, and we therefore need to ensure that its operation is sustainable. Secondly, my delegation would also like to take note of some developments regarding the proposed results framework to ensure the comprehensive, balanced and integrated implementation of the Strategy. We attach great importance to such a framework in order to track progress against the expected results and impact under each of the four pillars. It would be pointless to do our work without properly reviewing our performance. A comprehensive results framework would contribute to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of counter- terrorism efforts. We look forward to seeing additional elaborated options in the next report of the Secretary- General for Member States’ further consideration during the next review process. Thirdly, in the course of the informal consultations, there were notable initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of our efforts to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, namely, by strengthening the elements related to women, civil society and the fight against the financing of terrorism. We believe that there is a global consensus on the importance of the whole-of-society approach, in which women and civil society play a crucial role. Moreover, countering the financing of terrorism is part and parcel of our efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts. Although those elements were only partially incorporated into the seventh review resolution, we have no doubt that all Member States and international and regional organizations will base their counter-terrorism efforts on those important elements. In conclusion, the adoption of resolution 75/291 symbolizes the determined attitude of the international community against terrorism. We all need to take part in this fight. The Republic of Korea will also make the utmost effort to play its part in achieving a world free of terrorism.

My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (see A/75/PV.88). At the outset, let me commend the co-facilitators of the seventh review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, Ambassador Mohamed Al Hassan of Oman and Ambassador Agustín Santos Maraver of Spain, on their tireless efforts and leadership on highly complex issues. Algeria welcomes the adoption by consensus of resolution 75/291, on the Strategy, for the seventh consecutive time. I see this opportunity as one to reiterate our strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomever committed. At the same time, we continue to reject any association of terrorism with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group. The world is currently witnessing an increasing threat of terrorism. Such growth shows its capacity for adaptation and innovation, namely, in its modus operandi. Emerging terrorist threats, in addition to traditional ones, are of serious concern, including in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has added a layer of complexity to the phenomenon. The United Nations and Member States must therefore respond accordingly by intensifying global efforts to counter terrorism by strengthening the existing strategies to address such threats. Against that backdrop, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy remains a critical, holistic and comprehensive instrument for addressing the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism. In that regard, we affirm our support for the Strategy, its review processes and its balanced implementation across its four pillars. The seventh review of the Strategy offered an important opportunity to renew our collective and determined resolve to combat terrorism. It remains critical to underline the importance of uniting efforts within the Strategy by enhancing cooperation at the bilateral, regional and international levels, strengthening capabilities and exchanging best practices and expertise in counter-terrorism. We appreciate the reaffirmation in the seventh review of the need to adhere to the norms of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the primary responsibility of Member States in the implementation of the Strategy. As three years have elapsed since the previous review of the Strategy, it is also essential for that important instrument to focus on new and emerging challenges. We therefore appreciate the reference made in the seventh review to the COVID-19 pandemic, the financing of terrorism, the nexus between terrorist groups and organized crime, the misuse of new technology by terrorist groups, the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, the rise of hate speech, xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia, the increase in attacks against cultural property and religious sites and the human rights dimension in countering terrorism. Equally important, we continue to support the work of the Office of Counter-Terrorism and its leading role in the implementation of the Strategy and the capacity- building of Member States, upon their request, as well as its coordinating role in counter-terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism conducive to terrorism. It also remains critical to provide the Office with sufficient human and financial resources through the United Nations regular budget to withstand the current challenges posed by terrorism. As a nation at the forefront of the fight against terrorism and radicalization, Algeria continues to believe that preventing and combating terrorism continue to require mobilization and multifaceted cooperation at the national, regional and international levels. Clearly, terrorism cannot be defeated exclusively through repressive measures but requires a more coherent political strategy and addressing its root causes. Algeria remains steadfast in its vigilance and commitment to countering terrorism and radicalization. The focus is mainly placed on the implementation of policies, strategies and development programmes geared towards the fight against factors of exclusion, marginalization and social injustice, as well as promoting democracy, human rights, good governance and living together in peace, as effective tools to counter terrorism and combat violent extremism conducive to terrorism. Let me conclude by reaffirming Algeria’s resolve to implement the Strategy, as well as our strong commitment to continuing our efforts and cooperation at all levels to defeat the scourge of terrorism, which continues to represent a serious threat to international peace and security.

I should like to begin by aligning my country’s delegation with the statement delivered by the representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (see A/75/PV.88). The United Arab Emirates welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 75/291, on the seventh review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We thank His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Al Hassan, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman, and His Excellency Ambassador Agustín Santos Maraver, Permanent Representative of Spain, on leading the negotiation process successfully. The United Arab Emirates supports the periodic review process on the Global Strategy, which is a living document reflecting the latest developments and challenges related to preventing and countering terrorism, especially as extremist and terrorist groups continue to develop their ways and means to realize their destructive objectives. As the international community, we must therefore work together to address new trends and proactively face emerging threats in order to deal with all aspects of this scourge and eradicate it completely under the four pillars of the Strategy and international law. We must first continue to work towards addressing the factors leading to terrorism, while taking into account the specific contexts of every State. We must focus in particular on preventing actions related to religions contempt and their sanctities while addressing all forms of discrimination and denouncing hate speech. To that end, and according to the Strategy, we must work with all the relevant actors, especially religious leaders, the media and the private sector. The United Arab Emirates continues to support efforts that lead to strengthening peaceful coexistence among peoples, including resolution 75/200, which was introduced together with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and which proclaimed 4 February as the International Day of Human Fraternity. My country also welcomes the call of the Strategy on Member States to focus on the effective role of women in countering extremism and terrorism. We stress the importance of the leading role of women in those efforts, and my country aspires to ensure their participation, in particular through the launching of its national action plan this year on women and peace and security. My country also attaches great importance to the issue of using modern technology and innovation in countering terrorism. Modern technologies are a two-edged sword. Extremist and terrorist groups use such modern technologies and the Internet to finance their actions, rally militants and find new sources of financing, which are hard to trace and prevent by Member States. However, advanced technology has helped Member States to develop programmes and tools that help in exchanging information and expertise while facilitating the process of tracing and preventing the movement of foreign terrorist fighters. Consequently, we should continue to work — especially with technology developing companies — to understand all aspects of this issue and develop methods that limit the use of this technology by terrorists. Eradicating terrorism will not be possible without eliminating its funding resources. For example, Da’esh has assets of $300 million in total. We must therefore intensify our international efforts to combat the financing of terrorism, especially by understanding the growing link between organized crime and terrorism and how terrorists use financial institutions and the dark web to obtain financing. The United Arab Emirates continues to implement the latest recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force, in addition to providing our financial intelligence units with state-of-the-art equipment and expertise. My country also established an executive office this year to address money-laundering and the financing terrorism, as the competent authority to combat those crimes. Similarly, we should continue our efforts to understand how the coronavirus disease pandemic is being used by terrorist groups to their advantage. Terrorist groups have used the pandemic to spread their extremist rhetoric and launch more attacks. Countries should also continue to enhance their national frameworks and implement their commitments under the relevant United Nations resolutions and international law. My country has adopted many national laws to combat terrorists and fight ways of financing them. We also joined more than 15 regional and international counter-terrorism conventions, in addition to sponsoring many relevant Security Council resolutions. Military action by the international community against terrorist groups continues to be necessary. My country therefore continues to support the international coalition against Da’esh and provides assistance to regional and international forces, such as the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel, to fight terrorism wherever it is found. In conclusion, the international community must continue its efforts to combat terrorism, its perpetrators and those who provide them with support and funding. My country stresses that this issue remains at the top of our priorities, including during our membership in the Security Council for the term from 2022 to 2023. We look forward to working with all Member States to make more progress in this regard and maintain international peace and security.

My country’s delegation commends the co-facilitators, the Permanent Representative of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman and the Permanent Representative of the friendly Kingdom of Spain, for their tireless efforts to bring together views throughout the long negotiations on the seventh review of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (see A/75/PV.88). Terrorism, which is a cross-border phenomenon with multiple sources of financing, is a global challenge that affects various aspects of life and is a grave violation of the legal and ethical frameworks that prevail throughout the international community. It poses a constant and serious threat to international peace and security. Iraq is one of the countries that have been most severely affected by terrorist acts. Terrorist groups have constantly attempted to undermine the security and stability of my country by targeting its infrastructure, killing civilians and spreading terror in the form of atrocities and horrific acts of torture. The Iraqi security forces have taken full responsibility for responding to that threat. In defence of the peace and security of Iraq and the international community, they spare no effort in combating terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, at the cost of thousands of victims and martyrs. Despite significant national and international efforts, Da’esh gangs and other terrorist groups continue to target the Iraqi people and undermine the country’s security and disseminate extremist ideas that run counter to the principles of Islam and other religions, as well as human values in general. Iraq’s experience in combating terrorism compels us to reaffirm the importance of strengthening international cooperation and ensuring that Member States deliver on their commitments under the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular those on preventing the financing of terrorism, providing logistical support to terrorists and the illicit trade by terrorist gangs in oil, weapons and archaeological artefacts, while making concerted and determined efforts to prevent foreign terrorists from crossing international borders. We do so because of our great concern for international peace and security. Our experience in the area of counter-terrorism has shown that the threat posed by terrorism is not limited to specific peoples or geographic regions. The Government of the Republic of Iraq remains committed to cooperating with the international community to combat terrorism, especially the terrorist group Da’esh, with a view to eradicating it completely and bringing terrorists to justice to be duly punished in order to strengthen the foundations of international peace and security. My country’s Government reiterates its commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and rejects any entity or approach that embraces violence, terrorism, Takfirism and hate speech. The Government is also committed to prohibiting the use of its territories as a theatre of operation for terrorists. Iraq condemns all terrorist acts in all countries of the world and calls for the consolidation and coordination of all international and regional efforts to counter terrorism, regardless of its origin or name. We also call for strengthened cooperation among security forces and intelligence agencies and the sharing of experiences and information at the bilateral and multilateral levels. Iraq is determined to develop its national counter- terrorism strategy in line with the latest international developments in the area of combating terrorism and the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Iraq is committed to ensuring that its national strategy will be an inclusive one that combats extremist ideas and organized crime, while eliminating the sources of terrorist financing and fighting terrorism on the ground. In that regard, Iraq appreciates the sustained efforts of relevant United Nations entities, led by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, in their endeavours to coordinate international efforts and enhance national capacity through workshops and capacity-building programmes. Iraq stands ready to share its experience with the international community in various areas of counter-terrorism. My country prioritizes the following issues in countering terrorism: eliminating terrorist financing sources, repatriating the families of foreign terrorists, monitoring cyberthreats, border control, tackling organized crime linked to terrorism, preventing access for terrorists to chemical and biological weapons and sharing intelligence and experiences. My delegation noted that the long and difficult negotiations on the seventh review of the Strategy were sometimes complicated, leading to sharp differences of opinion. That is undesirable, as it hampers the efforts to combat the shared threat of terrorism. As we were determined to reach a unanimous outcome, my delegation showed flexibility during the negotiations and made several compromises with regard to some of its priorities and concerns related to counter-terrorism. I would like to commend the work of the co-facilitators and the supportive and flexible positions demonstrated by Member States to preserve the text concerning the return to their countries of origin of the detained families of foreign terrorists held in Iraq and Syria. My delegation believes that settling that issue and preventing foreign terrorists from crossing borders would greatly reduce the chances of the spread of violent extremism conducive to terrorism and the resulting material and security burden shouldered by my Government in that regard. In conclusion, my delegation supports and welcomes the adoption of resolution 75/291, while underscoring its great concern about strengthening a number of areas of cooperation with the international community.

Nigeria aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (see A/75/PV.88), which highlighted the extreme flexibility demonstrated by all parties in this Hall to ensure that the seventh review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy achieved consensus. Nigeria welcomes the consensual adoption of the review in resolution 75/291, as this is yet further testament to the universal condemnation of terrorism in all its manifestation and signals increased global resolve and cooperation to squarely address the threat. The review also provides another opportunity to strengthen multilateral structures to deny terrorists and violent extremists the ability to radicalize, recruit, plan, acquire funds and weapons, travel and execute terrorist attacks. The review also attempted to update the Strategy to account for new and emerging trends in the terrorism landscape. In that regard, I would like to extend my delegation’s gratitude to the Permanent Representatives of Oman and Spain, as co-facilitators of the process, as well as to their delegations, for convening the informal briefing on the threat of terrorism in Africa and for their tireless and robust efforts in steering the review process to reach consensus. Nigeria continues to grapple with the threat of terrorism, and we are now, unfortunately, witnessing a growing nexus between terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality in the country. In response, our Government continues to prioritize the strengthening of our criminal justice system to ensure that all terrorists are held to account for their crimes. The growing affiliate relationships among terrorist groups in the Lake Chad basin and the Sahel and Da’esh and Al-Qaida for the purposes of funding, training, expansion and influence continue to be a worrisome trend that has global implications. As such, we urge all Member States and the wider international community to see the threat of terrorism in any particular country as a threat to global peace and security. The increasing incidence of mass kidnappings of students from schools is a significant threat to education in the country, which is fast becoming a great disincentive for both parents and students. It is pertinent that the seventh review once again upholds the right to education for all children and their primary status as victims. The Government of Nigeria continues to take feasible measures to protect schools from terrorist attacks in order to ensure that all children have unimpeded access to education. We are also fully committed to promoting and protecting the rights of all victims of terrorism and look forward to the convening of the first Global Victims of Terrorism Congress later this year. Furthermore, we acknowledge that online terrorist content is a critical driver for recruitment, and in recent times we have seen how that threat has aided the rise of ethnic- and religious-motivated terrorist attacks across the world. As such, we welcome the new language in the review that addresses the dissemination of hate speech, misinformation and propaganda, as well as the misuse of information and communications technology by terrorist groups. We recognize the need to embed respect for the rule of law, human rights law and international humanitarian law in counter-terrorism measures. However, given the immense devastation brought upon communities and their residents, especially women and children, by these terrorists, we support the position taken by other delegations during the negotiations that there are no obligations under international law that require the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian or other assistance to terrorist groups or individual terrorists at all times. Lastly, we appreciate the continued efforts of the Office of Counter-Terrorism in implementing its mandate, especially its deployment of capacity- building programmes, and we look forward to working with all mandated United Nations entities to achieve the integrated and balanced implementation of the Strategy across the United Nations system, consistent with respect for national ownership and national priorities.

At the outset, allow me to thank the President of the General Assembly for the opportunity to make some concluding remarks at today’s debate to mark the seventh review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the end of Counter-terrorism Week. We would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary-General of the Office of Counter- Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, for the intense schedule and high level of preparation for the Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States. Russia took an active part in that event. During the Conference, our approaches and best practices on the most pressing issues on the counter-terrorism agenda were shared by high-ranking representatives of competent agencies in our country. We would like to use our statement today to provide general observations and takeaways with regard to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy review process and the development of our joint statement by a group of like-minded States, which we presented after the adoption of resolution 75/291, on 30 June (see A/75/PV.88). The Russian delegation would like to congratulate all those colleagues present in the Hall on the conclusion of the negotiating process. Despite the difficult and at times tense discussions, we were able to maintain consensus on the resolution. That is key for further productive counter-terrorism work within our global Organization. It is an outcome we achieved together. The text of the resolution was prepared under the unprecedented and difficult conditions of the pandemic. To address common issues such as the coronavirus pandemic, the attendant radicalization of the population and evolving terrorist threats, the international community must come together as a unified counter- terrorism front. We must also provide comprehensive assistance to countries in need, in particular those whose capacity was weakened by the pandemic. The events of the past century tell us that there is no other way forward. One of the consequences of the bloodshed and disunity among States during the First World War was the inability of the warring States to successfully address the insidious common threat of the Spanish influenza epidemic. In that context, negotiations on this resolution, in particular during the later stages of the process, led to unpleasant associations. The Second World War led to even worse consequences for humankind, as a result of the spread of an ideological plague — Nazism and fascism. Despite the plague’s obvious evil, it was not eliminated. Recently, Nazism and fascism have again emerged and even found Government support in certain countries. We consider them to be the most serious kinds of racially motivated extremism, as described in the Strategy. Moreover, we must not forget the traditional threats from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Al-Qaida, associated groups and international battalions of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). Our joint efforts have allowed us to preserve and strengthen in the resolution the language of all key provisions regarding the criminal prosecution of FTFs, on the basis of the extradite or prosecute principle, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the inevitability of punishment. Similarly, we welcome the new provisions on ensuring the proportionality of criminal sentences to the gravity of the crimes committed by the fighters. On 2 July, a decree from the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Putin, approved a new national security strategy. We are pleased to note that, with regard to counter-terrorism, our strategy fully adheres to the substance of the review resolution. Both documents prioritize intercepting the financing and resource channels that assist terrorists. The resolution focuses in particular on directives to combat the illicit trade in weapons, ammunition and explosives, as well as on provisions to combat the nexus between terrorism, organized crime and drug traffickers. The document also highlights the issue of terrorists using new technology for propaganda, recruitment and training purposes and for committing terrorist attacks. Lastly, in the text of the resolution we underscored the primary responsibility of States to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure from terrorism. To succeed in those tasks, it is crucial to develop cooperation among intelligence agencies, security services and law enforcement entities, which is also emphasized in the resolution we adopted. For our part, we aim to rigorously adhere to all outcomes of the Strategy review. That is an imperative for our country, as we are well aware of the burden of combating terrorism and foreign interference. The Strategy review addressed one of the principal disputes — that of determining which is of greater importance: ensuring the safety of citizens or protecting their rights. Russia has consistently supported the underlying rationale of the Strategy, which is itself based on the complementary nature of such efforts and the equal importance of all four pillars of the Strategy. However, during the review we observed flagrant examples of double standards on that issue. Several of our Western colleagues who made strident calls for human rights to be prioritized changed their tune when the issue of repatriation from conflict zones was raised. They placed their own security above the rights of citizens. Over the past two weeks, much has been said about the need to save under-age children in camps in northern Syria and the importance of their swift return home, rehabilitation and return to peaceful life. We have nothing to add to that discussion. We can only hope that, in accordance with the new provisions of resolution 75/291, all participating States will work to maintain the inalienable rights of those innocent children — first and foremost the right to life. The task of eliminating extremist and terrorist ideology is extremely urgent. For years, it was repeatedly explained to us that deleting terrorist content from the Internet was not a matter to be addressed in General Assembly decisions. As it turns out, that was true only until terrorist propaganda began to pose a direct threat to certain countries. Ultimately, what is important is that we were able to find mutually acceptable formula: communication service providers must strictly adhere to the legislation of the country in which they operate as it pertains to countering illegal content. We would also like to draw attention to the new provisions on the so-called humanitarian dimension of measures to ensure security. At the outset, it should be stated that the importance of unimpeded provision of humanitarian aid to areas of armed conflict is by no means in doubt. The declared objective of creating the conditions for humanitarian organizations and medical personnel to operate, in and of itself, should not be used as the basis for States not to fulfil their counter-terrorism obligations. The adoption of the resolution also exacerbated the issue of institutional parameters of counter-terrorism efforts under the auspices of the United Nations. We are of the view that addressing the allocation of additional resources from the regular budget to the Office of Counter-Terrorism is of paramount importance. Attempts to shape the Office’s activities based on the priorities of specific countries are absolutely unacceptable. The Secretary-General is tasked with presenting a range of recommendations by the time of the next Strategy review, including on the human rights aspects of counter-terrorism. We expect that they will be drafted in close cooperation with interested States, in compliance with United Nations practices for the division of labour. The effectiveness of the relevant Secretariat entities must be assessed based on counter- terrorism activities. For the human rights component to be assessed, we need nothing more than the entities already in existence. Regrettably, we must end our statement on a negative note, with our right of reply. Yesterday, our Ukrainian colleagues attempted to change the discussion on counter-terrorism in the General Assembly and move it onto a propagandistic path (see A/75/PV.89). Once again, these baseless accusations against Russia are a clear example of what Ukraine calls a disinformation campaign at the State level. From the very beginning of the internal conflict in Ukraine, the authorities of this country preferred to refuse to engage in direct dialogue with its own people and relief on a military solution for the accumulated problems. Ignoring Security Council resolution 2202 (2015), which set out the Minsk agreements and how they would be implemented, Ukraine continues to wage a war with the people of Donbas and does not cease its futile attempts to find the culprits behind its own mistakes and crimes in Moscow. Regrettably, that approach has not only proved to be ineffective in resolving the conflict, but it also undermines international cooperation in combating terrorism.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item. There is a request for the exercise of the right of reply. May I remind members that statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and five minutes for the second and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

I would like to make some brief remarks in response to the Russian delegation’s intervention. I will not repeat the statement I made yesterday (see A/75/PV.89) or go through the long list of legal instruments that have been violated by the Russian Federation, not to mention all the evidence of numerous crimes, because they go far beyond the counter-terrorism framework. We truly regret that the list of international legal norms that have been brutally violated by the Russian Federation, including in the areas of counter-terrorism, is getting longer. The same trend is happening with the list of victims of Russian aggression, including medical personnel, journalists, women and girls. The continuing calls to halt violations of international law and stop undermining institutions are not heard by Russia. The situation proves that accommodating or appeasing an aggressor risks further aggression. The switching of blame, manipulation and propaganda, interference in the internal affairs of States, fuelling international conflicts and killing civilians — that is the political course of the Russian Federation. That is why it is critically important to firmly hold the aggressor to account and employ all the necessary instruments to make it return to the tenets of international law. We believe that sooner, rather than later, Russia will have to recognize and experience the power, efficiency and effectiveness of international law, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice for all the crimes they have shamelessly and brazenly committed.

May I take it that is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 123?

Members will recall that the General Assembly concluded its consideration of agenda item 72 at its 48th plenary meeting, on 31 December 2020. In order for the Assembly to take action on the draft decision, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of agenda item 72. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen its consideration of agenda item 72? It was so decided (decision 75/504 B).

Members will recall that, at its 2nd plenary meeting, held on 18 September 2020, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 72 to the Third Committee. To enable the Assembly to take action expeditiously on the document, may I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider agenda item 72 directly in plenary meeting and proceed immediately to its consideration?

We shall now proceed to consider draft decision A/75/L.106, entitled “Towards torture-free trade: examining the feasibility, scope and parameters for possible common international standards”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/75/L.106?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 72.

I now give the floor to the representative of Sweden to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.107.

Sweden, together with France, is pleased to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.107, entitled “Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia-residual functions”. In its resolution 75/257, of 31 December 2020, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to continue consultations with the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and the Government of Cambodia in order to finalize, for consideration by the Assembly, a proposed framework for the completion of the work of the Extraordinary Chambers, including with regard to the drawdown of activities and residual functions requiring performance. The Secretary-General conducted such consultations with the Government of Cambodia and the Extraordinary Chambers. The result of those consultations is the draft addendum to the agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia concerning the prosecution, under Cambodian law, of crimes committed during the period of the Democratic Kampuchea, on the transitional arrangements and on the completion of work of the Extraordinary Chambers, as contained in the annex to the draft resolution. If adopted, the resolution would approve the draft addendum so that it can enter into force and be implemented in a timely manner. The draft resolution also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session. We would like to thank the sponsors, including Cambodia, and would welcome any further sponsors. It is our hope that the draft resolution can be adopted by consensus.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/75/L.107. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

This oral statement is made in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Under the terms of paragraphs 2 and 3 of draft resolution A/75/L.107, the General Assembly would urge “the Secretary-General and the Royal Government of Cambodia to take all the measures necessary to allow the draft addendum referred to in paragraph 1 to enter into force in a timely manner, and to implement it fully after its entry into force” and would request “the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution.” With regard to those paragraphs of the draft resolution, it is understood that the costs of translating the report in six languages, as well as the cost of carrying out the residual functions outlined in the draft addendum, would be funded by voluntary contributions received by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, on the assumption that the amount of voluntary contributions would be sufficient to cover such costs. Accordingly, the adoption of draft resolution A/75/L.107 would not entail any budgetary implications with regard to the programme budget. The statement I just read out was distributed through the plenary place on the e-deleGATE portal and will be made available in The Journal of the United Nations and under the e-statements link for today’s meeting.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/75/L.107, entitled “Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia-residual functions”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution and in addition to the delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of draft resolution A/75/L.107: the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Georgia and Ukraine.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/75/L.107?

I now give the floor to the representative of Cambodia, who wishes to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.

At the outset, I would like to thank the President for convening this meeting under agenda item 92 for the consideration of, and action on, resolution 75/257 B, entitled “Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia-residual functions”. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the Secretary-General for his report (A/75/809) pertaining to the completion of the mandate of the Extraordinary Chambers. My sincere thanks and appreciation also go to the representative of Sweden for introducing the resolution under this agenda item. As one of the co-sponsors, Cambodia fully supports and welcomes the adoption of the resolution. In accordance with its mandate, the Extraordinary Chambers prosecuted the most senior members of Democratic Kampuchea for the serious crimes they committed during the period from 1975 to 1979, including genocide and crimes against humanity, in grave violation of national laws and international law, as well as grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The perpetrators have been brought to justice. The successful completion of the mandate of the Extraordinary Chambers would send a clear message that the international community supports the institutions established to bring justice for, and protect the victims of, crimes against humanity and to hold those perpetrators accountable. That is a historic achievement not only for Cambodia but also for all humankind. As the Extraordinary Chambers winds down its work, it is recognized that there is a need to address residual functions after its closure. Through consultations, the Government of Cambodia and the United Nations concluded a framework in the format of the draft addendum to the 2003 Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia concerning the Prosecution under Cambodian Law of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea on the transitional arrangements and the completion of work of the Extraordinary Chambers (resolution 75/257 B, annex), including the drawdown of activities and residual functions requiring performance. The resolution before the Assembly today provides the mandate for the Secretary-General and the Royal Government of Cambodia to take the necessary measures to allow the draft addendum to enter into force in a timely manner. I would therefore like to thank all the States Members of the United Nations for supporting the resolution. After this adoption, the Royal Government of Cambodia will take the necessary steps in a timely manner to ratify the draft addendum. I would also like to reiterate our appeal to the international community for its continued support, including financial support, to the Extraordinary Chambers to fully complete its mandate and begin its residual functions promptly and smoothly. In conclusion, I would like to convey my Government’s sincere appreciation and deep gratitude to the Principal Donors Group for its contribution and good cooperation throughout the process. I would also like to express our thanks and gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under- Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, as well as Mr. Steven Mathias, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, and his team for all the support and cooperation rendered to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

We have heard the only speaker in explanation of position after the adoption. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 92?

I now give the floor to the representative of Côte d’Ivoire to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.103.

At the outset, allow me to warmly thank all the delegations that took part in the negotiations on draft resolution A/75/L.103, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie”, which is on the agenda of this meeting of the General Assembly. During the 13 informal consultations and the 20 or so bilateral meetings, delegations showed flexibility and a spirit of compromise, which enabled us to hope that this draft resolution could be adopted by consensus. We remain optimistic about a successful outcome despite the observations that could be made by certain delegations, whose constructive participation we once again welcome. Côte d’Ivoire therefore urges all delegations to work towards the adoption of the draft resolution by consensus.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/75/L.103, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie”. For the Assembly’s information, the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution and in addition to the delegations listed on the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of draft resolution A/75/L.103: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland. France, the Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Ireland, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, the Niger, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, the Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, the United States of America, Uruguay and Vanuatu.

I now give the floor to the representative of Armenia on a point of order.

On a point of order, I would like to draw the attention of the General Assembly to the fact that there has been a change in draft resolution A/75/L.103. There are some differences between the draft text that passed the silence procedure and the draft text that is now presented, and they are not just procedural. There are important differences. We would therefore like to ask the Secretariat to go back to the draft text that already passed the silence procedure.

I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

As the President announced for this meeting and was announced for this meeting in The Journal of the United Nations, the Assembly has before it document A/75/L.103. That is the proposal that the Assembly has before it at this meeting.

Does that address the query put forward by the representative of Armenia? I give the floor to the representative of Armenia.

I thank the Secretariat for its comment, but I would like to insist that these changes are important. I would also like to insist that the Secretariat present the draft text that initially passed the silence procedure and was agreed by the members of the Assembly.

I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Through you, Mr. President, I would like to advise the delegation of Armenia that the silence procedure did not go through the Secretariat. The only document that the Secretariat was asked to process for issuance is the draft document A/75/L.103, which the Assembly has before it.

I give the floor to the representative of Armenia.

I apologize for taking the floor again but, in order to show that the change that has been made is not procedural and that it is very important, I would like to stress that, in the twelfth preambular paragraph, the language agreed by the Assembly during the negotiations was the following: “Welcoming the adoption of the Yerevan Declaration at the seventeenth Summit of la Francophonie, held in Yerevan on 11 and 12 October 2018 on the theme ‘Living together in solidarity, with shared humanistic values and respect for diversity: a source of peace and prosperity for the French-speaking community’, and noting the decision to hold the eighteenth Summit in Djerba in November 2021”. In the draft text, we now have a different picture. The draft text that I read out, which passed the silence procedure, was also the agreed language of the previous similar resolution 73/290.

I will now suspend the meeting for 10 minutes. May I kindly request delegations to remain in their seats while we conduct consultations. I would ask the Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to consult with the representative of Armenia with a view to finding a solution to this particular issue.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

During the suspension of the meeting, the Secretariat was informed by the sponsor of draft resolution A/75/L.103 that the draft has now been orally corrected to change its thirteenth preambular paragraph. That paragraph begins “Recalling the adoption of the Yerevan Declaration”. The word “Recalling”, according to the information provided to the Secretariat by the sponsor of the draft resolution, has now been corrected to read “Welcoming”. So the thirteenth preambular paragraph of draft resolution A/75/L.103 has now been corrected to read “Welcoming the adoption of the Yerevan Declaration”. The Assembly now has before it draft resolution A/75/L.103, as orally corrected.

May I take it that the General Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/75/L.103, as orally corrected?

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I would like to thank the delegation of Côte d’Ivoire, the facilitator of resolution 75/307, for its dedication and tireless work on resolution 75/307. We recognize that cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations is essential to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. As a strong advocate of enhancing dialogue between civilizations and cultures, Azerbaijan supports and shares the main objectives of the International Organization of la Francophonie, which has become an important multilateral cooperation framework. The French language, education and culture are thriving in Azerbaijan. In 2014, a French lyceum was opened in Baku that now has more than 400 students and operates based on the French national curriculum. Another successful educational project is the French Azerbaijani University, a joint project led by the University of Strasbourg and the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University. The delegation of Azerbaijan actively participated in the process of negotiations on the draft resolution contained in document A/75/L.103. We took note of the fact that the proposal we put forward during informal consultations was given some consideration. We joined the consensus on the resolution 75/307 today. However, we dissociate ourselves from the thirteenth preambular paragraph and operative paragraph 48. The reasons for that, unfortunately, remain the same this year, and our delegation has already explained its position to that end previously.

My country’s delegation joined the consensus on resolution 75/307, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie”, prepared by the delegation of Côte d’Ivoire. However, we must express our dissatisfaction because the text contained a set of phrases and words that are not consensual and do not take our concerns into consideration. The most important of those is contained in operative paragraph 9, which is aimed, in form, at focusing on the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all aspects and at all levels of conflict. But what do we mean by saying in all aspects of conflict|? The protection of women is the same as that of any other individual and is linked to protecting society as a whole in all cases, not only in conflict situations. We also note that it would have been better for the text to stay away from any reference to meetings, forums or initiatives that do not enjoy international participation and attempts to reflect their outcome in a consensual text to be considered under an agenda item of the General Assembly.

The Russian Federation supported resolution 75/307, prepared by Côte d’Ivoire, on “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie”. However, we wish to express our disappointment at the fact that this document contains a range of formulations that do not reflect the concerns of our delegation. These include the issue of the proposed drafting of operative paragraph 9, on issues related to women. We regret that the author, instead of reflecting language from 2019 in that paragraph, chose instead to use language that is unclear and had not been previously agreed upon on the full, equal and meaningful participation and protection of women in all aspects and at all levels of conflict prevention. Because of our love and respect for women, we are of the view that decisions on the participation of women in these issues should not be taken automatically but, rather, should be based on the criteria of actual contributions that one candidate or another could make to peacebuilding efforts. Regarding the protection of women and of the civilian population as a whole, it must be ensured not only in the context of conflict prevention but also during armed conflict and in post-conflict reconstruction. It is also unclear what the authors meant by “all aspects and at all levels of conflict prevention”. Finally, our comments on operative paragraph 41 were not included. That paragraph includes a reference to the controversial Franco-Mexican initiative entitled Generation Equality Forum. The Russian Federation has repeatedly expressed its concerns about that Forum’s inclusion, as its approaches are not consensus-based and its organizers are striving to force their vision of women’s issues onto the United Nations. As members are aware, the States Members of the United Nations did not mandate the holding of the Forum but simply noted the initiative, which was carried out under the leadership of the two aforementioned States. That is our understanding of the issue.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the voting. We will now hear a statement following the adoption of resolution 75/307.

My delegation welcomes today’s adoption of resolution 75/307, on “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie”. Last year was a special year for the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF), as it celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Throughout the years, the organization has expanded considerably, from 21 to 88 full member States, associate members and observers, located on five continents. The organization thus represents more than a third of the States members of the General Assembly and promotes multilateral cooperation in common areas of interest. As an observer country to the OIF, Ukraine fully supports the activities of the organization aimed at addressing global challenges, ensuring sustainable development and defending democracy and human rights throughout the world. We fully support the activities aimed at promoting the French language and at guaranteeing peace, democracy and solidarity, as these are at the heart of the concerns of millions of people throughout the world. I wish here to commend the efforts made by the OIF to address the coronavirus disease pandemic, including through the creation of the La Francophonie avec Elles solidarity fund, which provides technical and financial support to women and girls in vulnerable situations, so that they have full and equal access to economic development, education and health care. We encourage the OIF to continue to protect human rights, guarantee gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls and youth, and to ensure their more active participation in society, as they are our future. We are convinced that the actions taken by the OIF through diplomatic channels and direct contacts, as we are doing today, contribute significantly to the promotion of the principles of democracy, building the rule of law and to peace and security. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations is crucial in promoting the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The OIF’s activities have become an important framework for multilateral cooperation. Ukraine fully supports the activities of the organization in combating disinformation, in particular efforts undertaken to counter the spread of stigmatization and false and misleading information. According to the Charter of the OIF, the organization focuses particularly on facilitating the prevention, management and settlement of conflicts and focuses on the promotion of the rule of law and human rights. Those goals are areas of interest for the Security Council. Since the founding of the United Nations, the fundamental norms of its Charter have been violated repeatedly. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the OIF for having supported the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Ukraine, as well as its policy condemning the attempted annexation by Russia of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and its non-recognition of the legitimacy of that annexation. That is fully in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Charter of the OIF. Please be aware that we in Ukraine greatly appreciate this. The success of the OIF’s action for peace and democracy depends first and foremost on our solidarity. On behalf of my country, I wish to reiterate Ukraine’s firm commitment to promoting those values and the fact that the organization can always count on us. In conclusion, I wish to underline that the role of regional organizations depends greatly on cooperation with the United Nations. That will make the world more peaceful and stable, more resistant to conflicts and pandemics and more open and united.

I now give the floor to the observer of the International Organization of la Francophonie.

We learned with horror of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, and, on behalf of the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF), we wish to express our most sincere condolences to his family and to the people of Haiti. We are more than ever at the side of Haiti, a founding member of the OIF. I wish, on behalf of the OIF, to thank the members of the General Assembly for the adoption by consensus of resolution 75/307, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie”. I wish to convey the gratitude of Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, and all the members of the organization, that is, 88 member States and Governments spread over five continents, of which 81 States are Members of the United Nations. I wish to express the gratitude of the OIF to the President of the General Assembly at its seventy- fifth session, His Excellency Volkan Bozkir, and to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, for the importance that they attach to the partnership with our organization. The resolution, elaborated and discussed by States Members of the United Nations, was facilitated by the delegation of Côte d’Ivoire, which I warmly thank for its tireless efforts. I also wish to commend the mobilization and solidarity of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors, which contributes significantly to the promotion of the values and ideals of the Francophonie within the United Nations. We welcome the fruitful cooperation between the United Nations and the OIF and the joint actions that we carry out daily on the ground. Resolution 75/307, which the Assembly has just adopted, reflects the values that we share and our common understanding of the fact that we have major challenges to address as well as opportunities that we must seize so as to build a world that is more just and an economy that is more sustainable in response to the coronavirus disease pandemic. Given those challenges, the International Organization of la Francophonie is working to become a force for proposals and for action. We are contributing fully to the defence of multilingualism and to ensuring increased priority for cultural and linguistic diversity within our multilateral system, to achieving peak performance of peacekeeping operations and to defending fundamental rights and human dignity as well as realizing gender equality and the full potential of youth. The resolution is thus a reflection of the efforts undertaken by the OIF and the United Nations to better coordinate our actions and to achieve more concrete results for the peoples that we serve. I thus reiterate the full availability of the OIF to work in an ongoing manner to bolster that cooperation in future.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (j) of agenda item 130?