S/2020/791 Security Council

I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of the briefings provided by Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; and Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism; as well as the statements delivered by Her Excellency Mrs. Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia; Her Excellency Ms. Selma Ennaifer, Secretary of State to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tunisia; and His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam; and by the representatives of Belgium, China, Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, the Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa and the United States, in connection with the video-teleconference on “Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts: Addressing the issue of linkages between terrorism and organized crime” convened on Thursday, 6 August 2020. In accordance with the understanding reached among Council members for this video-teleconference, the following delegations and entities submitted written statements, copies of which are also enclosed: Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates. In accordance with the procedure set out in the letter dated 7 May 2020 from the President of the Security Council addressed to the Permanent Representatives of the members of the Security Council (S/2020/372), which was agreed in the light of the extraordinary circumstances caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic, the enclosed briefing and statements will be issued as an official document of the Security Council.

I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to address the Council. I am grateful to the presidency of Indonesia and Minister Marsudi for holding this meeting on this issue of growing concern to the international community. As the Security Council has recognized, linkages between terrorism and organized crime are complex and multifaceted, posing a serious threat to international peace and security. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis poses a host of new challenges to national authorities. Organized criminal groups and terrorists may seek to capitalize on and exploit new vulnerabilities, and transit patterns are shifting in view of travel restrictions and lockdown measures, adding further challenges for border security. Comprehensive and cooperative responses are needed now more than ever. In view of the broad criminal justice mandates of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) that address terrorism and organized crime, building the capacities to deal with those threats represents a key priority of our support to Member States, and I welcome the chance to discuss these issues with members today. It is an honour to join my colleague, Under-Secretary-General Voronkov, to present the findings of the report of the Secretary-General on action taken by Member States and United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to address linkages between terrorism and organized crime (S/2020/754). The report was prepared by UNODC and the Office of Counter-Terrorism in response to the request contained in resolution 2482 (2019). It reflects the contributions of 50 Member States and 15 United Nations Global Compact entities and benefited from valuable United Nations system inputs, including from the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. The report provides a valuable overview of measures taken by Member States and United Nations entities to address linkages between terrorism and organized crime, as well as recommendations for action going forward. In their contributions, Member States highlighted a range of linkages between terrorism and organized crime, often in connection with the financing of terrorism. Challenges vary by region and some States could not confirm the existence of links, citing limited terrorist activity in their countries or constraints with investigative capacities. Linkages between terrorism and organized crime may be opportunistic, based upon shared territory or other mutual interest. Alliances may also draw on personal connections, possibly developed in prisons in cases where terrorists have prior criminal backgrounds. Many States reported that terrorists benefit from organized crime, including trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling, trafficking in drugs, firearms, cultural property and other goods, kidnapping for ransom, robbery and other illicit acts. In some cases, returning foreign terrorist fighters have taken part in organized criminal activities, while in other States organized criminal groups have been involved in transporting terrorists across borders. However, some Member States also observed that criminal organizations are increasingly disinterested in cooperating with terrorist groups, potentially to avoid additional scrutiny from national authorities. Actions reported by Member States to counter these threats show that many Governments have taken steps to adopt the legislative, policy and operational responses identified in resolution 2482 (2019). In their contributions, Member States emphasized the following measures: ratifying relevant legal instruments, including the global counter-terrorism instruments, the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the international drug control conventions; fighting money- laundering, terrorist financing and corruption by strengthening financial intelligence units (FIUs), complying with the relevant United Nations instruments and resolutions and Financial Action Task Force recommendations, as well as building public- private partnerships; strengthening border security and international coordination, for example by collecting and analysing advance passenger information/passenger name record data; implementing comprehensive responses to drug demand and illicit drug trafficking; improving prison management to prevent radicalization to violence and recidivism; and developing strategies that incorporate whole-of-society approaches to prevent and counter violent extremism. States highlighted inter-agency and international cooperation as key enablers for success across all these areas. Building links between FIUs and counter-terrorism investigators was cited as a particular priority. The importance of joint task forces, operations centres and other coordination mechanisms among intelligence, border and criminal justice practitioners to detect and counter crimes in an integrated manner was also highlighted. Member States further emphasized the need for cross-border cooperation to address the transnational nature of crime and terrorism threats, including through regional platforms, bilateral information-sharing agreements, the exchange of law enforcement liaison officers, INTERPOL and regional organization databases and tools, and mutual legal assistance treaties. The report also identified several areas for intensified action to fully respond to resolution 2482 (2019) and to further develop and disseminate the good practices reported by Member States. National legal frameworks could be updated to include precise definitions of terrorism and organized crime offences and the criminalization of facilitation acts. More resources could be directed towards reinforcing national intelligence and criminal justice coordination and capacity through the establishment of specialized units and inter-agency mechanisms, as well as through a greater focus on intelligence-led policing and evidence collection and preservation, including for electronic evidence. Targeting entire organized criminal or terrorist networks when building criminal cases should also be a priority. Further necessary steps include strengthening land, air and sea border security through data collection tools, control systems and enhanced coordination and continuing efforts to deepen regional and international cooperation. The report also highlights the importance of measures targeting specific links between terrorism and organized crime, for example between drug trafficking and terrorism financing, or to stop the illicit exploitation and trafficking of natural resources, small arms, wildlife and other goods. More support is needed to comprehensively address all forms of trafficking in persons, including when such crimes are committed by terrorist groups. Member States could also be encouraged and provided with support to bring all measures in line with relevant international legal frameworks, including international humanitarian, human rights and refugee laws. These observations correspond with the strategies and good practices that UNODC has noted in its years of working at the field level to counter organized crime and terrorism and that the Office promotes in capacity-building assistance to Member States. Finally, the report highlights the need for more research to better understand the nature of linkages between terrorism and organized crime and the vulnerabilities of different sectors to exploitation. My colleague Under-Secretary-General Voronkov will brief the Council on the efforts of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to support Member States in addressing these complex and evolving challenges. As part of the Global Compact, UNODC remains committed to leveraging its experience and expertise on organized crime and terrorism. UNODC is uniquely placed to support Member States in addressing these linkages, as our Office serves as the custodian of the United Nations conventions on transnational organized crime and corruption, and supports the implementation of the international drug control conventions, the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice and the international instruments against terrorism. In collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Global Compact and other partners, UNODC looks forward to putting this knowledge to use in working with States to deliver technical assistance and engage with communities, parliamentarians, civil society, the private sector, youth, women and all stakeholders in promoting comprehensive, integrated and victim-centred responses to linkages between organized crime and terrorism. I thank you once again, Sir, for this opportunity to brief the Council. UNODC stands ready to support you.

I would like to thank the Security Council, under the presidency of the Republic of Indonesia, for convening this open debate on addressing the linkages between terrorism and organized crime. I am especially pleased to be at this meeting with Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/754) sets out how the ability of terrorists to draw on organized crime, whether domestic or transnational, online or offline, can exacerbate the threat posed by terrorism to international peace and security. Last month, we discussed this complex threat during the first Virtual Counter- Terrorism Week at the United Nations on the strategic and practical challenges of countering terrorism in a global pandemic environment. Over 1,000 people participated in 10 interactive meetings during the week, including representatives of 134 Member States, 88 civil society and private sector organizations, 47 international and regional organizations and 40 United Nations entities. I am delighted that we were also joined in some of the week’s most important sessions by Ms. Waly and Ambassador Djani, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations and Chair of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. The Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week helped maintain the momentum we built over the past year through eight regional high-level conferences on critical counter- terrorism issues covering all four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. It improved our collective understanding of the impact and potential consequences of the coronavirus disease crisis on the terrorism landscape, as well as Member States’ counter-terrorism needs, priorities and expectations, and other key stakeholders’ views, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Our discussions showed there is a shared understanding and concern among Member States that terrorists are generating funds from illicit trafficking in drugs, goods, natural resources and antiquities, as well as kidnapping for ransom, extorting and committing other heinous crimes. This concern is clearly reflected in the report of the Secretary-General. Speakers highlighted a significant rise in cybercrime in recent months, with a 350 per cent increase in phishing websites in the first quarter of this year. Many of these digital attacks have been against hospital and health-care systems, hindering their vital work in responding to the pandemic. Speakers also noted the importance of ensuring that efforts to address the nexus between terrorism and organized crime are proportionate to the threat and fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. These views will feed into our postponed second, in-person counter-terrorism week next year, which will coincide with the seventh biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We are yet to fully understand the impact and consequences of the pandemic on global peace and security, and more specifically on organized crime and terrorism. We know that terrorists are exploiting the significant disruption and economic hardships caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to spread fear, hate and division and radicalise and recruit new followers. The increase in Internet usage and cybercrime during the pandemic further compounds the problem. We heard from Executive Director Waly about how Member States are tackling the nexus between terrorism and organized crime. The report of the Secretary-General also includes a number of examples of how the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities are providing capacity-building support and technical assistance to Member States to address the linkages between terrorism and organized crime, as requested by resolution 2482 (2019). The General Assembly mandated the Office of Counter-Terrorism to lead the United Nations system counter-terrorism efforts by enhancing coherence and coordination, including through the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. We also continue to work closely with the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council that are mandated to enhance the capacity of Member States to prevent and respond to terrorist acts. The Global Compact leverages the expertise of each entity in supporting legislative, policy and operational measures to fight organized crime and terrorism financing. For example, UNODC chairs the Global Compact working group on criminal justice, legal responses and countering the financing of terrorism. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) chairs the Global Compact working group on border management and law enforcement relating to counter-terrorism. And INTERPOL chairs the Global Compact working group on emerging threats and critical infrastructure protection, using its analytical capacity and access to international law enforcement databases. My Office works closely with UNODC, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), INTERPOL and other entities to assist Member States in anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism; interdiction and border security; law enforcement; prison management; combating illicit trafficking and other efforts to address threats to international peace and security. Together with UNODC, the Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT), CTED and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, my Office is also developing a project to enhance criminal justice responses to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons and disrupt their illicit supply to terrorist groups. The United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel Programme — led by my Office in partnership with CTED, UNODC, OICT, the International Civil Aviation Organization and INTERPOL — supports Member States in building detection capabilities through the provision of legislative assistance, the establishment of Passenger Information Units and the installation of the required hardware and software systems. To date, 36 Member States are formally participating in this programme, contributing to their efforts to map and identify links between suspected terrorists and serious criminals. The management of violent extremist prisoners is also crucial in addressing the nexus between terrorism and organized crime. UNOCT, UNODC and CTED are supporting Member States in building the capacity of their prison services to prevent radicalization to violence among prisoners. UNOCT, UNODC, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and INTERPOL also work together to support Member States’ efforts to prevent organized crime and terrorist groups from gaining access to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials and dual-use equipment, including through the darknet. The adoption of resolution 2482 (2019) underscored the importance of Member States working together to strengthen the global response to the linkages between international terrorism and organized crime. More work needs to be undertaken to study how these linkages evolve, without automatically conflating both threats. Member States are rightly focused on tackling the health emergency and human crisis caused by COVID-19, but we must not forget or be complacent about the continuing threat of terrorism. In many parts of the world, terrorists are exploiting local grievances and poor governance to regroup and assert their control. The pandemic has the potential to act as a catalyst in the spread of terrorism and violent extremism by exacerbating inequalities, undermining social cohesion and fuelling local conflicts. We must continue our fight against terrorist groups and criminal networks to deny them the opportunity to exploit the COVID-19 crisis. Collective action and international cooperation are needed now more than ever.

Our fight against the pandemic should not hinder our fight against terrorism. We should not let the pandemic create conditions conducive for terrorism to regain power, regroup and grow. Resolution 2532 (2020), on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), adopted last month, accurately anticipated the calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities during the pandemic, except for the fight against terrorism. During the pandemic, the impact of terrorism has become more severe, as we witness terror and cyberattacks on vital public infrastructure, including hospitals. The situation will become even worse when terrorism intertwines with organized crime. That link may take many forms and may vary across regions. We have seen terrorist groups directly involved in organized crime. Some use kidnapping as a means to fund their terrorist operations. Others are resorting to smuggling drugs and weapons. There are also instances where terrorists collaborate with members of organized crime by facilitating border-crossings, arms and human trafficking, and money transfers and laundering. One thing is certain — a stronger terror-crime nexus, in any form, can lead to devastating global impacts and make it more challenging for us to address COVID-19 and existing security challenges. We must therefore step up efforts to address the terror-crime nexus, as mandated by resolution 2482 (2019). With that in mind, allow me to share three key points. First, we must adjust our policies to address the nexus of terrorism and organized crime, as these are generally considered separately. We cannot continue doing so; there must be greater synergy between the relevant authorities. During the pandemic, with limited resources, greater synergy becomes even more important. Budget constraints should not diminish our efforts to tackle the terror-crime nexus. Necessary adjustments are also required to thwart the terror-crime connection in prisons, which often become breeding grounds where terrorists interact with other criminals. To that end, it is Indonesia’s policy to separate convicted terrorists from other prisoners. Secondly, we must strengthen our legal and institutional infrastructure. Our domestic legislation must have the capacity to address the terror-crime nexus. In that connection, it is pertinent to ensure that international legal instruments to combat terrorism and organized crime are translated into domestic legislation. As mandated by the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Indonesia’s stand-alone terrorist financing legislation, enables us to punish financiers separately from terrorists, thus broadening the scope of our enforcement to address the nexus. Equally important is enhancing capacity-building for law enforcement to increase its ability to address this new phenomenon. The Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation has been actively promoting the capacity of law- enforcement officials from more than 100 countries in the field of terrorism and transnational organized crime. We will ensure that the terror-crime nexus is addressed as part of the programme. Finally, regional mechanisms must also be able to respond to this nexus. The Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crimes of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is an avenue where counter-terrorism and organized crime are deliberated under one platform. This joint platform can serve as an example for other regional mechanisms to address the nexus. As the terror-crime link varies in each region, synergizing efforts among regional organizations is key. That entails efforts to intensify the timely exchange of information and best practices and enhancing our understanding of the linkages between the two, including regional differences. Greater synergy and unity among United Nations bodies and agencies is equally important. As the terror-crime nexus is a fairly new phenomenon, Indonesia underscores the urgent need for the United Nations to undertake more detailed reports and analysis on the matter. In conclusion, our ability to adapt and strengthen synergies will determine how effectively we can respond to this emerging threat.

Let me first take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs. Retno Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, for convening this high-level open debate on such an important topic as addressing the linkages between terrorism and organized crime. We wish Indonesia a successful and productive second presidency of the Council. Allow me also to extend my appreciation to the delegation of Germany for its excellent leadership of the Security Council for the month of July. I thank Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov and Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for their informative briefings. Resolution 2482 (2019), adopted a year ago, has been instrumental in highlighting the linkages between organized crime and terrorism. The international community expressed its growing concern regarding the use of criminal activities to finance terrorist acts, and identified the commonalities between the illicit and violent behaviours of terrorists and those of organized criminal groups as a means to conduct and support their activities. The nexus between terrorist and criminal groups is extremely opportunistic and has become increasingly clear. They share several similarities. First, terrorism and organized crime are transnational phenomena that engage in cross-border criminal activities. Secondly, terrorism can benefit from the provision of information and services by criminal groups, including counterfeit travel documents and firearms. Thirdly, terrorists can mimic criminal tactics and activities that constitute an attractive source of revenue for terrorism financing, such as drug and human trafficking and illicit trade in arms, natural resources and artefacts. Both groups share the same routes for trafficking, smuggling and relocation of foreign terrorist fighters. Finally and most importantly, both terrorist and criminal groups exploit local grievances about public services and security. Both groups thrive in negative local, national or regional circumstances, such as political instability, armed conflict, corruption, poor economic conditions and social unrest, as well as in areas where Government authority is limited and borders are porous. They share the same hostility towards State authorities and make use of barbaric force against populations. Both terrorism and organized crime can have global ramifications for international peace and security, as they threaten human rights and the rule of law and undermine the foundations of peaceful and prosperous societies. It is therefore important that States adopt and implement comprehensive and integrated measures that enable them to efficiently prevent and combat terrorism and organized crime in a manner that allows the detection and assessment of potential links between them as well as the provision of unified and coordinated responses, in full respect of domestic law and international obligations and commitments. This can be done mainly through the enhancement of interagency coordination and the development of rapid information-sharing tools between national authorities in charge of monitoring, investigating and prosecuting organized crime and terrorism in order to detect potential links. This can be a complicated and challenging task, particularly with the increasing abuse by terrorists and criminal groups of such new technologies as digital wallets and cryptocurrencies. For this reason, we need to ensure robust capacity-building programmes and sharing of experiences and best practices for police forces, prosecutors and judicial authorities, and financial- and economic-intelligence authorities, in order to enable them to analyse financial flows used to prepare or carry out terrorist attacks. The cooperation with other relevant actors can also contribute to an efficient monitoring and risk assessment of potential links between terrorism and other criminal activities. Effective communication with the private sector and not-for-profit organizations can lead to more accurate mechanisms for prevention and management of terrorism financing. Furthermore, considering the frequently transnational nature of terrorism and organized crime networks, regional and international cooperation is essential through the establishment of bilateral and multilateral tools and frameworks for information-sharing, border security and mutual legal assistance. Without proper mitigation measures, prisons can also exacerbate the nexus between terrorism and organized crime. They provide opportunities for criminal and terrorist groups to interact, cooperate and facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills and contacts. It is therefore essential to prevent the exploitation of prisons as incubators for the development of links between terrorism and organized crime through, inter alia, the separation of prisoners and the implementation of education, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes as well as mental-health programmes in prisons. It is also important to emphasize in this context that armed conflicts attract terrorists and mercenaries of all stripes. It is therefore essential that any search for peaceful solutions to armed conflicts should include States and international and regional organizations contributing to efforts to counter any possible voluntary or sponsored use of terrorists or mercenaries and to control the flow of weapons that could reach them. Resolution 2532 (2020), introduced by Tunisia and France, specifies in this context that the humanitarian truce in armed conflicts referred to in the resolution’s paragraph 2 does not apply to terrorist groups designated as such. As mentioned earlier, terrorism and organized crime find commonalities in their underlying drivers. It is therefore important to increase prevention efforts, address root causes and empower local communities to build resilience against transnational organized crime and terrorism. We need to bolster sustainable development, ensure the peaceful settlement of conflict, tackle inequalities, protect human rights, ensure women and youth participation, crack down on corruption and promote good governance. Finally, it is important to highlight that, while efforts aimed at detection of and response to the nexus between terrorism and transnational organized crime are important, Member States need to ensure that all measures taken to counter terrorism comply with their obligations under international law. Addressing the nexus between the two phenomena should not lead to a systematic conflation of their distinct legal regimes. Terrorism is a serious offence that usually requires more restrictive legal measures than other criminal law provisions. It is essential that counter-terrorism legislation is not broadly and systematically applied to other criminal acts to ensure the legality and the legitimacy of counter-terrorism efforts. A comprehensive approach to prevent and combat terrorism and organized crime has been placed at the centre of Tunisia’s national efforts since we adopted a comprehensive law and national strategy to counter terrorism and money laundering in 2015. The Tunisian National Counter-Terrorism Commission was recently able to roll out its first set of domestic financial sanctions on individuals and entities based on their ties to terrorist organizations. A national guide on frozen assets is currently being developed in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Office of Counter-Terrorism in order to ensure the coordinated dissemination of information to all relevant public and private entities and to guarantee human rights and access to remedies. Several other pieces of legislation — on access to information, combating illicit enrichment and the protection of whistleblowers — have also been enacted. In conclusion, we reiterate our commitment to sparing no efforts in combating terrorism and organized crime and to renewing our will to do so, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and while respecting our obligations under international law, including human rights law, humanitarian law and refugee law. We stand ready to cooperate with our partners and all relevant stakeholders to achieve our common objective of a world free of terrorism and organized crime.

I am very happy to hear Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi speak today and to join today’s important debate. I sincerely thank the President of the Council for convening this open debate and thank the briefers for their informative briefings. The long-known nexus between terrorism and organized crime is turning into a greater and more real threat, presenting each and every society — all of us — with deadly consequences. I believe that we are all in a very dangerous situation at present. As we speak, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has somewhat diverted our attention and resources away from our common fight against terrorism and organized crime and their nexuses. As we speak, COVID-19 and its dire consequences are hampering our efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals. The pandemic is not only deepening development gaps and exacerbating poverty, but it is also creating fertile breeding grounds for organized crime and terrorism, permitting them to flourish in many parts of the world. As we speak, terrorists and organized-crime actors are wasting no time to hone their deadly skills and schemes to attack innocent people and the general public. Indeed, these actors have become more organized, digitalized and globalized. I truly appreciate the leadership of Foreign Minister Marsudi and particularly her convening today’s important debate. Unless and until concerted efforts and effective measures are taken against the threats of terrorism and organized crimes, the efforts and accomplishments that we have made towards maintaining peace and security and towards spreading prosperity may be lost. Against this backdrop, we believe that the Security Council should and could play a more active role in these endeavours. Of course, the United Nations addressed this issue early on and, over the years, has adopted several resolutions and set aside resources for tackling it. However, it is time we address this issue not only from the technical perspective but also from the strategic perspective, both in the short term and for the long term. In this regard, I wish to share four points from Viet Nam’s perspective. First, it is important to stress that the States Members of the United Nations, with their exclusive legal right to the use of force within their jurisdictions, have the primary responsibility for countering terrorism and organized crime. The measures adopted against terrorism and organized crime, as well as their linkages, should be taken in conformity with the United Nations Charter, international law and respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the countries concerned. In addition, they should abide by and help to further the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. Secondly, it is time we develop, mainstream and substantially invest in a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of terrorism and organized crimes in Member States, including, but not limited to, extreme poverty, inequality, unemployment and social marginalization. We are also facing the risk of human crisis as a consequence of COVID-19. Thirdly, we need to enhance regional and international cooperation in combating terrorism and organized crimes, particularly in preventing financing for terrorism and the recruitment flows. To that end, we support closer coordination among United Nations relevant agencies, namely, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). And I am very happy that UNODC Executive Director Ghada Fathi Waly and Under- Secretary-General Voronkov are here with us today. Fourthly, the international community can further support countries, especially developing ones, in exchanging information and sharing experience and best practices in building up capacity. Areas needing special attention include border control and management, legislation and judiciary assistance. Viet Nam has in recent years done its utmost to improve the legal, economic and financial framework to better reduce the risk of terrorist financing, combat organized crime and fulfil our obligations under Security Council resolutions and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. At the regional level, Viet Nam and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) view the fight against terrorism and organized crime as an issue of utmost importance. As ASEAN continue its community building process with greater levels of exchanges of people, goods and services, consequently the risks of organized crime and terrorism also increase. The Organization has repeatedly reaffirmed its political commitment and coordinated actions to adopt various frameworks to better share information and best practices, with a view to enhancing regional and international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime and their potential linkage. Among those, the 2019-2021 Work Plan of the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime detailed 10 crimes that ASEAN should focus on, namely, terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, illicit trafficking of wildlife and timber, trafficking in persons, piracy, arms smuggling, international economic crime, cybercrime, people smuggling and money laundering. In conclusion, let me quote Secretary-General Guterres, in his remarks just last month at the launch of the Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week: “Like the virus, terrorism does not respect national borders. It affects all nations and can only be defeated collectively. So we must harness the power of multilateralism to find practical solutions.” In response to this call, Viet Nam reiterates its commitment to working closely with Member States and all relevant stakeholders in combating the threats of terrorism and transnational organized crime to regional and international peace, security and prosperity.

I would like to thank you, Madam President, for the organization of this open debate, as well as the briefers with us today. In July last year, on the impulse of the Republic of Peru, the Security Council adopted resolution 2482 (2019) on the link between terrorism and organized crime by consensus, thereby acknowledging the importance of both phenomena, as well as their interconnection. Today, we must ensure that this resolution is fully and correctly put into practice. The concluding observations formulated by the Secretary-General in the report (S/2020/754) requested by this resolution constitute valuable guidance in our way forward. The links between terrorism and national and transnational organized crime are manifold and evolving and vary between regions. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic did not break those links, which instead adapted to this new framework, and can be, for example, increasingly witnessed online. Although many Member States have already adopted responses to address those linkages, both terrorism and organized crime continue to dangerously undermine the rule of law and human rights, and thereby exacerbate the threat posed by terrorism to international peace and security. Some measures adopted by Member States in their fight against terrorism and organized crime may have negatively impacted the respect of fundamental rights and the work of humanitarian actors on the ground. My country wants to recall the fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and to underline that respect for international humanitarian law, human rights and the rule of law must remain a top priority, everywhere and under all circumstances. It is even more the case in the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic. An efficient fight against terrorism and organized crime requires intense cooperation and coordination at the international, regional and national levels, as well as a global, whole-of-society approach. Strengthening the capacity of States is of key importance, and we wish to underline the central role played in this endeavour by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, as well as all other United Nations entities involved. Our efforts to fight terrorism and organized crime should increasingly benefit from the expertise of civil society organizations, the innovations of the private sector and the involvement of local communities, including the youth, women and girls. Belgium, like many other countries speaking today, has been harshly hit by terrorist attacks and violent extremism. Together with our European and United Nations partners, we will remain committed to efficiently addressing the linkages between terrorism and organized crime, as well as to cutting off the sources of terrorism financing in all its forms.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate Indonesia on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August and welcome Her Excellency Mrs. Retno Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, to preside over the meeting. China supports the initiative of convening this open debate and thanks Ms. Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Under-Secretary-General Voronkov for their briefings. We thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2020/754). At present, terrorism and organized crime have been mutually colluding and infiltrating and posing serious threats to international peace and security and should be addressed seriously. The international community must strengthen cooperation at all levels, exchange intelligence and information, share best practices and take concerted actions, so as to effectively combat terrorism and organized crime and jointly maintain international peace and security. China wishes to stress the following points. First, counter-terrorism must be carried out by upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations while respecting the central coordinating role of the United Nations and adhering to unified standards. Member States have the primary responsibility in countering terrorist acts. The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the countries concerned should be fully respected. Countries must strictly implement the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy and the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly in that regard, including Security Council resolution 2482 (2019), while abiding by and implementing international laws on combating organized crime. Tangible and comprehensive measures must be taken to counter the linkages between terrorist organizations and organized crime in areas, such as trafficking in arms, persons, drugs, artefacts and cultural property; the illicit trade in natural resources and wildlife; and the abuse of legitimate commercial enterprise and non-profit organizations, among others. Secondly, it is imperative to enhance actions and synergy at international and regional levels to more effectively fight terrorism and organized crime. As international terrorism, transnational organized crime and other global security issues grow increasingly connected and diversified, no country can remain immune to the scourge of these common threats. It is of the utmost importance to further promote multilateralism and international cooperation to tackle the new and evolving challenges of terrorism, both during and after the coronavirus disease pandemic. The international community must actively support regional and subregional organizations in playing their important roles and conducting effective regional cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism and the fight against organized crime. China supports closer coordination between United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the UNODC and INTERPOL, in accordance with their respective mandates, and regional organizations in order to utilize their respective strengths and expertise. Thirdly, it is important to support the domestic efforts of Member States and build their capacities to address the most prominent challenges. As part of capacity- building efforts in areas such as border control, customs, drug enforcement and judiciary matters, the international community must provide tangible assistance to Member States — especially African and developing countries — that considers the security situation and distinctive culture and history of each country. We should effectively combat the financing of terrorism, stop internet-based terrorism and put an end to the illegal activities of terrorist and organized crime groups in order to sever the linkages between terrorism and organized crime. We must follow international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, and support the efforts of Member States to deradicalize, enhance prevention and keep organized crime groups from participating in extremist and terrorist activities. In the face of the terrorist threat, we must stand united in solidarity. Terrorism is our common enemy, and there is no difference between so-called good and bad terrorists. Double standards and politicization must be avoided. China will always side with multilateralism and international justice. China has been rigorously implementing all United Nations counter-terrorism resolutions and actively engaging in counter-terrorism cooperation at the global and regional levels. As a State party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, China has been actively fulfilling its obligations under the Convention with an all-fronts approach across the legislation, law enforcement and judiciary sectors. We will continue to conduct bilateral and multilateral exchanges and cooperate with all Member States, particularly developing and African countries, to build capacities on issues related to counter-terrorism and combating organized crime. We will also continue to support — politically and financially — United Nations counter- terrorism efforts in a joint endeavour to maintain international peace and stability.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Voronkov and Executive Director Waly for their detailed and complete briefings. We welcome the excellent work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and contributing Member States in the preparation of the first report of the Secretary- General on actions taken by Members States and United Nations entities to address the issue of linkages between terrorism and organized crime (S/2020/754). This is a very illustrative document that will enable us to have an updated view of the progress and challenges in implementing resolution 2482 (2019). The Dominican Republic applauds the good practices that Member States have been developing in strengthening their national mechanisms for the prevention, control, prosecution and investigation of the crimes and offences linked to terrorism. In addition, it is important to highlight the efforts of the UNOCT, UNODC and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate in creating support mechanisms to help Member States develop strategies to counter linkages between terrorism and organized crime. These bilateral cooperative relationships must also continue and be enhanced with relevant regional and subregional organizations. For the Dominican Republic, addressing the issue of linkages between terrorism and organized crime is necessary to continue to be a country with a low risk of terrorism. Our legislative branch has established strong regulations for criminal offences originating from organized crime, and has regulated the issues related to financing terrorist acts or activities. Dominican national institutions have developed important mechanisms to prevent, control, prosecute and sanction any financial activity originated from identified organized crime. Those institutions collaborate continuously with UNODC and other regional and subregional organizations, such as INTERPOL, the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America, which we will continue to chair until December, and the World Customs Organization, where we hold the vice-presidency for the Americas. The Dominican Republic has already ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Budapest Convention. These important counter-terrorism legal instruments are key to supporting and complementing national and other international legal framework to combat terrorism. The Dominican Republic would like to stress the importance of a secure cyberspace. Cybersecurity is a pressing matter. Increasingly, our daily lives develop in cyberspace, even more so in recent months due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which took our social order out of the physical plane and moved it, in good part, to a virtual one. The presence of terrorist activities like radicalization and financing in cyberspace has been amply demonstrated. We must therefore maintain our active collaboration with UNODC and other relevant United Nations offices to strengthen and develop national and international mechanisms and strategies that can keep up with the rapid pace of organized crime and terrorist- related activities in cyberspace. The Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to the prevention and eradication of terrorism in all its forms. In that regard, we recognize the importance of securing all borders, addressing all forms of trafficking in persons and combating illicit drug trafficking and corruption as key to complying with resolution 2482 (2019). In that sense, the Dominican Republic had the intention of hosting a conference on border control in the fight against terrorism and the arrest of the flow of foreign terrorist fighters in the travel cycle, in March of this year. Unfortunately, that was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the fight against terrorism must not stop until we achieve our common goal: its eradication. Together, as the international community and, particularly, as members of the Security Council, we must commit to strengthening, updating and implementing national and international regulations, programmes and mechanisms designed to attack this terrible evil that threatens and violates global peace and security.

We welcome Her Excellency Mrs. Marsudi for presiding over this important debate. I note that this week, six years ago, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant unleashed massacres against Yazidi men and women in Iraq. Those atrocities are a vivid example of how terrorism not only poses a threat to international peace and security, but also significantly affects the lives of millions of ordinary people across the globe. Very often, the spread of extremist violence relies on weapons and finances delivered through organized crime networks, as noted in today’s substantive briefings of Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov and Executive Director Ghada Fathi Waly. Countering terrorism requires a better understanding of the intricate link between transnational crime and terrorist activities. In that regard, Estonia recognizes the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate in providing the membership of the United Nations and the Security Council with updates on the development of the complex relationship between terrorism and organized crime. Those contributions enable us to coordinate comprehensive national, regional and international efforts to stop the fuelling of violent extremism. For its part, Estonia has benefited from insights gleaned at the United Nations in developing a counter-terrorism plan and priorities for 2020-2030. At the regional level, we highlight the role played by European Union agencies, namely, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, in combating all forms of international organized crime and terrorism. We welcome the increased cooperation of these agencies with the United Nations.

Allow me first to thank Mr. Voronkov and Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly for their very enlightening briefings. They have shown, if proof were needed, that, more than a year after the adoption of resolution 2482 (2019), on the links between terrorism and organized crime, much remains to be done to overcome those two scourges, which are linked and mutually reinforcing. Today, there is an undeniable overlap between criminal and terrorist groups, the nature and extent of which varies in different parts of the world. Both terrorism and organized crime often recruit from within the same populations, particularly in prisons, where radicalization is a scourge. They use the same routes and often the same means of communication to carry out their activities, particularly on the Internet, with the use of the darknet. France’s commitment to fighting terrorism and organized crime is unfailing and our mobilization is on all fronts, from preventing radicalization to combating the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, for which we are proud to have launched, with New Zealand, the Christchurch Appeal, which already brings together some 50 countries and organizations with the major Internet companies. One of our top priorities remains the fight against the financing of terrorism. The growing exploitation by terrorist groups of funds derived from criminal activities is well documented and the sources of funding are unfortunately numerous: kidnappings for ransom, the illicit trade in arms, exploitation of oil and cultural property, drug trafficking, human trafficking and piracy. Evil must be dealt with at the root by drying up the sources of funding for terrorist organizations, which use all the contemporary tools at their disposal. Resolution 2462 (2019), on combating the financing of terrorism, clearly identifies the risks posed by the links between terrorist financing and organized crime in different regions of the world, and calls on States, in close cooperation with relevant regional organizations and the United Nations, to redouble their efforts to address these links. On this basis, we need to adapt our legal and operational frameworks to improve the transparency of financial flows, strengthen information-sharing and develop cooperation with the private sector. International cooperation — among States and within the United Nations — is more necessary than ever. I am delighted to see Mr Voronkov and Ms. Waly together in the virtual gallery today. Their joint presence shows the good and essential cooperation between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Office of Counter-Terrorism. I would also like to commend in this regard the essential work of INTERPOL in promoting information exchange and enhancing trust between operational partners. States need to use INTERPOL’s databases and other tools with greater frequency. I would like to conclude by recalling that the fight against terrorism, as well as the fight against organized crime, must be conducted in full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and international humanitarian law. The fight against impunity is also a priority. Those who have committed atrocities abroad must never, wherever they go, be allowed to go unpunished. In this regard, cooperation between intelligence services and judicial authorities is essential to neutralize the threat and to deliver justice.

I would like to thank the Indonesian presidency of the Security Council for organizing today’s timely debate. I also wish to thank Mr. Vladimir Voronkov and Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly for their briefings. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/754) shows that close links between transnational organized crime and terrorism have increasingly been observed in several regions of the world. This adds to the complexity of the fight against terrorist organizations that States Members of the United Nations and the Organization itself have been conducting for several years now. The African continent is one of the most vulnerable areas affected by the development of the specific threats related to security and transnational organized crime, the most emblematic of which are trafficking in drugs, arms, persons and counterfeit cigarettes, smuggling of migrants, terrorism and violent extremism. In the Sahel region, the existence of a link between terrorism and organized crime is obvious, as there is substantial evidence of a partnership between the two types of criminals. Terrorist groups use criminal networks to finance their activities through kidnapping for ransom, trafficking in drugs, arms, cigarettes and precious metals, the exploitation of artisanal mines, and illegal migration. Similarly, informal taxation is imposed by terrorist organizations on goods that cross the territories under their control. Several studies have also reported that drug traffickers pay for services provided by the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb fighters to secure the trafficking of their goods through the Sahel region. In the Horn of Africa, it has also been reported that the terrorist group Al-Shabaab finances itself through human and drug trafficking, cattle rustling and piracy. All the foregoing threats take advantage of the weak presence of certain States in some areas of their territories, and, as the saying goes, nature abhors a vacuum. Indeed, terrorists and other highway criminals have come to replace legitimate State institutions, often providing basic social services to needy local populations that feel marginalized by the central Government. In such troubled areas, the restrictions triggered by the fight against the current coronavirus disease pandemic have exacerbated the already dire situation and have allowed terrorist armed groups to take of it to escalate their attacks, notwithstanding the Secretary-General’s call for a global humanitarian ceasefire in order to focus on fighting the pandemic. In the Sahel, the upheavals in Libya and Mali between 2011 and 2012 accentuated the fragility of this region and strengthened the establishment of criminal networks. Local economies, totally controlled by terrorists and smugglers, have emerged in lawless areas. These activities thrive, thanks to the complicity of local populations that benefit from the income generated by these various illicit activities. This tangle of issues and interests between terrorist groups and organized criminal groups, while complicating the fight against terrorists by Governments in the region, is also progressively eroding the Governments’ sovereign capacity to maintain law, order and public security. It also constitutes a threat to international peace and security. In response to these real threats, the Niger has, in accordance with United Nations recommendations, strengthened its legislative and institutional framework in order to effectively combat the gateway or enabling crimes that facilitate this union of criminals, such as money-laundering, financing of terrorism, trafficking in persons and cybercrime. My country has therefore set up several structures, including the Central Service for Combating Terrorism and Cross-Border Crime, the National Financial Information Processing Unit and the Judicial Centre Specialized in the Fight against Terrorism. It has also adopted a national plan to combat trafficking in persons. At the subregional level, the Niger is a party to the Drug Action Plan to Address Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organised Crime and Drug Abuse in West Africa, under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In terms of the regional fight against the sources of financing for these illicit activities, ECOWAS has created an institution that deals with that issue, namely, the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money-Laundering. That body, in collaboration with the relevant national institutions, is making a significant contribution to tracing and stopping those criminal and illicit financial flows. The global nature of these threats requires greater cooperation among States. Therefore, the United Nations has an important role to play, in particular through its specialized agencies. In that regard, we welcome the adoption by the Council in 2019 of resolutions 2462 (2019) and 2482 (2019), which address the links between terrorism and organized crime. Let me also take this opportunity to welcome all the actions carried out by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Africa in the context of capacity- building for actors involved in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and against the gateway crimes of terrorism and organized crime, such as corruption and radicalization in detention centres. In conclusion, my delegation would like to appeal to all Member States, the United Nations and all partners to intensify and diversify their efforts to combat this threat. The Governments of the African States most confronted with these scourges must be accompanied in their efforts to secure their borders. They must also be supported in the implementation of their development programmes and projects, which will enable them to have an effective presence throughout their territories. That is why I call for the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and all the development strategies and programmes adopted by the United Nations, including, inter alia, its Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.

Let me join others in congratulating Indonesia on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August, and we thank you, Sir, for having organized this important open debate. We also thank our briefers for their presentations. The effective fight against terrorism and crime necessitates an understanding of how poverty, underdevelopment, socioeconomic and political exclusion, irresponsible arms sales, persistent conflict and other factors contribute to this scourge. We must attack root causes and terrorism itself sensibly and collectively. Anti-terrorist intervention should not be shaped by the side of the border that atrocities are committed on or by whether particular groups are useful to narrow and cynical short-term political objectives. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines condemns all forms and manifestations of terrorism, whether State-sponsored or not. We remain committed to the implementation of the relevant international instruments, resolution 1373 (2001) and all subsequent resolutions — 2195 (2014) and 2462 (2019). Further, as a small island developing State with limited resources, porous borders and a large maritime territory to patrol, we believe that regional and international coordination is critical. Consequently, we continue to work closely with a wide array of partners in our region and beyond through initiatives such as the Caribbean Community’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and the Regional Security System, in order to address transnational crime in our region. Today transnational crime is on the rise. It has become increasingly difficult to eliminate illicit activity across widespread networks of disparate groups, especially since many of those groups are dynamic, amorphous and constantly evolving. Similarly, Member States must also be dynamic and genuinely committed in their efforts to address those threats. Rising to the challenge will require greater cooperation among United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, increased support to vulnerable countries and adequate training, both on the evolving threats posed by crime and terrorism, and on intelligence-collection and reporting techniques. Strategic-level decision-makers should place particular emphasis on the reporting of transnational crime and terrorism by State, local and national- level authorities to the appropriate domestic, regional and international intelligence entities, where appropriate. The evolving and interconnected dimensions of crime and terrorism present a number of challenges, especially in the field of domestic intelligence. We urge States to improve the flow of criminal intelligence and information-sharing across all levels of Government and at the national, regional and international levels. We also encourage a renewed focus on initiatives geared to enhancing sustainable development in fragile contexts in order to draw people away from the lure of illicit activity and fully embed them in legitimate economic enterprise. Further, initiatives to combat transnational organized crime must be designed in such a way that they bolster rather than undermine legitimate socioeconomic activity. In conclusion, let me reiterate that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is confident that with capacity-building, the strengthening of law-enforcement agencies and other institutional arrangements, enhanced regional and international cooperation and the use of financial intelligence, Member States can better confront crime and terrorism and the other security challenges that they face.

I would like to congratulate Indonesia on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of August. We are also grateful to the briefers for their insightful contributions. At a time when the world’s attention has been overwhelmingly focused on dealing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its significant disruptions to society, we are also grateful to Indonesia for keeping the Council’s attention on the threat of international terrorism and the linkages with organized crime, which has affected many parts of the world, including some regions on the African continent. The Secretary-General’s report on the actions taken by Member States and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to address the issue of the potential linkages between terrorism and organized crime (S/2020/754) provides us with a useful and comprehensive analysis of the areas where these dual threats to international peace and security may converge. The report makes clear that while the nature of the threat posed by these issues varies considerably throughout the world, there has nevertheless been significant progress in strengthening and harmonizing legislation and strategies to address these challenges. The steady development of a body of international law, with the support of specialized agencies of the United Nations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and partner organizations such as INTERPOL, has contributed significantly to shoring up our global response to these tandem threats. South Africa’s commitment to fighting terrorism and organized crime, whether transnational or national, remains unwavering. South Africa has integrated the provisions of the various international instruments on terrorism and organized crime into its national legislation, supported by national strategies and mechanisms that attempt to address the myriad sub-elements that comprise these illicit webs. South Africa’s robust national counter-terrorism strategy, aligned with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, provides for the implementation of the relevant conventions and Security Council counter-terrorism resolutions. Our national strategy is supported by national counter-terrorism legislation, the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, as well as a number of other statutes criminalizing activities related to terrorism and organized crime, including terror-financing activities and support for terrorist organizations and individual terrorists. South Africa is also an active member of the Financial Action Task Force, as well as the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money-Laundering Group, and complies with all review processes in an ongoing effort to improve our domestic systems. We understand that these challenges are by their very nature adaptive and continually evolving and that they require that we be similarly adaptive and evolve to address new manifestations and trends. We wish to emphasize the importance of international cooperation and coordination as well as the sharing of information, best practices and technology on these issues. The transnational nature of these often multi-layered threats can effectively be countered only by equally robust international countermeasures allowing real-time information sharing and cooperation. In further developing these systems, we must remain cognizant of the fact that they can only ever be as strong as their weakest point, which means that it is vital that we continue to support those Member States with capacity constraints and unique challenges such as large, porous borders. It is also critical that we work to address the root causes and drivers of both terrorism and organized crime. The best investment that we can make in addressing these issues is to prevent our citizens from ever considering these terrible paths as viable options by providing them with the opportunities to flourish in positive ways that benefit society. In conclusion, South Africa will continue to support the evolving global response to these threats. We believe that the United Nations should continue to lead in that regard, given the evident need for a multilateral and multidimensional approach to these international challenges. As always, we encourage the further development and enhancement of regional strategic partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations on these issues, including with the African Union. We also wish to propose that consideration be given to establishing and/ or strengthening regional fusion centres to enhance cooperation with regional organizations to prevent and counter terrorists from benefiting from organized crime. Finally, it is also paramount that our efforts across the board be conducted in accordance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law and in close partnership with one another, international and regional organizations, as well as civil society and the private sector.

I wish first to thank the briefers. We applaud their teams’ efforts to strengthen the Council’s understanding of the linkages between terrorism and organized crime. It is clear that in some cases and some regions, terrorist and organized criminal groups exploit and benefit from weak democratic institutions and law enforcement and take advantage of porous borders and ungoverned or undergoverned territories. In some parts of the world, those conditions provide opportunities for terrorists and transnational criminal groups to coexist in the same territory, develop alliances based on common interests and even collaborate. Based on trends we have seen, transnational criminal organizations are unlikely to risk attracting the attention of authorities through collaboration with high- profile terrorist organizations or involvement in terrorist activity. In the instances where we see a linkage between terrorists and organized criminal groups, whole- of-Government and whole-of-society approaches are vital to addressing the complex nature of the crimes. Strong border security, regional cooperation and intelligence- sharing between security agencies allows for effective responses to combat both and can prevent nefarious actors from taking advantage of trafficking routes and networks in regions with underpoliced or porous borders. In that regard, an important tool for Member States is resolution 2396 (2017), in which the Security Council obligated all Member States to collect and analyse advance passenger information and passenger name records and to develop watch lists. Such data can help investigators identify connections between individuals associated with terrorist and organized criminal groups. We urge Member States that need technical assistance or capacity-building in that area to please request it. Existing treaties, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and international counterterrorism instruments and protocols also provide a useful framework for facilitating law-enforcement cooperation. The United States has used the that Convention as a legal basis more than 650 times since 2005 to provide or request mutual legal assistance, extradition and other forms of international legal cooperation with at least 99 countries. In addition to law-enforcement efforts to counter criminal and terrorist linkages, it is also important to engage local communities and civil society to address the underlying conditions conducive to the spread of violent extremism or transnational organized crime. Local civil society is often attuned to the complex issues in play on the ground and can assist Member States in finding practical solutions. Since the adoption of resolution 2482 (2019) last year, the United Nations has made great strides towards better understanding the linkages between terrorists and organized criminal groups. The United States applauds the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s capacity-building programming to address those linkages. The United States recommends that the United Nations strengthen its cooperation with regional and subregional organizations as well as international platforms such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum. The Forum has created good practices to assist Member States in addressing potential linkages and brings together traditional criminal investigators and those handling terrorism cases. The United States looks forward to hearing the experiences of our partner countries on how they are identifying and addressing those linkages. We will continue to work with the United Nations; organizations such as the Financial Action Task Force, the Group of Seven and the Global Counterterrorism Forum; and partner countries around the world to address both transnational organized crime and terrorism.

Allow me to first thank the Permanent Mission of Indonesia for having convened this very timely high-level open debate on addressing the issue of linkages between international terrorism and organized crime. I would like to also thank the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office for Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for their insightful briefings on the importance of tackling this threat. Afghanistan believes in the imperative need to address the symbiotic relations between these two heinous threats. Organized crime is a broad and complex phenomenon, and its links with international terrorism are evident. As a State that is both the prime victim of terrorism and which finds itself on the front line in the fight against the threat, we are well aware of the ways in which organized crime can strengthen the operational capabilities of terrorist groups and, as part of its activities, further exacerbate insecurity, particularly by enabling a continuous flow of weapons, extremist elements, drugs and dangerous chemical precursors used for the development of explosive devices and other materials. This is a threat that should be analysed not only through a national lens but also with consideration given to the broad regional implications as seen through the nexus of regional and international terrorist groups. Addressing the threat posed by such groups requires effective and cohesive coordination among regional, international and local efforts aimed at preventing terrorist and extremist groups and organized-crime groups from benefiting from any disconnect between our efforts. Even with the ongoing pandemic, at the national level Afghanistan has continued to focus on disrupting that linkage through a multipronged approach that encompasses various areas. As part of that, our country has worked diligently in tackling the illicit drug trade, which has served as a particularly strong source for the funding of terrorist organizations. Our efforts cover an approach that involves tackling the issue at all levels, from eradication to interdiction and, ultimately, the prosecution of individuals involved in the process. In that regard, the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces have conducted efficient operations, which led to the dismantling of numerous drug laboratories and processing facilities. Operations have also taken place at various points of entry in the country, including border crossings and airports. They have prevented 100 tons of illegal substances from entering our country. In parallel, the anti-drug department of the Counter- Narcotics Justice Centre has also played an effective role by ensuring the transparent processing of suspects engaging in the illicit drug trade. In addition to those operations, our National Inter-Agency Task Force on Combating Terrorism continues its work to implement a national framework to counter money laundering and other forms of financial criminal activities. As part of that, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Afghanistan (FinTRACA) has worked diligently to ensure that Afghan financial institutions are prevented from being used for illegal activities. As part of that work, FinTRACA cooperates with institutions at the regional level in order to effectively comply with the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Afghanistan has also engaged with regional platforms, including the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in order to further complement efforts to address the linkage between organized crime and terrorist organizations through efforts in line with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant Security Council resolutions on the matter. Nevertheless, a stronger focus on that, particularly with regard to monitoring the movement of those under United Nations sanctions regimes and their backers, must remain an important priority in our fight to effectively diminish this threat. In conclusion, I would like to once again thank the Permanent Mission of Indonesia for hosting this valuable meeting and to reiterate the full collaboration of Afghanistan in continuing to work on this issue.

Australia commends Indonesia for convening this open debate of the Security Council on linkages between terrorism and organized crime. Australia is proud of its long history of partnering with Indonesia in efforts to combat terrorism and transnational crime and welcomes its leadership on this important issue. The link between terrorist groups and transnational, serious and organized crime continues to present a complex and evolving threat to international security, particularly in environments where such groups can exploit poor governance and a weakened rule of law. We recognize that this linkage manifests itself differently in different countries. While linkages between terrorism and organized crime have fortunately been less pronounced in the Australian context, we have continued to focus our efforts on prevention, disruption and responding to such threats. Underpinning Australia’s response is our strong counter-terrorism financing regime. Working collaboratively across law enforcement, intelligence, policy agencies, industry, the community and international counterparts, that regime has enabled Australia to detect and respond to emerging financing threats and to undermine the capacity of violent extremists to fund and carry out acts of terrorism. Within South-East Asia, we have helped to foster multilateral cooperation through the annual regional Counter-Terrorism Financing Summit. This forum harnesses the collective capability of the region’s financial intelligence units to develop actionable strategies to combat terrorism financing and serious crime. In November 2019, Australia was pleased to host the No Money for Terror ministerial conference on counter-terrorism financing. The event, attended by 65 delegations, sought to strengthen global responses against terrorism financing, including global responses to kidnap for ransom, identifying risks and opportunities from emerging technologies, enhancing public-private partnerships and preventing the exploitation of not-for-profit organizations for terrorism purposes. Recognizing that terrorist and organized criminal groups are innovative, the utilization of modern technologies, such as encrypted communications, by such groups presents a significant challenge to law enforcement, which will likely be exacerbated during the coronavirus disease pandemic, where resources will be stretched and investigations may be increasingly reliant on the use of data and digital information. Responding to that challenge, Australia has passed legislation to facilitate law enforcement access to communications and data for criminal investigations, introduced computer access warrants for law enforcement, continued to update anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws, introduced legislation designed to establish an international production order, or cross-border access to data, regime and enhanced public-private partnerships. Strengthening governance and the rule of law is essential to combating both threats of terrorism and organized crime. Australia has worked closely with regional partners to provide assistance in developing and implementing laws to combat transnational crime and violent extremism. Australia is firmly committed to the robust implementation of international anti-corruption standards, including those set by the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Australian Government has also committed to establishing a Commonwealth integrity commission to further strengthen integrity arrangements across the federal public sector. Australia also welcomes the development of international good practices in understanding and combating the nexus between transnational organized crime and terrorism by the Global Counterterrorism Forum.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate the Government of Indonesia on assuming the presidency of the Security Council, and I commend its initiative to hold this open debate. Terrorism and related criminal activities continue to pose a serious threat to international peace and security, the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the political independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and social and economic development of all Member States. These activities are unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, constitute serious crimes and must be condemned and prosecuted. The sensitive geographic location of Azerbaijan, the continued occupation of its territories by Armenia, in grave violation of international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions, and other unresolved armed conflicts in the region increase transborder threats. Since the end of the 1980s, as a means of realizing its groundless and unlawful territorial claims and as a method of warfare, Armenia and various Armenian terrorist organizations have perpetrated numerous terrorist attacks against my country, claiming the lives of thousands of its citizens. In resolution 2482 (2019), the Security Council expressed serious concern that terrorists could benefit from organized crime, whether domestic or transnational. It is of particular concern that areas of armed conflict, especially territories under foreign military occupation, often create opportunities for terrorists, organized criminal groups and networks to benefit from the exploitation of and the illicit trade in natural resources, illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in cultural property, money laundering and other crimes. The occupied territories of Azerbaijan are a graphic example of interpenetration of the occupying forces and the unlawful puppet regime established by Armenia in those territories with terrorist and organized criminal activities. The strict compliance by States with their international obligations, including the relevant resolutions adopted by the Security Council, is critical to ensuring, inter alia, that their respective territories are not used for terrorist and related criminal activities, in particular for financing or providing, directly or indirectly, any support to such activities under whatever pretext or disguise. It is important that, where terrorists or organized criminal groups are engaged in unlawful commercial activities, including in conflict zones and occupied territories, targeted sanctions, corporate liability and criminal responsibility function in tandem to ensure prosecution for violations of international law. In that connection, in addition to measures that States are entitled to take at the national level to assert criminal jurisdiction over crimes perpetrated by their nationals overseas, international cooperation in criminal matters, with mutual legal assistance as its component, is the key to combating impunity for acts of terrorism and related offences. Azerbaijan strongly supports enhanced individual and collective counter- terrorism measures, including in particular those aimed at degrading and ultimately defeating terrorist organizations, their affiliates and networks. It is important that such efforts continue and expand. Although terrorism and organized crime have different motivations and legal regimes, there is a need for the further comprehensive examination of evolving linkages between them. We consider it useful to continue discussions on the topic.

I thank the Indonesian presidency for organizing this virtual high-level open debate. I also express my sincere appreciation to Under-Secretary-General Voronkov and Executive Director Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly for their insightful briefing. The coronavirus disease pandemic has brought about new dimensions in the growing linkages between terrorism and organized crimes. As the State security apparatus remains seized with the pandemic, organized criminal networks are getting increasing leeway. Movement restrictions have increased the use of irregular transaction channels, creating favourable conditions for criminals and terrorists alike. The closure of educational institutions has led young people to immerse themselves more in the cyberworld, making them susceptible to online criminal activities, including violent extremism. These new challenges require due understanding, recognition and new dispensations. The Council’s attention to this issue at this trying time is therefore reassuring. Bangladesh maintains a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and organized crimes. We have been investing heavily in these areas through various preventive measures, which include awareness-raising, community engagement and resilience, the empowerment of women, creating opportunities for young people through the digital Bangladesh campaign, et cetera. We have developed a strong legal and regulatory framework to address terrorism, which also takes into account the potent linkage between terrorism and organized crimes. Let me share some of our national efforts. Our anti-terrorism law automatically transposes United Nations designations into domestic obligations to prohibit any kind of funding to Security Council-listed persons and entities, freezing their assets, et cetera. Furthermore, we were the first among South Asian nations to enact an anti-money laundering law, which defines terrorist financing as one of the 27 predicate offences. To address human trafficking, people smuggling and related criminal activities, Bangladesh has adopted laws and rules in strict compliance with international standards, including the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crimes and the Palermo Protocol. We are a State party to both. The implementation of a national action plan to combat human trafficking is under way, involving all key stakeholders, including the CSOs. Our Department of Narcotics Control is empowered to investigate possible illicit financial transactions by drug- related accused, dealers or peddlers. To facilitate international cooperation, we have enacted legislation on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and the extradition of criminals. We have joined a number of regional initiatives with regard to terrorism and organized crimes within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. That is also a manifestation of the importance that our region attaches to the linkage. We have concluded bilateral agreements with others, including our neighbours, in the areas of international terrorism, organized crime and illicit drug trafficking. The capacity-building of national stakeholders is critical to addressing the menace of terrorism and organized crimes. In close coordination with the United Nations country team, the respective United Nations agencies have been providing such support to Bangladesh. Terrorism is a threat to global peace and the risks of terrorism are compounded by the global network of organized crime. To break that unholy alliance, we must take a holistic approach. In that regard, we wish to make a few points. First, vulnerability, deprivation, repression and desperation lead people to fall prey to terrorist and organized crime networks. National Governments should address such root causes. Second, effective and real time intelligence and information-sharing platforms among Member States need to be established. We must strengthen cooperation on the investigation, prosecution and execution of sentences through the transfer/ extradition of criminals under trial and those who have been convicted. Third, vigorous efforts are needed to ensure the universal acceptance and application of international conventions and related protocols on transnational organized crimes and terrorism. Fourth, organized crime networks and terrorist networks are increasingly abusing digital platforms and specific features of globalization, such as the liberalization of financial markets and electronic and off-shore banking, to expand their unscrupulous activities. Countering extremist propaganda requires digital means. Digital surveillance and the use of information and communications technology should therefore be strengthened, which would require the capacity enhancement of national Governments. Fifth, women and girls are disproportionately affected by organized crimes, including trafficking. On the other hand, they are capable of making a distinct contribution to prevention efforts. We must therefore redouble our efforts to integrate the gender dimension in national and international campaigns against terrorism and organized crimes. Sixth, terrorist networks and organized criminal networks both recruit from the same social catchment, the prevention of which would serve to disrupt the nexus between the two. For that, we need to take a whole-of-society approach, involving key agents, such as the business community, civil society, non-governmental organizations, religious and community leaders and young people. Seventh, the deployment of resources is usually skewed towards anti-terrorism efforts vis-à-vis anti-organized crime efforts. The uneven progress limits overall accomplishment, whereas a balanced resource allocation may better serve to break the linkage between terrorism and organized crimes. Finally, during pandemics or other health emergencies, we need to stop, to the extent possible, the diversion of resources and attention from anti-terrorism and anti-organized crimes efforts. There is no doubt that it is a tall order but it can be achieved through concerted efforts and with international cooperation. We expect the Security Council to continue its lead in that regard and to complement and collaborate with other relevant bodies.

Brazil thanks the Indonesian presidency for convening this debate on linkages between terrorism and organized crime. Brazil remains committed to multidimensional responses to terrorism, in line with international law and, particularly, the Charter of the United Nations. The repudiation of terrorism is enshrined in the Brazilian Constitution as a guiding principle of our foreign policy. This repudiation goes beyond words and has been translated into action. Over recent years, our national legislation has been updated to match the challenges of preventing and countering terrorism and its financing, and our agencies are working tirelessly to fight this scourge. As the Council has already recognized, the nature and scope of possible linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime vary considerably, depending on the geographic, social and political context. We will be able to tackle possible linkages only with conceptual clarity; the international community will hardly find a solution to a problem it does not understand. More research is needed to properly grasp the proclivities of potential connections between terrorism and organized crime so that we can jointly design adequate strategies to address them. Although terrorism and organized crime are regulated by different legal frameworks, there are some practices that may be beneficial to address both phenomena. First, it is imperative to investigate the financial and operational support networks that may equally benefit terrorist groups and transnational criminal organizations. In this regard, we should strengthen our efforts to combat money-laundering and facilitate the timely exchange of financial intelligence. In addition, the international community should invest more resources in technical assistance aimed at developing expertise in domestic agencies. Moreover, regional and international cooperation should be at the centre of both counterterrorism and organized crime-control strategies. The broad scope of measures described above demonstrates the comprehensive approach required to prevent and counter terrorism, including possible linkages with transnational organized crime. Hence, these potential linkages should be interpreted as an encouragement not to bring the issue of organized crime to the Security Council, but rather to once again place the General Assembly at the centre of the United Nations debate on counter-terrorism. All Member States have a legitimate interest in actively contributing to the fight against terrorism. Integrating counter-terrorism concerns with domestic law-enforcement challenges is a task for the General Assembly, which is the United Nations organ mandated to address multidimensional factors that a security-centred approach fails to capture. The seventh review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy represents a unique opportunity to further debate potential interactions between both types of crime. It provides a deliberative space where all Member States may share successful practices that contributed to disrupting both terrorist groups and criminal organizations. It may also show that some approaches will work for neither category of crime, such as military responses detached from socioeconomic measures aimed at more structural changes. Finally, it might confirm that some challenges are exclusive to terrorism, as are the responses needed to overcome them. To give just one example, countering terrorist narratives is of crucial importance to preventing radicalization, but has hardly any impact on combating transnational organized crime. Terrorism defies our sense of humanity and attempts to create an environment of indifference and chaos. To counter this scourge, the international community must distinguish itself from it, acting with solidarity and order — solidarity to honour the victims of terrorism, to cooperate in forestalling future attacks and to avoid unintended negative consequences of counter-terrorism measures; and orderliness to act within the parameters of international law, to respect human rights, humanitarian law and refugee law, and to work in a manner consistent with the division of labour among United Nations organs as established in the Charter. Brazil remains committed to actively contributing to these efforts.

I thank you, Mr. President, and the Republic of Indonesia for organizing this important debate to address the issue of linkages between terrorism and organized crime. We welcome the Secretary-General’s report (S/2020/754) on action taken by Member States and United Nations entities to address the issue of linkages between terrorism and organized crime, will provide a comprehensive basis for Member States to address this issue going forward. Canada is concerned about the growing linkages between organized crime and terrorism, and the ways in which these groups are exploiting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic environment to advance their nefarious objectives. New challenges have emerged in this complex security environment that require a comprehensive understanding of how, why and when the crime-terror nexus develops. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted vulnerable groups, such as migrants, refugees and stateless people, and increases the risk of exploitation by criminal actors. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, including in areas such as kidnapping for ransom, where the nexus between human- trafficking and terrorist financing has been particularly profound. For this reason, Canada supports capacity-building projects that consider and address these specific risks and transnational threats. Our coordinated international response to linkages between terrorism and organized crime needs to be gender-informed in order to fully assess and address the drivers of insecurity that perpetuate criminal and terrorist activity and to develop effective and sustainable ways to combat these ongoing threats. Our efforts must also fully respect and comply with obligations and commitments under international law, particularly, international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law. Canada is active in many complementary multilateral and regional fora on this issue. As Co-Chair of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) with Morocco, Canada would like to highlight that the GCTF is a critical partner in strengthening international good-practice norms through the development of tools and materials for policymakers and practitioners, and supports United Nations efforts to advance the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant resolutions. For example, the Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law Working Group of the GCTF has launched initiatives to develop good practices to address and prevent various issues relating to the crime-terrorism nexus. The Working Group is currently developing an addendum focusing on criminal justice to the GCTF Hague Good Practices on the Nexus between Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism of 2018. These good practices documents explore the linkages among terrorism, the financing of terrorism and various forms of illicit trafficking of goods from a criminal-justice perspective and build on the United Nations Transnational Organized Crime Convention and its additional protocols on trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants and firearms, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the 19 international legal instruments on counter-terrorism. Canada also supports enhancing regional security in the Americas, as current Chair of the Organization of American States Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE). As part of our work within CICTE, we see the value of establishing standards, best practices and measures to improve border, port and documents security. Doing so provides the dual benefit of making the hemisphere more resistant to the spread of terrorism, while also impeding transnational organized crime. Another critical aspect of our efforts to address the linkages between organized crime and terrorism is the need to deprive criminals and terrorists of the proceeds and instrumentalities of crime. To this end, Canada advocates for implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards to ensure that Member States cannot be used to raise, move and use funds from, or intended for, criminal activity. However, the efficacy of the FATF framework and its regional bodies in combatting money-laundering and terrorist financing, as with other counter-terrorism and anti-organized crime initiatives, lies in implementation by Member States. In recognition thereof, Canada provided $47.6 million in 2019-2020, through the Counter-Terrorism Capacity-Building Programme and Anti-Crime Capacity- Building Programme, for training, equipment, technical assistance and other capacity-building initiatives to support Governments in responding to threats posed by terrorist and criminal activities. In summary, Canada remains strongly committed to tackling transnational organized crime and terrorism and to working collaboratively with Member States in doing so. By working together, the United Nations and Member States can not only disrupt terrorist groups and criminal organizations, but also more effectively address linkages between them.

Chile expresses its appreciation to the Permanent Mission of Indonesia for having convened this open debate of the Security Council on the link between terrorism and transnational organized crime. The significant presence of the Under- Secretary-General of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, and of the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, demonstrates the relevance of this topic to international peace and security and for the coordinated work of the United Nations. The organization of this debate is timely and necessary, since it allows us to adequately monitor resolutions 2482 (2019) and 2462 (2019), dedicated to this topic, and note with concern that the links between terrorism and organized crime are evolving rapidly, especially in the current context of the coronavirus disease pandemic, which is helping to deepen both traditional and emerging threats. Although at the onset of the health crisis the closure of international borders and the intensification of police controls helped decrease the flow of illicit goods, criminal groups have demonstrated a great capacity to adapt to meet demand, while increasing their cybercrime capacities and taking advantage of the gaps generated by the diverted attention of the authorities. The possibility of a post-pandemic global economic and social crisis would herald a number of greater challenges in fighting this phenomenon, including the weakening of the State institutions tasked with preventing and combating such crimes at the national level, which could lead to an increase in corruption. On the other hand, economic despair and a lack of job opportunities could create recruitment opportunities for terrorist and criminal groups. Chile therefore believes it is essential to begin to better understand the links between terrorism and organized crime as a multidimensional, evolving threat with impacts at the national, regional and international levels. Against this backdrop, international cooperation in areas such as border security, financial intelligence and investigation and prosecution is of the utmost importance. In this context, Chile’s Financial Intelligence Unit gathers and analyses intelligence to identify patterns and links between terrorism and organized crime, and regularly exchanges this information with its peers through the secure Egmont Group network. Likewise, the Unit monitors the sentences handed down by Chilean courts in order to identify typologies and warning signs derived from money- laundering and terrorist financing, as well as their preceding crimes, such as drug- and human-trafficking. Our country is in the midst of an evaluation process by the Financial Action Group for Latin America evaluating Chile’s compliance with the 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on money-laundering and terrorist financing. We attach high priority to this process, since it allows us to strengthen and update national regulations to prevent and combat these crimes, which facilitate organized criminal activities due to the need for criminal groups to hide the illicit origin of their funds. The problems before us today are matters of high priority for Chile and the Latin America region. This is because the terrorist threat in the region to a great extent comes from drug-trafficking groups, which have increased their arsenals and violence, to the detriment of the human security of our societies. Furthermore, these groups increasingly collaborate and converge with regional and transnational terrorist groups. Chile is looking forward to the publication of the report of the Secretary General pursuant to resolution 2482 (2019), which will serve as a guide for identifying areas for priority action to counter the multiple challenges relating to this phenomenon and the consequences of the pandemic. In this regard, we encourage the Security Council and the United Nations system in general to continue supporting the efforts of Member States to maximize international cooperation and better face the complex times ahead.

The Cuban Government remains strongly committed to preventing and confronting terrorism, as well as to combating various manifestations of transnational organized crime that may contribute to its financing, which has prevented these phenomena from proliferating in Cuba. Although transnational organized crime can be a source of funding or logistical support for terrorism, the linkage between them established by the Security Council is not automatic and varies in different contexts. We reiterate our strong condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whatsoever the motivation. Cuba is a State party to 18 of the 19 international conventions on terrorism and is finalizing the domestic legal requirements to ratify the last one. In accordance with the agreements signed, legislative, institutional, administrative and other measures seeking to effectively fight against this scourge have been implemented. We have a specific legislation on this matter. For instance, decree-laws 316 and 317 were passed in 2013. The first, “Amending the Penal Code and the Counter-Terrorism Act”, adjusted criminal offences relating to acts of terrorism with the use of nuclear, radioactive material and ionizing substances, and expanded the range of predicate offences of money- laundering, in accordance with the United Nations Conventions against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and against Transnational Organized Crime. The second, “Prevention and Detection of Transactions in the Fight against Money-Laundering, Financing of Terrorism, Proliferation of Weapons and Illicit Capital Flows”, raised the normative hierarchy regarding the identification and freezing of assets linked to terrorist individuals or organizations, pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. Cuba’s commitment to the fight against terrorism was elevated to constitutional status in the national Constitution, adopted by referendum on 24 February 2019 following a process of constitutional reform and broad-based popular consultations. The new Constitution of the Republic, in Chapter II, on international relations, reaffirms in Article 16, paragraph (l), the long-standing position defended by Cuba and repudiates and condemns terrorism in any of its forms and manifestations, in particular State terrorism, as one of the principles of its foreign policy. That commitment and Cuba’s institutional capacity to prevent money- laundering and the financing of terrorism have been recognized on several occasions by the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America, a regional structure of the Financial Action Task Force. Our country complies strictly with its obligations under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. In 2020 it submitted its response to the survey on effective measures adopted by Member States to end the financing of terrorism, conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, pursuant to resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015). It provided inputs to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism for the preparation of the report on terrorism and organized crime pursuant to resolution 2482 (2019). Likewise, it has submitted contributions on the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and General Assembly resolution 74/194, on “Measures to eliminate international terrorism”. Transnational organized crime has no significant impact on Cuba, which is due mainly to the actions aimed at preventing and combating it that have been implemented in the country, the zero-tolerance policy against that phenomenon and the absence of organized-crime networks on the national territory. In order to combat transnational organized crime, Cuba has implemented a total of 11 extradition treaties and 25 legal assistance agreements, 16 of which also include extradition. The Cuban State is committed to the fight against transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, terrorism, the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and other crimes, pursuant to its obligations as a State party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Protocols. We reject in the most absolute terms the arbitrary and unilateral qualification made by the Government of the United States by including Cuba in the worst category of the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report by the Department of State, which disregards our country’s international efforts to combat that phenomenon. Cuba, which has been the victim of terrorist acts that have claimed 3,478 lives and disabled 2,099 persons, reiterates its profound rejection and condemnation of all terrorist acts, methods and practices, in all their forms and manifestations, whatever their motivations. Our country has never permitted, nor will it ever permit, its territory to be used to plan terrorist acts against any State. Arbitrarily and unilaterally, Cuba has been included in the United States Department of State’s list of countries that supposedly do not fully cooperate in the fight against terrorism, issued on 13 May 2020. Subsequently and without any basis, our country was included in a Department of State annual report on international terrorism in which Cuba is depicted as a safe haven for terrorists. We reject such unilateral lists and certifications, which are politically motivated and contrary to international law. They serve only defamatory purposes and represent coercion against countries that refuse, in their sovereign decisions, to abide by the will of the United States Government. It is the United States Government itself that has chosen not to publicly condemn or reject the serious terrorist attack committed using a firearm against the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in that country on 30 April, which endangered the safety of the staff of the diplomatic mission and their families. The conspiratorial silence of the United States Government might encourage similar actions against diplomatic missions in both Washington, D.C., and New York. The record of violent and hostile acts is well known, including terrorist acts committed against Cuban diplomatic officials appointed to the United States, at the Embassy in Washington, D.C., as well as the Permanent Representation of Cuba to the United Nations in New York. It should be recalled, for instance, that the Cuban diplomat Félix García Rodríguez was assassinated in New York on 11 September 1980 and that direct attacks with explosive devices were carried out against the Permanent Mission of Cuba in that city. The groups and individuals that have committed terrorist acts against Cuba in the past have operated for years, and continue to operate, with impunity on United States soil; the law-enforcement agencies of the United States Government are fully aware of all this. It is unacceptable that some terrorist acts are condemned while others are silenced, tolerated, encouraged, justified or manipulated for political and economic interests. Facts confirm that terrorism continues to be a serious challenge facing the international community. We reiterate that the United Nations must assume the central role in international efforts to combat it. International cooperation is essential in the fight against terrorism. We reject the application of unilateral coercive measures that limit the capacity of States to eradicate this scourge, in violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. We strongly reject the use of the pretext of an alleged fight against terrorism and organized crime to commit acts of aggression, undermine national sovereignty, interfere in the internal affairs of other States and violate the human rights of their peoples.

I have the pleasure to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Denmark. We are grateful to the Indonesian presidency for having placed this very pertinent topic on the Security Council’s agenda. Your excellent timing, Sir, allows us to build on the discussions of last month’s United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week and the Secretary-General’s recent report on this issue (S/2020/754). While it is still too early to fully understand and assess the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the global terrorism landscape, the pandemic leaves the world more vulnerable to terrorism, with the possibility that already existing negative dynamics are coming into play earlier than expected and with more severe consequences. Furthermore, terrorist groups have set up local and regional systems to generate and move funds through illicit and organized criminal activity. This makes it all the more important to ensure that our national, regional and global counter-terrorist financing architecture is fit for purpose. Terrorist networks depend on external financing to run their organizations. That financing must be cut off. We must disrupt the links between organized crime and terrorism in order to identify and stop illicit financial flows to terrorist organizations and criminal networks. We encourage the expansion of existing initiatives as well as the development of new ones to deal more effectively with the nexus between terrorism and organized crime. The Nordic countries fully support the important message delivered by the Secretary-General in his opening remarks during last month’s United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week: that counter-terrorism laws and security measures cannot be an excuse to shrink civic and humanitarian space, curtail freedom of association and deny other human rights. We are currently faced with multiple international crises requiring humanitarian, development or security-led responses, and the COVID-19 global pandemic and its effects has only increased competition for Member States’ scarce resources. We fully agree with the Secretary-General’s point made during last month’s United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week that we must harness the power of multilateralism to find practical solutions. Terrorism does not respect national borders. It affects us all and can be defeated only collectively. Hence the demand for a coordinated approach ensuring effective and demand-driven responses that create tangible, gender-sensitive and sustainable outcomes on the ground in Member States has never been made in a more outspoken manner. United Nations Headquarters in New York and the United Nations offices in Vienna must work effectively together, including by making the best possible use of their field presence and by finding the right balance between Headquarters and field presence. We call on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism to develop strategies to that end, drawing on the specific strengths and mandates of each Office. Similarly, we as Member States must also work together, both within our countries and between authorities and sectors as well as with other Member States. Indeed, coordination and cooperation between authorities has been identified as one key factor in countering organized crime and terrorism. Furthermore, it is important to build and improve partnerships with civil society, including humanitarian and private-sector actors. The Global Counterterrorism Forum has developed a number of practical guidelines and best practices relevant to today’s debate that can assist us in translating our shared visions and priorities into concrete partnerships. We welcome the increased collaboration between the United Nations and the Forum, and we call for an even further realization of the potential synergies between the United Nations and the Forum, in particular through Forum-inspired institutions such as the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law. That training institute, located in Malta, presents an obvious platform for addressing many of the gaps identified in the Secretary-General’s report through capacity-building and experience-sharing. A key prerequisite for promoting a rule-of-law-based approach is the need to move from convictions based on confessions alone to sentencing based on objectively verifiable evidence, not only as a way of ensuring a rule-of-law-based and human- rights-compliant criminal justice response to terrorism but also to ensure a more efficient and more comprehensive investigation and prosecution process, increasing the possibilities of exposing linkages between terrorists and individuals or networks involved in other forms of crime. Such an approach shows that effective counter- terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are indeed complementary and mutually reinforcing objectives.

I would like at the outset to congratulate Indonesia on having assumed the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August and on having organized this debate of pivotal importance. I am also grateful for the briefings by the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Ghada Fathi Waly. Terrorism poses a serious threat to international peace and security, human rights, democratic stability and the economic and social development of States and of the international community as a whole. The same is true of organized crime and organized transnational crime. We therefore strongly and unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of their motivation, whenever and by whomsoever committed. We equally strongly condemn organized crime and reiterate that its links to terrorism must continue to be debated and countered. As no State is immune from terrorism, Ecuador is convinced that strengthening the international fight against terrorism is a task that must be undertaken cooperatively with the application of joint and concerted measures and actions in order to counter terrorism and its effects. The prevention of terrorism is as important as its repression. It is vital, therefore, to determine and eliminate the causes and factors that can promote acts of terrorism, including its financing; political, ethnic, religious and racial intolerance; and the social and economic gap among nations, the latter exacerbated by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the accompanying health, economic and social crisis. In that respect, in Ecuador measures are being drawn up and implemented for the progressive application of resolution 1373 (2001) by classifying as a crime the financing of terrorism and the associated money-laundering, and through preventive measures and international judicial cooperation. I shall mention a few examples. The Ecuadorian Comprehensive Criminal Code, adopted in 2014, expressly classifies terrorism and its financing, recognizing the direct relationship between the crime of money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, and underlining the advances made in the control of money-laundering and the financing of terrorism. The Law on the Prevention, Detection and Eradication of the Crime of Money- Laundering and the Financing of Crimes aims to prevent, detect in a timely manner, punish and eradicate money-laundering and the financing of crimes in its various modalities. The Continuous Action Plan for the Prevention of Money Laundering and against the Financing of Terrorism, with the same objective, was also approved. In the area of public policy, an inter-institutional committee is being formed among State bodies to address the problem in the banking, aeronautical, immigration, police and security spheres. In early 2018, acts of violence were committed on Ecuador’s northern border as a result of the actions of irregular armed groups linked to transnational organized crime, which led to a dozen terrorist attacks; wounded, killed or displaced people; and affected State infrastructure. As an immediate response, the Government of Ecuador created the National Committee for Comprehensive Border Security as the entity responsible for the coordination and harmonization of policies, guidelines, procedures and actions in the field of comprehensive border security, and it implemented the Defence Security Plan for the Northern Border, which provides guidelines for strategic planning and comprehensive defence, security and development policies in order to address the complex transnational threat of terrorism in all its dimensions. It is also important to note the connection between terrorism and corruption. For that reason, Ecuador condemns acts of corruption committed by networks that seriously threaten the stability of States and entire regions, and it stresses the importance of achieving fluid cooperation through confidential information- exchange agreements, particularly in the financial area, to carry out effective investigations into the financing of terrorism and money-laundering. The United Nations is the global platform that is called on to lead the fight against terrorism and organized transnational crime. We therefore reiterate our commitment to work to strengthen the international fight against those scourges, which threaten peace and security worldwide.

Allow me at the outset to congratulate Indonesia on commencing its presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. We thank you, Sir, for presiding over this meeting, which tackles the crucial issue of addressing the linkages between terrorism and organized crime. We are pleased to participate in this year’s open debate via video-teleconference after taking part in last year’s open debate, held on 9 July 2019 (see S/PV.8569). Egypt has always promoted the adoption of a comprehensive approach to counter- terrorism, one that addresses all of its root causes, impacts and linkages. The link between organized crime and terrorism is not only evident at the normative level in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, of 2000, and the numerous Security Council resolutions that followed, ending with resolution 2482 (2019), it is also a reality that we continue to see every day in many parts of the world, including Africa. From Boko Haram in the west, through terrorist organizations in the Sahel area, all the way to the Horn of Africa, terrorist groups have been coexisting and partnering with organized crime groups to secure funding and logistical support. The unfortunate result is stronger terrorist groups and an increase in all forms of organized crime, including trade in arms and narcotics, human and organ trafficking and migrant smuggling. This promiscuous, mutually reinforcing relationship between organized criminal and terrorist groups constitutes a destabilizing catalyst for most Governments in conflict areas, thus significantly contributing to the deterioration of peace and security in conflict areas worldwide. A vivid example of this is the current situation in Libya, where fanatic militias coexist and cooperate with organized criminal bands and facilitate human trafficking and illegal migration in exchange for fees from the latter. That is why in recent years, particularly during Egypt’s membership in the Security Council in 2016 and 2017 and its chairmanship of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter- terrorism, we have been generally supportive of all initiatives targeting organized crime in the context of counter-terrorism and have played a leading role in adopting many of them. At the national level, Egyptian law enforcement agencies are heavily invested in targeting organized crime syndicates and obstructing any potential partnership between them and terrorist groups in Egypt. In recent years, counter-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering mechanisms have also been further enhanced to achieve that goal. At the regional and international levels, we remain of the view that strengthening State foundations and institutions is one of the most efficient ways to counter terrorism and organized crime in fragile areas. These groups seek to benefit from the power vacuum and the weakness and lack of capacity of national institutions in such areas. Egypt has therefore been providing many capacity-building programmes for its brotherly countries in the Sahel in the areas of military and policing, including through specialized training courses provided by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development. That is why Egypt believes that the long- overdue peace and stability in Libya can be achieved only through strengthening and unifying its national institutions, including the Libyan National Army. Only then can we fill the current power vacuum that armed militias, terrorist organizations and organized criminal groups are abusing. In conclusion, as we approach the seventh biannual review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which was postponed to the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly after Spain and Egypt commenced the co-facilitation process this year, we are looking forward to insightful ideas emanating from this open debate, which could guide further substantive discussion on this crucial issue within the context of the seventh review of the Strategy.

First of all, El Salvador thanks the Security Council for its continued attention to the threats to international security posed by terrorism and organized crime, as a whole, My country reaffirms its commitment and unconditional support for all initiatives to combat terrorism and organized crime with a view to promoting international security, the culture of peace and the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms. I take this opportunity to reiterate my country’s deep solidarity with the victims of acts of terrorism and their families. El Salvador condemns all acts of terrorism, regardless of their motivation and whomever commits them, and calls for the ongoing commitment of the United Nations system and the Secretary-General to eradicate this practice and assist the victims and survivors of such acts. My country appreciates the preparation and presentation of the report on measures taken by Member States to hinder the financing of terrorism (S/2020/754), as it constitutes an important source of information on measures and good practices undertaken by States and the Organization that could help promote better capacity-building for the prevention of the various manifestations of terrorism and organized crime. While their objectives may differ, criminals and terrorists share the need to act outside the law by taking advantage of its gaps to fulfil their missions and avoid being brought to justice, a practice that is common in different countries and regions of the world. There is a wide variety of types of interactions between organized crime and terrorism, Understanding them can provide very useful guidance on their varying manifestations, depending on their geographical, regional and national contexts. These actions are undertaken not only to generate income but also to instil fear and recruit new followers. This link is complex, fluid and ever-changing. El Salvador recognizes that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable. In that regard, all counter-terrorism efforts must recognize those complexities and develop common strategies to effectively address that challenge. Despite having reached peace agreements in 1992, El Salvador suffered considerable damage to its social fabric, as well as economic and social marginalization that created conditions for the emergence of a new form of organized crime: gangs. The phenomenon of gangs was poorly addressed by different Government Administrations. Over time, gangs became organized structures with diversified operations such as extortion, control of territories and of the local drug market, thus becoming a growing threat to the rule of law. With regard to the national legal framework, El Salvador approved the Special Law against Acts of Terrorism, which recognizes and defines gangs as criminal organizations and terrorist groups. Faced with that reality, the Government of El Salvador has prioritized its territorial control plan, a comprehensive and firm response to protect the Salvadoran population from those terrorist groups and from the various forms and manifestations of organized crime. The plan aims at restoring and guaranteeing the security of Salvadorans, rebuilding the social fabric, recovering territories and public spaces and empowering young people. A year into the implementation of the territorial control plan, El Salvador has seen a historical reduction of homicides, including days with zero homicides. At the international level, El Salvador considers extremely timely the promotion, implementation and universalization of international commitments, such as conventions on transnational organized crime, corruption and drugs, as well as instruments against terrorism, and principles, norms and standards of the United Nations on crime prevention and criminal justice. At the same time, my country considers it crucial to enforce human rights obligations in the context of the fight against terrorism, including the right to privacy and freedom, minority rights, children’s rights and compliance with the Geneva Conventions and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. My country also welcomes vital coordination within the United Nations system to combat this scourge. El Salvador recognizes that the fight against terrorism transcends national borders. Further work must be done to strengthen regional and international cooperation mechanisms to prevent and combat terrorism, focusing on an agile exchange of information and good practices, standardizing legal frameworks and using new technologies to fight organized crime. Regional and international cooperation has an important role in preventing and combating terrorism. In that connection, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of El Salvador made a call during the third Hemispheric Ministerial Conference on the Fight Against Terrorism, held in January in Colombia, in which she highlighted the need for an agile exchange of information and good practices, standardizing legislation and strengthening legal frameworks when necessary, and using new technologies and computer platforms to fight crime. In that sense, El Salvador expresses its wish to secure the support and cooperation of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Their full cooperation is needed to help us effectively counter all the threats posed by terrorism and organized crime. The development of new technologies represents a great opportunity to promote the economic and social development of States. However, such information systems are vulnerable to attacks by people who try to manipulate those communication networks for ideological purposes or for their own benefit. As criminals and terrorists exploit new technologies, efforts and resources must be invested to work on specialized guidelines for the development and implementation of laws that help prevent this type of crime and to bring to justice those who operate outside of the law. The fight against terrorist groups has not diminished during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as cyberattacks and attacks against national health infrastructure have increased. This once again underscores the importance of addressing this issue and of strengthening national capacities. Even with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, El Salvador continues to work not only to hold on to the areas recovered from gangs but also to significantly reduce extortion, drug trafficking, femicide, forced disappearances and other manifestations of terrorism and organized crime. Finally, El Salvador reaffirms its commitment to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and to developing the measures established therein as the most effective way to end the threat of terrorism, while ensuring full respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The candidate countries Turkey, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania; the country of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina; as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. The European Union (EU) and its member States thank Indonesia for pursuing this subject and leading us to focus on the need to better understand and address any evolving linkages between international terrorism and organized crime, recognizing that motivations and legal regimes for both are different. The Addendum to the Madrid Guiding Principles, adopted in December 2018, called upon all of us to continue to conduct research and collect information to enhance knowledge and better understand the nature and scope of the links that may exist between terrorism and transnational organized crime. As stated in the recent European Council conclusions on EU External Action on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism, adopted on 16 June, the EU recognizes the importance of continued monitoring and of an effective response to the threat emanating from linkages between organized crime and terrorism. There is a need to strengthen international cooperation in order to improve information exchange and cooperation among counter-terrorism, law enforcement, judicial and border control authorities. That includes mitigating the security risks of linkages in prisons between organized crime and terrorist inmates. In that regard, the EU strives to achieve a multidisciplinary, multi-agency, integrated approach to effectively tackling crime, including terrorism, while ensuring that any measures taken respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as principled humanitarian action and international humanitarian law. To ensure that and find best solutions, we need cross-sectoral cooperation among humanitarian, financial and counter-terrorism experts. It is crucial for various law enforcement and other agencies, specializing in either field, to work together, share information and intelligence and coordinate efforts at all levels in order to effectively respond to the challenges posed in both areas. A new EU Security Union Strategy for the period 2020 to 2025 focuses on priority areas where the EU can bring added value to support member States in fostering security. From combating terrorism and organized crime to preventing and detecting hybrid threats and increasing the resilience of our critical infrastructure, to promoting cybersecurity and fostering research and innovation, the Strategy lays out the tools and measures to be developed over the next five years to ensure security in our physical and digital environment. It also recognizes the increasing interconnection between internal and external security. In the EU, legislation to prevent and combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism is designed to prevent the financial markets from being misused for those purposes. Legislation must aim to address both issues simultaneously. It is imperative that we bar criminals from gaining access to capital by effectively fighting money laundering and disincentivizing terrorism and organized crime. That legislation increases transparency about the beneficial owners of companies and trusts in order to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing via opaque structures and improve the work of financial intelligence units, with better access to information through centralized bank account registers; tackles terrorist financing risks linked to the anonymous use of virtual currencies and prepaid instruments; and improves the cooperation and exchange of information between anti-money laundering supervisors and with the European Central Bank; among other things. With regard to drugs, the new EU Agenda and Action Plan on Drugs 2021-2025 sets out the political framework and priorities for action for the next five years. It aims at enhancing security measures that focus on all aspects of illicit trafficking of drugs, from organized crime groups to external border management and illicit distribution and production. It is also increasing prevention, including through raising awareness on the adverse effects of drugs, notably the intersection between drug use, violence and other forms of crimes. Moreover, the EU Agenda and Action Plan on Drugs 2021-2025 addresses drug-related harms through access to treatment, risk and harm reduction, and a balanced approach to the issue of drugs in prisons. More significantly, the EU commits to tackling drug-related financial flows, as the EU member States have agreed to increase the number of financial investigations and encourage their relevant authorities to focus on the seizure, confiscation and recovery of proceeds of crime, particularly money-laundering, corruption and other criminal activities, including organized crime. On 24 July 2020, a new EU action plan on trafficking of firearms between 2020 and 2025 was published. To safeguard the legal market for firearms and avoid diversion, it focuses on the enforcement and modernization of EU legislation on controlling acquisitions and movements of firearms. To improve our knowledge of the threat of firearms trafficking, it proposes measures to develop comparable statistics on firearms events and seizures across the EU. To improve the crackdown on firearms-related crime, it proposes to give a new push to national firearms focal points, develop new tools to better detect weapons in fast parcels and modernize legislation on sanctions and police cooperation. Finally, it proposes to step up international cooperation, in particular with South-Eastern Europe, for which the action plan includes a number of specific actions. We highlight the important role played by the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, which contributes to improving judicial cooperation in the fight against serious crime, including terrorism and the role of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), which supports member States in preventing and combating all forms of serious international and organized crime and terrorism. Europol prepares a terrorism situation and trend report every year. In the latest report, which has just been published, the entity noted that EU member States observed that a substantial number of terrorists have prior criminal records, mainly in different forms of non-organized crime. The illicit acquisition of material resources, such as theft of weapons and documents, has been identified as directly contributing to terrorist activity. The EU will strengthen its cooperation with the United Nations, including its offices, in particular the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime — for example, on the annual report questionnaire to monitor the world drug situation — and the Office of Counter-Terrorism in this area. As we stated last year, the EU and its member States continue to consider it useful to increase efforts to better understand further linkages between terrorism and organized crime (see S/PV.8569). For these reasons, we welcome today’s debate and the opportunity it affords to sharing and highlighting experiences.

The delegation of Guatemala thanks the Indonesian presidency for convening today’s open debate, which is of particular relevance because terrorism is a criminal scourge that continues to affect the international community and peace and security in the world and reflects the Security Council’s interest in addressing the links between transnational organized crime and terrorism, a relationship that must be treated comprehensively if we are to prevent and suppress the indiscriminate violence that the phenomenon entails. Due to its geographical location, the Central American region, and my country in particular, have been besieged by transnational networks that promote crime in all its forms, especially drug trafficking, money- or other asset-laundering, assassination, human trafficking and indiscriminate and illegal use and trafficking of weapons, in order to commit acts of excessive violence. Despite the enormous efforts that my Government is undertaking to strengthen and modernize justice- sector institutions, allocating greater resources and reinforcing the prosecution of organized crime organizations and the operational capacities of the Office of the Prosecutor, we continue to be victimized by international networks that overwhelm the operational capacities of that Office. We continue to be victims of international networks that overwhelm our capacities, given that these networks possess high- calibre firearms and other war materials and that they dispose of inexhaustible financial power, both of which enhance their ability to engage in criminal conduct. We recognize that, despite current legislation, when weapons fall into the hands of criminal organizations, the threat against our civilian populations is imminent. The deplorable conduct of terrorists threatens the most important thing in the human person: a person’s life and dignity. When we see how innocent civilians are attacked by extremist radicals who, in an atrocious and cowardly manner, indeed in acts of perversity taken to the extreme, take innocent lives, we must urgently reflect on joint actions that prevent or counteract this scourge. Guatemala therefore reiterates that terrorism is a global phenomenon that, apart from triggering anxiety, trauma and desolation, must be addressed at its very origins. International terrorism and transnational organized crime have similarities, despite being two different phenomena: while terrorism is a form of violent struggle that indiscriminately victimizes the civilian population in order to confuse, frighten and capture the attention of public opinion for political, ideological or sectarian purposes, organized crime is a way of committing planned crimes in order to profit economically. Both benefit from illicit and surreptitious trafficking in arms and drugs, mainly by weakening democratic institutions, undermining the rule of law and subverting social life. Further, both have capacities, which, when they enter into a symbiotic relationship, causes extreme anxiety in our peoples. The pernicious link between the two phenomena is the question that we must examine to legislate against it, and we must take concrete actions to suppress all sources of financing and acquisition of materials that can be used for criminal acts. For this reason, Guatemala, through the Presidential Commission for the Coordination of Efforts against Money-Laundering or other Assets, Terrorist Financing and Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, works hard to create inter-institutional policies and counteract these acts, monitoring the international conventions ratified by the State of Guatemala that regulate these matters, as well as the recommendations issued by the Office of Counter-Terrorism and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In the last five years we have noted progress, but also vulnerabilities, related to strengthening multilateral mechanisms that promote better coordination in the fight against terrorism and organized crime. A milestone in this progress, which, in turn, constituted an achievement for the region, was the adoption of the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, which was ratified by the vast majority of States in our hemisphere. The objective of the Convention is for the countries that produce, export and import weapons to adopt measures to eradicate their manufacture and illicit trafficking. Although the international community has valuable legal instruments for combating terrorism and organized crime, the general perception of our population is that such regulations are insufficient in the face of the devastating onslaught of terrorism and transnational crime. Accordingly, the United Nations and the Security Council must harmonize efforts to implement the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and consider shared actions to fight this scourge. Those efforts will be insufficient if the international community does not adopt more rigorous controls over the illegal small arms and light weapons market, and the related ammunitions market, since the illicit trade in these weapons and their indiscriminate use make it easier for terrorist networks and organized crime actors to acquire them for nefarious uses. In this context, the Arms Trade Treaty in particular sets forth specific regulations to prevent and eliminate the illicit trafficking of conventional weapons and impede their diversion to the illicit market or to unauthorized uses and end users. That impact of markets in small arms and light weapons would be even more devastating if illicit groups, mainly terrorists, were to have access to markets in weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Strict compliance with international instruments that regulate the use of chemical, bacteriological and nuclear weapons is therefore necessary, so that WMDs are kept out of the reach of extremist groups seeking to disrupt international peace and security. Accordingly, our countries additionally commit to ensuring the correct implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and urging States to adopt and apply effective laws that proscribe the provision of supplies or any other type of support to non-State agents. These measures will help to monitor the development, acquisition, manufacture, possession, transport, transfer or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their vector systems. Next year States will have the opportunity to carry out a comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), which will be necessary to assess the progress made on these issues and meet the challenges that States still face in this matter. In this context, we express our congratulations to Indonesia for its hard work as the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Finally, we urge the international community to renew efforts aimed at cooperating and collectively combating transnational terrorism and organized crime. We believe that the Security Council, in accordance with its responsibility to maintain international peace and security, must consider the main links between the two scourges, in such a way that the root causes are addressed in a comprehensive manner.

We thank Indonesia for organizing this most pertinent and useful debate on an important topic that has been a great concern for all of us. We extend our gratitude to Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General, Office of Counter-Terrorism, and Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), for their informative and insightful briefing. Terrorism is one of the most serious threats that humankind faces today. The scourge of terrorism does not distinguish between countries or regions. It is the grossest affront to the enjoyment of the inalienable human right to life and to living in peace and security. India strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. There can be no justification of any form of terrorism. Looking for root causes for terrorism is akin to trying to find a needle in a haystack. Today it is a widely accepted fact that both terrorist organizations and organized crime groups constitute transnational criminal groups. The adoption of resolution 2482 (2019), on this important issue, has also demonstrated the Security Council’s determination to address the threat emanating from this unholy nexus. Several United Nations reports have documented incidents of transnational organized criminals trafficking persons across borders to facilitate the recruitment of cadres to terrorist organizations. Organized criminal networks are involved in many different types of criminal activities, spanning several countries. These activities may include trafficking in people, drugs, illicit goods and weapons, armed robbery, counterfeiting and money- laundering. With revenues estimated in the billons, these criminal enterprises closely resemble those of legitimate international businesses. They have operating models, long-term strategies, hierarchies and even strategic alliances. Organized criminal networks also help terrorist groups funnel funds into legitimate businesses. There is documented evidence where smuggling of narcotics, natural resources and cultural artefacts are sustained by safe transit corridors provided by terrorist entities. We have seen the destruction created by the narcotics trade in our region, which has sustained and funded terrorist networks. It is a well- known fact in common law that the accomplice is as culpable as the principal. Therefore, by virtue of being in nexus with terrorist groups, transnational organized crime groups become accessories to terrorist acts. India has been a victim of terrorism sponsored from across our border. We have experienced first-hand the cruel linkage between transnational organized crime and terrorism. An organized crime syndicate, the D-Company, which used to smuggle gold and counterfeit currencies, was transformed into a terrorist entity overnight when it caused a series of bomb blasts in the city of Mumbai in 1993. The attack resulted in the loss of more than 250 innocent lives and millions of dollars of damage to property. The perpetrator of that incident also, unsurprisingly, continues to enjoy patronage in a neighbouring country, a hub for arms trafficking and the narcotics trade, along with other terrorists and terrorist entities that have been proscribed by the United Nations. Over the years, terrorist groups have developed a diversified funding portfolio and raised funds through a range of criminal activities, including but not limited to extortion, kidnapping for ransom, robbery and theft, drug smuggling and trafficking in blood diamonds, humans and antiquities. Terrorist organizations have also begun to exploit the anonymity afforded by blockchain technology for fundraising and finances. As data increasingly becomes the currency of the future, regulators will have to come up with better solutions to fight terrorism. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has severely impacted the movement of people and materials around the world. While nations are focused on delivering health care to their people and on tackling the economic impact of the pandemic, organized criminals have nevertheless been exploiting the crisis to find new avenues for their crimes, including illicit trafficking in natural resources, narcotics, firearms and explosives. In its latest research brief, UNODC reported that an increase in online activity has led to an expansion of phishing, credit-card fraud, pirated sites for fake donations, and cyberattacks. There have been multiple reports of fake and cloned websites as well as suspicious e-mail addresses. Many of these scams involve coronavirus- related topics, such as the sale of face masks and disinfectants. The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, a renowned Geneva-based network of more than 500 organized crime experts, released a valuable report in March 2020 entitled Crime and Contagion: The impact of a pandemic on organized crime. The paper provides various examples from around the world of how organized crime is coping with and ultimately exploiting the COVID-19 nightmare. At this stage, it is imperative for all of us to remain alert to the nature of the symbiotic threat posed by the linkage between terrorism and transnational organized crime and reinvigorate our efforts to counter it. In this regard, we have the following five suggestions. First, the success of collective action against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant serves as an example of how focused attention by the international community yields results. A similar focus on addressing threats posed by such proscribed individuals and entities as Dawood Ibrahim and his D-Company, the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, will serve humankind well. Secondly, it is important to hold States accountable for activities that support or encourage terrorism in territories under their control. The resolutions of the Security Council make it clear that Member States have the primary responsibility in countering terrorist acts and preventing and suppressing the financing thereof. Thirdly, Member States that suffer due to poor governance and inadequate oversight of financial institutions are more vulnerable to exploitation by terrorist entities and organized criminals. Implementation of the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on strengthening the capabilities of the governance structure of financial and economic assets should be one of the topmost priorities to counter the menace. Fourthly, the United Nations needs to enhance its coordination with bodies such as the FATF that have been playing a significant role in setting global standards for preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Finally, with the rapid development of information and communications technology, as well as other technologies concerning financial transactions, encryption, mode of transportation and delivery, Member States should remain vigilant in identifying new trends in linkages between terrorist groups/terrorist individuals and organized criminals. There is compelling evidence of a broad, geographically dispersed and continuing connection between terrorism and organized crime. Going forward, we need to work towards enhancing cooperation among law enforcement and Governments around the world, which is needed in the battle against that growing nexus. Meaningful progress will require increased political will, strong legislation, consistent enforcement, intelligence-gathering and -sharing, deterrent measures and innovative solutions. We sincerely hope that today’s discussions will lead to an enhancement of our collective efforts to stem the spread of the menace of terrorism and organized crime. Perhaps that will be our greatest contribution to humanity.

Terrorism and transnational organized crimes have affected almost all States. The concerted efforts of affected States, under the auspices of the United Nations, play a decisive role in preventing and prosecuting such crimes. In that regard, we have an ongoing commitment to counter the scourges of terrorism and transnational organized crimes, whether domestic or transnational, and any possible links that may exist between them. At the national level, Iran has made considerable efforts to update its domestic legal frameworks to more effectively strengthen law enforcement authorities in countering and keeping pace with the new modus operandi of organized criminal, as well as terrorist, groups. For example, Iran’s Countering Money Laundering Act and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act have both been recently updated, taking into account the relevant international standards and practices. Moreover, the capacity of judicial institutions to address those crimes has been strengthened. At the international level, the Islamic Republic of Iran has fully demonstrated its dedication and unwavering resolve in fighting those heinous crimes. Having fallen victim to numerous international terrorist acts, Iran has undertaken considerable measures to punish the perpetrators and prevent other acts of such a nature. Concurrently, Iran has assisted neighbouring countries, at their request, in combating terrorist groups designated by the Security Council. The sacrifices of the Iranian nation, including the tireless efforts of the martyr General Soleimani, who was assassinated in Iraq by the United States, to eradicate terrorism in the region, are well documented. Likewise, Iran has been at the forefront of fighting transnational organized crime, including human trafficking, migrant smuggling and trafficking in cultural property and illicit drugs, including their transit through our territory. According to the annual United Nations World Drug Report, as a country located next to an epicentre of the world drug problem, Iran has had the world’s largest quantities of opiates seizures in several consecutive years. That and other achievements of Iran have cost the country dearly, including the lives of almost 4,000 Iranian law enforcement personnel over the past four decades. Iran is determined to continue its efforts to combat terrorists and drug traffickers. However, to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of our efforts, the international community should provide assistance without preconditions, discrimination or politicization. Furthermore, the excessive use of unlawful unilateral economic and financial sanctions by some countries, particularly the United States, should be confronted, as they generate hurdles to national efforts and provide breeding grounds for criminal networks. Understanding the underlying causes and the complex dynamics of terrorism and organized crimes, and their possible interactions, is a necessary prerequisite for evidence-based action by States. We share the view that the possible linkages between those two heinous crimes need to be further studied in order to guide our actions. In that regard, we agree with the Secretary-General that “States should continue to proactively exchange information to support additional research and collect empirical evidence” (S/2020/754, para. 108). The two plagues correspond to different motivations and have separate legal frameworks. On the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, by virtue of its purposes and nature, terrorism constitutes a threat to international peace and security. But transnational organized crimes, with a different nature and scope, remain within the realm of public security. At the same time, there is not enough data to support the existence of a universal or direct linkage between such criminal activities. Any possible links that may exist between terrorism and transnational organized crimes should be understood in their specific contexts and conditions. For instance, they may feed on each other when the conditions are right, as some terrorist circles in our neighbourhood have been nourished from the proceeds of drug trafficking. Even in such specific circumstances in which a relationship between those crimes may arise, different spheres of liability are involved and different sanctions and procedures should be applied. Such an argument proves a fortiori applicable with respect to a possible link between domestic organized crimes and terrorism as well. In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm that the Islamic Republic of Iran, consistent with its international commitments, will continue its efforts to effectively prevent and counter organized crime and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Ireland congratulates Indonesia on its presidency of the Security Council and would like to thank Minister Marsudi for presiding over today’s timely debate. Ireland aligns itself with the statement submitted on behalf of the European Union (annex 27) and wishes to thank Under-Secretary-General Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and Under- Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, Head of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, for their contributions to today’s debate. Clearly, we cannot yield in our efforts to tackle terrorism and organized crime. Ireland has highlighted its concerns about the recent rise in malicious cyberactivity and cybercrime. Terrorist and hate groups are engaged in the spread of disinformation and propaganda, sowing distrust and division. At the same time, the economic impacts of the pandemic are making more people susceptible to terrorist narratives and criminal activity, while States struggle to maintain the resources necessary to challenge crime and terrorism. Action is now required to prevent a rise in terrorism post-coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Like the virus, terrorism and criminality are global challenges that cannot be tackled by States acting alone. Now more than ever, the global response to terrorism and organized crime requires multilateral cooperation and vision, with the United Nations at its core. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy provides a strong framework to facilitate cooperation between Member States and international/ regional organizations and to promote engagement with non-governmental stakeholders. Economic and social inequalities can contribute to fuelling criminality and terrorism; Ireland welcomes the ongoing engagement by the United Nations to support sustainable development in communities worldwide. The socioeconomic impact of the pandemic is being particularly felt by the young, and the United Nations and its Member States must now work decisively to counter the lure of criminality, violent extremism and terrorism. Partnerships with civil society can play a critical role in that regard. We know from our own national experience that an effective counter-terrorism strategy is one that respects human rights, fundamental freedoms, international humanitarian law and the rule of law, as highlighted in the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and reaffirmed by the Security Council. Human rights abuses contribute to and sustain terrorism and criminality. Ireland looks forward to engaging in future high-level conferences on human rights and counter-terrorism as soon as the current pandemic context allows. Last year, Ireland was pleased to co-sponsor resolution 2482 (2019), which calls upon Member States to enhance the coordination of efforts at all levels in order to strengthen a global response to linkages between international terrorism and organized crime. To that end, Ireland continues to work closely with partners to counter terrorism and criminality, including through the recent adoption of European Union (EU) Council conclusions on preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism, which will strengthen global intelligence-gathering and information- sharing networks and promote the EU’s dialogues and strategic engagement with third countries. Those who commit terrorist acts rely on funding sourced from whatever avenues are open to them, including through criminal activity, and while this is replicated across jurisdictions, the extent of the relationship and the factors which influence it vary widely. Enhanced dialogue at the United Nations and more research and information-sharing, including on evolving terrorist threats and trends, and how criminal activity finances and sustains terrorism, are necessary. This includes a continued concerted global approach to preventing money laundering and illicit financing, which sustain terrorism. We must not take for granted the important role played by civil society in this dialogue and rise to the challenge of ensuring that COVID-19 does not limit civil society participation in the development of counter- terrorism measures. Ireland is playing its part. Our response brings together a range of Government departments and agencies, including the Central Bank of Ireland, the Irish Police and Defence Forces, our Criminal Assets Bureau and Revenue Commissioners. The Security Council must also continue to address this issue. Resolution 2462 (2019) sets out a comprehensive approach to combat the financing of terrorism. The challenge as ever is moving from rhetoric to implementation. Ireland remains committed to supporting the United Nations and to working with partners to counter terrorism and organized crime and prevent the incalculable damage inflicted on citizens, communities and States.

Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and wishes to add some additional remarks in its national capacity. Italy would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Indonesian presidency for organizing this open debate on the linkages between international terrorism and organized crime. This debate is especially timely in the light of the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has exacerbated the vulnerability of individuals and groups to violent extremism while exposing economic and financial systems to major risks of unlawful behaviours. The deteriorated socioeconomic environment has increased the danger of speculation, fraud and corruption and created favourable conditions for organized crime and terrorism, as well as the malicious nexus between the two. To respond effectively to these risks and challenges, it is crucial for the international community to act in a coordinated manner and further promote the exchange of information and best practices. Italy has been steadfast in its commitment to the fight against terrorism and organized crime, within a framework of respect for fundamental guarantees and the protection of human rights. Our decades-long experience in the fight against these phenomena has led us to develop a series of legislative, institutional and operational tools that have proved to be quite effective. Our legislation builds on the experience and the legal framework developed in the 1970s to counter terrorism, and, in the 1980s and 1990s, to counter organized crime. The National Anti-Mafia Directorate — a centralized judicial authority to coordinate investigations into organized crime — was established in 2001. Its mandate was later extended to cover terrorism, so it was renamed the National Anti- Mafia and Counter-Terrorism Directorate. Today, the Directorate plays the essential role of coordinating the work of all of Italy’s main stakeholders, and has access to all the files managed by the district prosecutors’ offices. This mechanism has achieved great results in countering all forms of terrorism at both the domestic and the international levels. Innovative operational tools have been developed within this framework. These include non-conviction-based confiscation measures, which have neutralized or considerably reduced the economic power of the main criminal players. Electronic surveillance and the so-called collaborators of justice have also been successfully employed to collect evidence for trials on terrorism and organized crime. A Financial Security Committee was established in 2001 within the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. It has a key role in the implementation of the Security Council’s sanctions against terrorist networks. It also promotes fruitful synergies and information sharing between authorities engaged in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Finally, the Committee on Anti-Terrorism Strategic Analysis, established within the Ministry of the Interior, coordinates the work of the various law enforcement agencies and intelligence services. The Committee draws on a network of security experts in different sectors, including drug trafficking; national and international databases; cultural heritage and natural resource protection; and trafficking in cultural property. To better fight trafficking in cultural property, Italy established, at the end of 2015, the Unite4Heritage Task Force of the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. The Task Force also works to counter interlinkages between illegal trafficking in cultural property and the financing of terrorism.

I would like to express Japan’s appreciation for the initiative of the Indonesian presidency to discuss this topic of great importance in the Security Council. Linkages between international terrorism and organized crime continue to pose a serious challenge and threat not only to human security, but also to international peace and security. The proceeds of organized crime, such as trafficking in person, illicit trade in arms and drugs, and kidnapping, are often an important source of funding for terrorists. To fully implement relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2482 (2019), which calls upon Member States to redouble their efforts on this critical issue, Japan has been making every effort to counter both terrorism and organized crime and to synergize measures on both fronts. In addition to putting in place stringent national measures, Japan contributes to capacity-building in other Member States in collaboration with relevant United Nations bodies. To take one notable example, Japan has been a long-standing partner of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in providing a series of trainings to boost capacities for border control in the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and for maritime law enforcement in the Indian Ocean region. Recognizing the issues related to the conditions of prisons and correctional facilities as an exacerbating factor in violent extremism, Japan has supported the efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate to improve strategies for the prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of terrorists in South- East Asia through a community-based approach. Pivotal initiatives are being advanced, as exemplified by the United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel Programme, led by the United Nations Office of Counter- Terrorism. Japan has been a donor to this project since its launch last year and hopes that it will effectively assist Member States in enhancing their detection capabilities against both terrorists and serious criminals. The ongoing coronavirus disease crisis is negatively impacting our efforts to counter terrorism and organized crime. There is a growing risk of terrorist attacks against potential targets whose defensive measures had to be downgraded due to the pandemic. Vigilance is needed even outside conflict areas, including in cyberspace, which terrorists increasingly exploit for propaganda, recruitment and financing. In the face of the pandemic, Japan has swiftly redesigned its assistance to UNODC to enhance Member States’ capacities for border controls, prison management and cybersecurity. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols remain among the most important foundations for international cooperation in combating terrorism and organized crime. Undeterred by its postponement this spring due to the pandemic, the fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is envisaged to be held in Kyoto in March 2021. Japan will work closely with UNODC and Member States to ensure success at the Kyoto Congress. To respond to the ever-evolving intrigue of terrorists and criminal organizations, Member States and relevant international bodies need to coordinate their measures and implement them effectively. Japan is determined to continue to contribute to such endeavours in close cooperation with the United Nations.

Kenya commends Indonesia for convening us to exchange views on this critical issue, including the informative briefings from the various briefers. The threats of transnational terrorism and organized crime to international peace and security are interlinked. Understanding this dynamic and complex confluence is an important first step in designing appropriate measures to prevent, detect, deter or deny the perpetrators their respective capabilities. Today’s deliberations will afford Member States the opportunity to consider the crime-terrorism nexus and derive insights on how to enhance existing policies and legislative frameworks at the national, regional and international levels. Kenya has taken several measures to address this two-fold threat. The Government has prioritized this issue and intensified national efforts to counter terrorism and combat organized crime. Terrorism tends to benefit from proceeds and networks of organized crime. The Kenyan Government has therefore consolidated and strengthened existing counter-terrorism and organized crime-related legislative frameworks and enacted new ones, including the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Security Laws Amendment Act. These laws have collectively proved successful in prosecuting terrorist and organized criminal actors. We have also taken steps to strengthen and promote multiagency cooperation through training and joint operations. Kenya has established the Border Management Agency Control Unit to proactively enhance border security and management operations to combat cross-border security threats throughout the 34 border-crossing points while improving legitimate trade and travel with neighbouring countries. International cooperation in countering the financing of terrorism is critical. Kenya is a member of the Eastern and Southern Anti-Money Laundering Group, an Associate Member of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that is mandated to set standards and promote the effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures to combat money-laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats. In line with the FATF recommendations, in March 2019 Kenya established the Task Force on National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in order to implement extensive measures to avert and diminish the threats emanating from crime-terror linkages, which impact the integrity of the international financial system. Despite these measures, the evolving coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has presented new dynamics and challenges in combating terrorism and organized crime. Regrettably while Governments are focused on combating COVID-19, terrorist groups like the Islamic State, Al-Qaida and their affiliates, including Al-Shabaab, have seized the opportunity to stage attacks. We are also witnessing the phenomenon of so-called lone actors capitalizing on the pandemic circumstances to recruit individuals among vulnerable groups in the society. The Secretary-General has also noted that the pandemic presents opportunities for cybercriminal networks to thrive when law enforcement agencies are stretched in their monitoring capabilities. In conclusion , my delegation recognizes the transboundary nature of the crime-terror continuum and calls on Member States to deepen partnerships, collaboration and the sharing of relevant information in order to effectively address the problem, and to strengthen the Council and relevant United Nations entities to ensure Member States implement the relevant resolutions.

I thank you, Sir, for organizing this important open debate. My delegation wishes Indonesia every success in assuming the presidency of the Council for this month. The nexus between organized crime and terrorism has existed for a long time, tied by a relationship of convenience and opportunity rather than a shared ideology. Combating both would require us to unravel and sever their ties while addressing their root causes. Hence, a coordinated response by the international community is imperative if we ever hope to effectively address the drivers that perpetuate these twin threats to international peace and security. In this regard, I wish to make three points on the subject before us. The first is that tackling terrorism demands a whole-of-nation approach. National policies and legal frameworks that could lead to an effective enforcement of law and prosecution of cases involving both criminal and terrorist groups must be established and strengthened, in compliance with obligations under international law. Barriers to information-sharing must be pulled down and targeted capacity- building should be encouraged and supported. In this regard, Malaysia has taken the necessary steps to strengthen our national legal frameworks and mobilize the relevant authorities to intensify enforcement efforts. Second is the importance of regional and international cooperation. Terrorists and criminals alike operate in the shadows, use violence to achieve their ends and exploit the gaps in our criminal-justice systems as well as our borders. Effective cooperation at the regional and international levels is therefore key to combatting these threats. From 24 February to 20 March, the INTERPOL-led Operation Maharlika III, which included the combined forces of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, managed to arrest more than 180 individuals for various offences, including one suspected member of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group. The operation also seized firearms, illegally assembled explosives made of ammonium nitrate, and other illicit goods and substances worth more than €1 million. The arrest and seizure suggested that transborder criminal activities have been used to fund terrorist activities. The successful operation was only made possible through effective regional and international cooperation. Third, and as I alluded to earlier, is to address the root causes that breed terrorism and underpin organized crime. Malaysia fully believes that the root causes must be identified and removed if we ever hope to triumph in our struggle against these threats. Our position on the root causes of terrorism is clear. Prolonged and grievous injustice, gross violations of human rights, foreign occupation, systematic discrimination and oppression of peoples anywhere, regardless of their colour or creed, provide fertile ground for terrorists to exploit and threaten international peace and security. Meanwhile, poverty, insecurity, corruption, and underdevelopment are some of the factors identified as drivers for organized crime to take root and flourish. Terrorism and organized crime undermine the rule of law and human rights as the foundation of peaceful, inclusive and prosperous societies. Malaysia strongly and unequivocally condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations. We remain committed to enhancing cooperation and strategies to prevent terrorists from benefiting from transnational organized crime.

Mexico thanks Indonesia for having convened this debate on the links between international terrorism and transnational organized crime. This is an excellent opportunity to analyse two different phenomena, with different legal frameworks, that manifest in different ways in national and regional contexts. Terrorism always represents a threat to international peace and security. We have seen how this phenomenon affects the stability of States, the development and well-being of their societies and the security of their inhabitants. In recent years, some terrorist organizations have used financing methods that are characteristic of transnational organized crime, including money-laundering, arms trafficking and human trafficking. However, an empirical analysis of the motives underlying the links between terrorism and organized crime reveals particularities in each national context. It is important to avoid generalizations that do not benefit national actions aimed at addressing both phenomena and international cooperation efforts in those areas. The common denominator of States’ actions must be the application of the law and full respect for international law and human rights. It is necessary to prevent and combat these multidimensional phenomena in accordance with the law. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2020/754) mandated by resolution 2482 (2019) provides an account of this as well as of the need to strengthen a pragmatic approach between the areas of security, financial intelligence and law enforcement. Likewise, it shows that beyond the measures that some States have adopted and the actions described by United Nations entities, the links that may exist between both phenomena remain to be documented and better understood. We must strengthen measures to prevent the financial flows derived from the illegal activities of transnational organized crime from promoting the activities of terrorist organizations. Sharing information among Government institutions will translate into better-informed and coordinated responses for the prevention of and an effective combat against illicit activities. It is vital at all times to fully respect the applicable legal framework and to refrain from applying anti-terrorist measures to other criminal acts in a generalized manner. Mexico deems necessary a more in-depth understanding of specific cases on the Council’s agenda in which there may be an intersection between terrorist groups and transnational organized crime. For example, illicit financial flows and easy access to high-calibre weapons can benefit both transnational organized-crime groups and armed or terrorist groups. We must continue to promote international cooperation, including the universalization of existing mechanisms to prevent the diversion and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons. Mexico condemns the fact that some terrorist groups are taking advantage of the pandemic to advance their agendas and reiterates the importance of respecting human rights at all times when addressing the challenges posed by this health crisis.

Allow me to congratulate the Republic of Indonesia on having assumed the presidency of the Security Council during the month of August and to thank it for having organized this highly important and timely debate. Increasing globalization has created countless opportunities for social, economic and cultural development, but it has also brought with it multiple challenges and cross-border threats such as terrorism and transnational organized crime. Terrorism and transnational organized crime reinforce each other for financial and/or material benefits through a nexus based on coexistence or convergence of criminal interests. Criminal activities provide terrorist groups with substantial financial resources from various sources such as illicit trafficking; the smuggling of weapons, drugs, cigarettes, vehicles, cultural goods and artefacts, and human beings; and extortion and kidnapping for ransom. The nexus between terrorism and transnational organized crime undermines the conditions necessary for sustainable economic development and the consolidation of the rule of law in some already unstable regions. Many existing factors contribute to reinforcing that threat, mainly porosity of borders, insufficient capacities of the authorities, lack of technical resources on the part of the defence and security forces, inadequate capacity of the criminal justice and penitentiary systems, and lack of police and judicial cooperation at the national, regional and international levels. For Morocco, responding to the nexus between terrorism and transnational organized crime requires a realistic vision and the establishment of an approach based primarily on inclusive cooperation, as well as coordinated action and shared responsibilities. Because of its geographical position at the crossroads of strategic maritime, land and air routes, Morocco is directly confronted with multiple security and cross- border threats, including terrorism and transnational organized crime. Accordingly, it has adopted a comprehensive multidimensional strategy to combat both threats. That strategy is based on three main axes: synergy and coordination between the security services and local authorities, with a view to devising an effective and rule- of-law-based response to the terrorist and criminal threats; strengthening the fight against the exclusion and marginalization of the most disadvantaged social strata; and strengthening cooperation with our bilateral and international partners. In addition to its known and recognized measures to combat terrorism, Morocco has also strengthened its institutional, operational and technical capacities to combat transnational organized crime. Part of that effort involves ensuring that training sessions for law-enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges focus on the interconnection between illicit trafficking and terrorism. In accordance with international, regional and interregional legal instruments, Morocco contributes to the efforts of the international community by making use of cooperation channels, including exploring opportunities for information exchange at both the bilateral level, via liaison officers, and the multilateral level, via INTERPOL, in order to achieve a fruitful exchange of information and ensure effective access to data on persons and entities with suspected links to terrorism and transnational organized crime. Morocco also has an extremely fruitful and multidimensional cooperation with United Nations entities in charge of combating the scourge of terrorism and transnational organized crime. Finally, as one of the co-Chairs of the Global Counterterrorism Forum, Morocco supported the development of The Hague Good Practices on the Nexus between Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism and its policy toolkit, which are aimed at providing practitioners, policymakers and governmental experts with a practical tool to formulate effective responses and concrete actions to address the challenge posed by that nexus.

I would like to thank you, Sir, for organizing today’s open debate on addressing the linkages between terrorism and organized crime. We also thank the other briefers for sharing their perspectives on this important subject. My delegation would nonetheless like to make the following additional remarks in its national capacity. The nexus between terrorism and organized crime facing the international community flourishes where governance and State presence are weak. Terrorist and organized criminal networks use similar approaches to develop and run illicit economies, and often develop and exploit territories beyond the reach of law enforcement agencies, where they can safely recruit members and raise funds. Terrorism and organized crime not only finance conflict but also promote corruption and undermine institutions. There are growing concerns that terrorists can benefit from organized crime, whether domestic or transnational, through activities such as trafficking in arms, persons, drugs, artefacts and cultural property; the illicit trade of natural resources and wildlife; the abuse of legitimate commercial enterprise, non-profit organizations, donations and crowd-funding; and the proceeds of criminal activity, including kidnapping for ransom, extortion, bank robbery, as well as transnational organized crime at sea. Through its various resolutions, the Security Council has addressed the linkages between some type of organized crimes and terrorist activities, such as kidnapping for ransom and illicit trafficking in persons, firearms, cultural property, oil, charcoal and drugs. However, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has diverted the attention and resources of national authorities to address the new challenges that have emerged. That includes the limited ability of law enforcement to conduct operations, as well as implications to border security as transit patterns shift towards irregular routes due to air travel restrictions. The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed presented challenges for regional cooperation, with many State institutions under considerable strain to respond to the health, economic, political, social and security dimensions of the crisis within their own borders. As countries take necessary emergency measures to provide economic safety nets for their citizens and businesses, organized criminal networks are exploiting gaps and opportunities and becoming increasingly complex in their operations. Global border closures and transportation shutdowns are impacting patterns of human and wildlife trafficking and migrant smuggling. Cybercrime is also on the rise as many have turned to the Internet as their primary link to the world. We acknowledge that the Security Council, through resolution 2482 (2019), has provided much-needed leadership to give impetus to the fight against terrorism and organized crime. In Africa, the African Union (AU) underscores the need for collective approaches among member States to fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime and urges its member States to sign and ratify all existing AU and relevant international instruments on the prevention and combating of terrorism, violent extremism and organized crime. The Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa, the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism and the African Police Cooperation Organization are part of the security apparatus set up in order to build collective synergies to promote and enhance coherence and complementarity — rather than duplicate efforts — through the sharing of information and intelligence among the relevant security agencies of its member States. At the subregional level, the Economic Community of West African States continues to emphasize the importance of investing more in promoting effective border-control and surveillance technologies, including through introducing biometric identity documents. It also stresses the importance of effective regulation while bearing in mind the need to protect basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially freedom of movement among its member States. Furthermore, with the support of the international community, West African Governments have concentrated efforts to enhance the capacity of national justice systems, cooperation between and among border police and financial intelligence units, as well as the involvement of civil society and local communities in efforts to prevent and combat terrorism and organized crime. Nigeria continues to take important steps in its efforts to fight terrorism in the north-east of the country. We have endorsed an action plan for strengthening our criminal justice response to terrorism and organized crime. The action plan identifies concrete steps to strengthen our capacity to effectively screen and prosecute, as necessary, persons associated with Boko Haram in accordance with international standards and good practices. The implementation of the action plan is supported by the technical and capacity-building assistance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, as well as the help of several partners to implement mechanisms such as the National Drug Control Master Plan for 2015 to 2019, a key strategy document on drugs that promotes a balanced and evidence-based response to drug control in the country. The UNODC is currently supporting the development of the next Master Plan for the 2020-2024 period, which stresses the importance of cooperation. At this juncture, let me state that the issue of illicit financial flows and organized crime is twofold. The first part is the immediate need to track bilateral and multilateral aid disbursements and safeguard them from fraud and theft. That is why it is critical during this period to enhance our focus on illicit financial flows at the national, bilateral and multilateral levels. Nigeria commends the African Union for its role in convening and coordinating continental police forces and actions, as well as marshalling international solidarity and mobilizing resources. In conclusion, with the support of UNODC, Nigeria is aligning its national legislation with the provisions of international counter-terrorism conventions and protocols, and is developing appropriate legal frameworks in line with the key Council resolutions that address the linkages between terrorism and organized crime and identify areas for further action.

My delegation congratulates Indonesia on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and for convening today’s open debate on this important topic. I also thank the briefers for their insightful presentations this morning. The nexus between terrorism and organized crime is complex, and varies across different contexts. We know that since 9/11, criminal and terrorist outfits have cooperated to facilitate each other’s activities, and have been found to coexist, cooperate and sometimes even converge. For example, the World Drug Report 2017 of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) underlines that terrorists and non-State armed groups profit from the drug trade and opium poppy cultivation in our neighbourhood, in Afghanistan. Similarly, the 2016 European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report highlights that investigations into the unfortunate Paris attacks of November 2015 found that some of the attackers may have actively participated in organized criminal networks, instead of just being their clients. Moreover, the widespread use of enslavement, rape and human trafficking by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant is well-known and has been met with widespread international condemnation. These and many other instances clearly signal the existence of linkages between terrorism and organized crime. In our view, there are four major areas of confluence between organized crime and terrorism. First, there is ever-growing cooperation for the acquisition of arms, ammunition and explosive materials. Secondly, terrorist outfits are increasingly relying on organized crime as a financing tool. Thirdly, terrorist groups recruit criminals, in particular marginalized youth, to advance their agenda. Fourthly, organized crime flourishes in areas outside Government control and under the patronage of terrorist outfits. As one of the principal victims of terrorism, Pakistan is clearly and unwaveringly resolved to eliminating this scourge. Terrorist organizations such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar attack Pakistan using bases outside our borders. These organizations do not have any ideological motivation. They are mercenary terrorist organizations and work with the State patronage of third countries in order to generate a profit. This nexus of mercenary terrorists and their patrons generates finances through proceeds from the narcotics trade, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and smuggling of such natural resources as timber. An example of this patronage was proven by the arrest of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian intelligence agent who was running a syndicate of criminals and terrorists to foment terrorism in Pakistan. Similarly, we submitted the names of four other terrorist facilitators to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999). Such Indian terrorism facilitators, hiding in our neighbourhood in plain sight, continue to fuel terrorism inside Pakistan. The recent attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi, condemned by the Security Council, was the work of India-sponsored mercenary terrorists such as these. Pakistan will continue to make every effort to expose the ominous role being played by India, the fountainhead of terrorism in our region. Located next to the epicentre of the world drug problem, Pakistan also remains one of the most affected transit States for illicit drug trafficking. With limited resources, our law enforcement agencies continue to make record drug seizures year after year, which is a tangible manifestation of our consistent and dedicated efforts aimed at protecting not only our own country but also the rest of the world from this scourge. At the regional and global levels, Pakistan has remained constructively engaged with various counter-narcotics-related forums and initiatives. Pakistan is an active participant in the UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries. We are cooperating with Iran and Afghanistan under the UNODC-sponsored Triangular Initiative. Pursuant to the quartet initiative, we are collaborating with Russia, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to combat drug trafficking. We have strengthened cooperation with the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre, which is a useful forum for coordinating regional anti-drugs efforts at the operational level. My country believes that only through collective regional and international efforts can we choke off the various sources that support terrorist outfits through organized crime. We believe an effective strategy to achieve these goals must take into account the following five points. First, to ensure that our responses are evidence-based, the international community should allocate proper resources to better understand the correlation between the financing of terror and transnational organized crimes. Secondly, there are instances, including in our region, where there is a nexus between drug production, instability and lack of alternative economic opportunities. It is important to re-establish Government control over territories used for drug production and promote development to provide alternative livelihoods. Thirdly, in dealing with the world drug problem, it is important to focus on reducing both the supply and the demand of narcotic drugs through a well-integrated, comprehensive and balanced approach. Fourthly, effective border controls are a prerequisite to clamping down on transnational organized crime and terrorism. Finally, strategies must be tailored to specific challenges presented by particular regional dynamics and conditions. It is vital to build the capacities and capabilities of States facing these challenges. This is where the United Nations can play an effective role. Pakistan will continue to play its role to sever the vicious link between terrorism and organized crime in our region. This is critical for our own people as well as for our neighbourhood, and indeed the rest of the world.

First of all, we wish to express Peru’s warm greetings to the Foreign Minister of Indonesia and thank the presidency of the Security Council for convening today’s debate. We would also like to thank the briefers for their enlightening briefings. Based on its own experience, and with a view to addressing the links that can occur between terrorism and organized crime more effectively, Peru recognizes the need for a deeper understanding of those links. We are pleased to have promoted this issue during our recent membership in the Security Council and from the platform of our chairmanship of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. We are particularly proud that these efforts led to the adoption of the pioneering resolution 2482 (2019) under the Peruvian presidency of the Council. We note with satisfaction that we are among a significant number of States that have adopted concrete measures for the effective implementation of resolution 2482 (2019), as reflected in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/754). We hope that these measures will contribute to making tangible progress in the identification, prevention and dismantling of the links between terrorism and the various forms of organized crime, including illicit trafficking in drugs, arms, natural and mineral resources, persons and cultural goods. Terrorism can benefit from forms of organized crime for nefarious purposes, including for its financing, and undermining the rule of law and human rights as the foundation of peaceful, inclusive and prosperous societies. In the light of this, we emphasize the importance of recognizing the differentiated regimes established for these crimes and adopting approaches that allow, inter alia, for the exchange of information to support additional investigations and the gathering of empirical evidence, the further development of police and prison intelligence, and mechanisms or centres of intelligence and effective coordination. At the domestic level, we consider it essential, among other aspects, to strengthen financial intelligence units and control entities, with a view to preventing and combating money-laundering for the purposes of financing terrorism. The Government of Peru has been directing important efforts to this end within the framework of its National Multisectoral Policy to Combat Terrorism 2019-2023, with results that we hope to share soon. It should be noted that, in 2019, the National Multisectoral Policy to Combat Organized Crime was also adopted, which allows for the development of distinct actions and the strengthening of specialization in the fight against these crimes. The global crisis caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic requires States to direct their greatest attention and efforts towards this fight. At the multilateral level, it is also necessary to strengthen the institutions that will enable this challenge to be tackled collectively. Therefore, in order to prevent terrorist and criminal actions from taking advantage of the current situation, international cooperation is required to strengthen the exchange of information and good practices in particularly vulnerable areas. Accordingly, it is gratifying to share that, at the third Hemispheric Ministerial Conference on the Fight against Terrorism, held in Bogotá in January, Peru and 17 other countries undertook to strengthen cooperation in the physical and digital spaces, with a view to combating transnational crime and terrorism in an effective and coordinated manner. Finally, we highlight the valuable work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, as well as of the Office of Counter-Terrorism and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in assisting States Members of the United Nations, and we urge these entities to redouble their efforts in capacity-building and technical assistance in order to strengthen the response to these scourges and their links.

The terror-crime nexus is well established in the Philippines. The Abu Sayyaf Group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Maute Group and Ansar Al-Khalifa — which have all declared allegiance to the Islamic State — fund their operations through criminal activities, mostly drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, extortion, arms smuggling, and assassinations. They initially cooperated with criminal organizations, but have since developed their own criminal networks which operate under the false rubric of freedom struggles. Organized criminal groups operate a robust shadow economy in the Philippines and launder criminal proceeds from drug and human trafficking, tax crimes and cybercrime. Groups affiliated with Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant also rely on that economy. The coronavirus disease pandemic has not deterred or slowed down the activities of both terrorist and organized crime groups, and so we continue to be vigilant. As a country with over 36,000 kilometres of coastline, maritime security is of paramount importance to the Philippines. Its location makes it vulnerable to activities of international crime syndicates, including piracy, drug trafficking and human trafficking, activities whose profits have been known to finance terrorism. The Marawi siege of 2017 illustrated the symbiotic relationship between terrorism and the illegal drug trade. With drug money, terrorists gathered a motley assortment of well-armed extremists, criminals, mercenaries and foreign terrorist fighters to take control of Marawi. Narco-politicians supported the local terrorist groups with personnel, funds and firearms, which helped to sustain the siege that followed the Government’s counteroffensive. Intensive military and law enforcement operations allowed us to recapture Marawi in six months. The financing of terrorism through illicit drugs has been a persistent problem, particularly with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army, collectively known as the Communist Terrorist Group. Drug trafficking offers a profitable illicit revenue stream. The drug trade weakens social resistance and corrupts a political response. Local terrorist group members are both narcotics distributors or dealers and consumers. Shabu is frequently used for recruitment and the shabu trade is primarily run by organized crime groups, including Hong Kong triads. Therefore, our anti-drug operations target the trade. Intelligence plays a crucial role in the campaign against drugs and promoting good governance. Hence, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ordered the expansion of the National Intelligence Committee through Administrative Order 7 (2017) to include the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Office of Transport Security and the Philippine Coast Guard as members to ensure coverage of intelligence concerns. In addition, the Dangerous Drugs Board also crafted the National Anti-Drug Plan of Action on illegal drugs, which also helps to address the crime-terror nexus. In response to the recommendations of the Office of Counter-Terrorism and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, we have also strengthened our legal and criminal justice framework with the enactment of the 2020 Anti- Terrorism Act. This is in addition to already existing legislation that help address the linkages between terrorism and organized crime, particularly Republic Act No. 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended, and Republic Act No. 10168, or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. Enhanced maritime cooperation and focus on border management and security to combat transnational crimes at sea is also needed. At the subregional level, we conduct joint maritime patrols with Malaysia and Indonesia. In April 2020, we joined Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and INTERPOL in Operation Maharlika III, a series of simultaneous law enforcement and border control actions along known terrorist transit routes in South-East Asia that resulted in the arrests of both criminals and terrorists. The Comprehensive Plan of Action on Counter Terrorism of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations provides for the establishment of shared databases on terror-crime organizations to enable a joint risk and threat assessment. We are also participating in the United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel Programme, and have stressed the need for the Programme to focus as well on maritime border security. Beyond these, a comprehensive approach that strengthens community resilience is required. Our Bangsamoro Organic Law, which gives autonomy to Muslim Mindanao, is intended to end the decades-long conflict that has been used by Abu Sayyaf and local terrorist groups as a freedom struggle. Equally important is focusing on the means that enable terrorist acts. Since money is the main driver of these linkages, identifying and curtailing sources of finance and tracking the flow are essential. Break the money flow and you break the terror-crime nexus. Our financial intelligence units therefore work with law enforcement and prosecution agencies and local government units. Addressing the role of information and communications technology and social media is another crucial aspect, as these facilitate the organization of operations and money flows. Finally, the Philippines calls for global solidarity and partnerships that aim to build capacity-building, including in financial intelligence, to prevent and counter trafficking in persons, drug trafficking and trafficking of artefacts and cultural property.

Allow us to congratulate you and your country, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council. We commend you for choosing the issue of the linkages between terrorism and organized crime as the topic of this meeting. It is a topic of interest to Qatar, which sponsored resolution 2482 (2019), adopted at the Council’s most recent meeting on the subject, held in July 2019. We thank Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, and Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), for their briefings. International terrorism in all its forms poses a significant threat, as does organized crime in all its forms, including trafficking in persons, drug trafficking, cybercrime and piracy. However, these threats are compounded by terrorist groups being fuelled by crime and criminal gangs benefiting from the spread of terrorism. For instance, terrorist groups exploit human trafficking by recruiting young people to carry out terrorist operations and using sexual violence as a terrorist tactic. Conversely, the causes of terrorism are factors in the spread of human trafficking. The risk that information resources and technologies will be used to facilitate suspicious financial transactions is a persistent one. It is therefore necessary to study and address these challenges effectively. Qatar seeks to strengthen information security and encourage international cooperation to combat cybercrime and provide a safe and robust cyberenvironment, especially given that the country has been the victim of a cybercrime that has served as a pretext to fabricate a regional crisis that has done great harm to regional and international security and stability since 2017. The threats of terrorism and organized crime take evolving forms and present constantly changing challenges that must be addressed collectively, including the current challenges in the context of the coronavirus disease pandemic. These threats are not confined to a particular country; bilateral and multilateral cooperation are therefore essential to an effective response. In that connection, we note the important role of United Nations bodies. Qatar engages regularly with these bodies in the context of international cooperation to identify the best practices that will ensure a coordinated and effective response, through such initiatives as the international academic conference on exploring and countering the linkages between organized crime and terrorism, held in Doha on 25 April 2018 in a collaboration between UNODC and the College of Law at Qatar University. Doha also hosted a workshop on disrupting the financing of terrorism in May 2017, in collaboration with UNODC and the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force. Qatar also co-sponsored the High-Level Conference on International and Regional Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and its Financing Through Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime, held jointly by Tajikistan and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office in Dushanbe on 16 and 17 May 2019. Convinced of the need to adopt evidence-based policies and understand the causes, forms and circumstances of the linkages between terrorism and crime, Qatar co-sponsored the 2018 study entitled Identifying and Exploring the Nexus between Human Trafficking, Terrorism and Terrorism Financing”, which highlighted this important issue and helped to advance the discussion on how to help the United Nations and Member States fulfil their obligations under resolutions 2331 (2016) and 2388 (2017). Aware of the importance of taking the necessary measures at the national level, in particular, continuously updating laws and regulations on combating terrorism and the financing thereof in order to address any emerging terrorist challenges, Qatar has repeatedly updated the relevant national legislation and regulations to combat cybercrime, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons. It has also established national commissions to combat terrorism, organized crime and the proliferation of weapons and to disrupt linkages among the three phenomena. In addition, Qatar has taken financial and economic measures, such as investigating and exposing networks that facilitate organized crime and instituting strict customs procedures to combat the import of smuggled goods. In conclusion, we affirm the commitment of Qatar to continue cooperating with the United Nations and Member States to eradicate all forms of terrorism and to deprive it of its sources of sustenance, which include all kinds of organized crime.

My delegation commends you, Mr. President, for convening today’s timely open debate of the Security Council on the linkage of counter-terrorism and transnational organized crime and offers its deep appreciation to the briefers for their enlightening and informative briefings. Last year, the Security Council adopted resolution 2482 (2019) and expressed its concern that terrorists can benefit from organized crime as a source of financing through the illegal trafficking of arms and drugs, while emphasizing the importance of strengthening international efforts to respond to this threat. As the resolution highlights, the combined presence of terrorism and organized crime may undermine security, stability, governance and the social and economic development of a region and complicates conflict prevention and resolution efforts. Furthermore, while the entire international community is focused on responding to the current pandemic, terrorists and violent extremists are trying to capitalize on the socioeconomic grievances exacerbated by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to advance their propaganda. Against that backdrop, the Republic of Korea would like to emphasize the following four points. First, the strongest possible regional and international cooperation is of foremost importance in countering terrorism and its financing. No country can single-handedly respond to transnational organized crime and terrorist activities. The enhanced coordination of cross-border investigations is essential and the timely exchange of relevant operational information and financial intelligence is critical. It is also important to foster capacity-building efforts aimed at strengthening Member States’ responses to linkages between international terrorism and organized crime. My delegation emphasizes the central role of the United Nations in pulling together the counter-terrorism efforts of the international community. We need to enhance coordination and collaboration among Member States and the various United Nations agencies. In that regard, the Republic of Korea commends the role of the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact and welcomes the launch of its platform to strengthen cooperation among States and Compact entities. The Republic of Korea has made a financial contribution to the project for enhancing coordination and coherence across United Nations entities on counter-terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism through the effective implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. The Council can count on our continued support. Secondly, we need to step up our efforts to prevent and counter the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist and criminal purposes. While such technologies can be effective tools in countering terrorism and organized crime, we should remain vigilant to the fact that those same tools can be exploited by terrorists to incite, recruit for, fund or plan terrorist acts. The illicit trafficking of arms through the dark web is one example of how organized crime methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The efforts of the Republic of Korea in responding to emerging terrorist threats include hosting three rounds of the Asia ICT and Counter- Terrorism Dialogue between 2017 and 2018 and co-hosting the regional workshop under the Initiative to Counter Unmanned Aerial System Threats in 2019. Thirdly, my delegation wishes to highlight that youth are our most important asset in the fight against terrorism. We must empower young people and strengthen their resilience against violent extremism. It is particularly relevant considering that extremist groups focus on spreading violent extremist ideas online, exploiting the fact that young people are spending more time online, especially with schools closed. Therefore, we must invest in creative education programmes, including e-learning activities, which can be effective in reaching out to young people, particularly in the time of the pandemic. Sports can also be a powerful means to promote a culture of tolerance and mutual understanding and to facilitate social inclusion and conflict prevention. The Republic of Korea has been working closely with the Office of Counter-Terrorism on the United Nations Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events and Promotion of Sports and Its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism. We will continue to explore avenues for expanding our efforts in preventing violent extremism. Last but not least, my delegation would like to emphasize the importance of a whole-of-society and holistic approach to preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism. Combating terrorism and preventing violent extremism must encompass not only security-based measures but also preventive steps that address the underlying conditions that drive individuals to terrorism and violent extremism. According to its national plan of action for preventing violent extremism, adopted in 2018, the Republic of Korea’s response has encompassed a wide spectrum of efforts to address the environments conducive to terrorism, such as promoting human rights, creating an inclusive community that embrace marginalized groups, and enhancing public-private partnership. COVID-19 clearly demonstrates the importance of transnational cooperation in tackling transborder threats. This lesson also applies to our counter-terrorism efforts. Now is the time for the whole international community to unite against the common challenge of terrorism and organized crime. The Republic of Korea will continue to work closely with the United Nations for a world free from terrorist threats.

the United Nations and Chargé dʼaffaires a.i., Róbert Chatrnúch I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important debate on addressing the issue of linkages between terrorism and organized crime. I also wish to thank Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov and Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for their insightful briefings. My delegation associates itself with the statement submitted on behalf of the European Union (annex 27). Allow me to make a few additional observations. It is crucial that the Security Council, as the primary organ responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, continue to attach the highest importance to the issue of counter-terrorism in all its aspects, including the linkages between terrorism and organized crime, whether transnational or domestic. The Slovak Republic condemns all forms and manifestations of terrorism and is engaged in counter-terrorism, both individually and as a part of the international community. We reiterate the universal obligation to respond to the global threat of terrorism. For that response to be effective, it needs to be based on the analysis of the modus operandi of terrorists, which includes their cooperation with criminal groups and networks with view to enabling, inter alia, the funding or the travel of terrorists. Slovakia shares the concerns expressed in resolution 2482 (2019), whereby “terrorists can benefit from organized crime, whether domestic or transnational, as a source of financing or logistical support”. This fact has been systematically reflected in Slovakia´s national approach to addressing security threats, including those potentially stemming from the malicious nexus between terrorism and organized crime. Slovakia has taken both programmatic and institutional measures. In 2017, the Counter-Terrorism Unit was established directly within the National Crime Agency (NAKA). This institutional set-up, facilitated through the integrated structure of NAKA, allows for very close cooperation between various specialized departments of the Slovak Police Force, namely, organized crime, financial crime, corruption, drug-related crime, firearms trafficking, et cetera, and for their necessary day-to-day interaction. The Counter-Terrorism Unit acts as both a prevention and a response body when dealing with acts of terrorism. Among other things, it focuses on collecting evidence and exposing criminal acts related to terrorism, as well as assessing terrorist threats on the territory of Slovakia. Another important institutional tool with direct relevance to disrupting linkages between terrorism and crime is the Financial Intelligence Unit of Slovakia. This body assumes the task of the central national bureau in the area of preventing and detecting money laundering and terrorist financing. Last but not least, an important part of the institutional framework is the National Security Analytical Centre of Slovakia, whose daily operation provides a broad participatory and information-exchange basis for more than half a dozen selected national agencies principally responsible for countering serious security threats to Slovakia and its citizens, including threats arising from terrorism. As for the programmatic element of Slovakia´s national approach to linkages between terrorism and organized crime, the following documents and their periodical reviews are worth mentioning. The National Action Plan on the Fight against Terrorism (2019-2022) constitutes a strategic document, which also seeks to create conditions for the subsequent fulfilment of international obligations, including bilateral and multilateral agreements, Security Council resolutions and decisions of the European Union agencies related to countering terrorism. Further relevant documents are the National Action Plan on the Fight against Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Financing of Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction (2019-2022) and the Strategic Principles of the Fight against the Legalization of the Proceeds of Crime, the Fight against Terrorism and Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (2019-2024). To conclude, Slovakia believes that a robust framework, its rigorous implementation and effective international cooperation can significantly contribute to preventing and countering the scourge of terrorism.

We are grateful to the Indonesian presidency for convening this debate on an issue that deserves in-depth reflection. Spain aligns itself with the statement submitted on behalf of the European Union (annex 27). The linkage between terrorism and organized crime has long been discussed. Recently, there have been a growing interlinkage and cooperation between both phenomena due in particular to the increasing involvement of terrorist groups in organized crime for two main purposes: to obtain funding and for logistical support. There are several reasons for this interlinkage: on the one hand, the transnational aspect, flexibility and adaptability of organized crime. On the other hand, the evolution of terrorist organizations from highly centralized and closed structures, completely separate from other kinds of crime, to decentralized networks with multiple connections to organized crime or to everyday crime. That trend began to be observed in Spain following the attacks of 11 September 2001 in New York and particularly of 11 March 2004 in Madrid, where the explosives used were purchased from criminals involved in drug trafficking. The analysis of terrorist activity since then has affirmed and intensified the trend and, in our case, led to our intelligence and police services adaptation their responses with two main objectives: on the one hand, to link investigations of both phenomena — terrorism and organized crime — and, on the one hand, to share the intelligence related to both phenomena. Based on such premises, in 2014 the Centre for Intelligence against Terrorism and Organized Crime was created from two pre-existing bodies: the Centre for Intelligence against Organized Crime and the Counter-Terrorism Coordination Centre. That amalgamation, based on the structure of so-called mergers, breaks with the traditional organizational separation of the fight against both phenomena. As one of the more specific outcomes, the corresponding databases were also linked, making it possible to detect overlaps in up to 14 per cent of investigations, mainly among individuals linked to terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. The next step was the adoption, in January 2019, of the new National Strategy against Organized Crime and Serious Crime, which addresses the link between organized crime and terrorism as one of its main areas of action. Among other measures, it proposes establishing joint investigation teams, made up of police units specialized in each of those criminal phenomena, improved databases to enable the early detection of links and promoting the exchange of information at the international level. These measures clearly demonstrate the importance that Spain attaches to strengthening the investigation of linkages between organized crime and terrorism. A greater joint effort at the international level is essential to continuing progress in that area. In that connection, we believe that in recent years significant steps have been taken, such as the adoption last year by the Security Council of the two resolutions 2482 (2019) and 2462 (2019), which further the discussion and analysis of this issue and provide a series of important instruments for moving forward. From now on, we will continue to discuss and analyse both phenomena and work towards better implementation of the measures contained in those resolutions. While significant progress has been made in that regard, the scale of the problem and the increasing evidence of this interlinkage require us to continue our efforts to strengthen our international cooperation and collaboration by using all opportunities available to us. The upcoming United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy Review may therefore be a good occasion to continue addressing the interlinkage between terrorism and organized crime, while maintaining the ultimate goal shared by all, namely, to put an end to the scourge of terrorism.

Sri Lanka warmly congratulates Indonesia on the assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August, which will undoubtedly be a successful tenure considering the extensive diplomatic skills of the Indonesian delegation. The growing complexities and evolving nature of the linkages between terrorism and organized crime, particularly in this digital age, makes this discussion timely and relevant. As observed in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2020/754) on addressing this interlinked issue, it is clear that the ability of terrorists to draw on organized crime, whether domestic or transnational, online or offline, can exacerbate the threat posed by terrorism to international peace and security. Although progress has been made in the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy since 2006, many challenges have been encountered as a result of the changing face of terrorism and violent extremism, due to the avenues created by globalization, in the facilitation of the increased movement of persons and goods and the rapid advancement of technology, giving rise to faster methods of communication and messaging, as well as the transfer of finances. While the phenomena of foreign terrorist fighters and the financing of terrorism are not new, their sharp and visible increase in recent times, with the more effective use of web-based platforms by terrorist entities, challenge the capabilities of Governments to mitigate such activities and successfully protect and secure all those within their borders. In tandem, there continues to be a symbiotic relationship between organized crime and terrorism. Criminal enterprises have always been the source of funds for terrorist activities. The rapid evolution of transnational criminal outfits and international terrorist groups have resulted in the formation of hybrid organizations, which has made them more sustainable and better equipped, posing unprecedented challenges for law enforcement agencies. As a country that suffered for nearly three decades under the brutality of terrorism, we are only too aware of the devastation and destruction that it creates. The terrorist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which existed in Sri Lanka prior to its military defeat in 2009, had many international networks and linkages to organized crime, which served as a critical, lucrative lifeline for its ability to engage in suicide attacks against civilians, political leaders and opponents and indiscriminate bombing of civilian spaces and critical infrastructure, as well as wage war against the State through a well-developed ground guerrilla force, complemented by sea capabilities and, although rudimentary, air capabilities. A steady flow of funds was generated through a variety of local and transnational criminal activities, which included the trafficking of humans, drugs, arms and wildlife; human smuggling; forgeries; the extortion of funds from the diaspora and protection money from those living in areas in which the group operated. This was in addition to the funds generated through front businesses owned overseas. The efforts taken by the Sri Lankan Government to curtail these avenues of financing, with the collaboration of friendly countries, though challenging, had a severe impact on the sustenance of the terrorist outfit towards the latter stages of the conflict. Securing the proscription of the LTTE — across 32 countries — contributed immensely to stifling its amassing of funds internationally for the creation of wanton destruction back in Sri Lanka. The listing of a few LTTE front organizations that operated under the guise of charities and development organizations also proved effective in revealing the multifaceted faces of terrorist financing, through organized crime and criminal activity, and challenges facing law enforcement agencies in curtailing the same. These international networks of the LTTE remain intact, even following the military defeat in Sri Lanka, and morphed into other organizations espousing the same violent ideology. Therefore, Sri Lanka strongly believes that legal prohibitions must continue to be enacted in letter and spirit by the international community, rather than by the dictates of their domestic political compulsions, which regrettably have been apparent. This is fundamental to curbing terrorist activity and organized crime, an abhorrent partnership. From these experiences, Sri Lanka underscores the importance of recognizing that transnational organized crime provides a strong support structure to terrorists and directly relates to the financing of terrorism. As such, the country has made significant progress in improving and strengthening the effectiveness of its anti-money-laundering and countering the financing of terrorism regime through the adoption of domestic legislation enabling the implementation of United Nations and Security Council resolutions related to the financing of terrorism. These efforts have resulted in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) — the global policy setter on anti-money-laundering and countering the financing of terrorism — delisting Sri Lanka from the FATF’s compliance document. More also needs to be done to address the roots of radicalization, including real and perceived injustices and grievances among young people. We are seeing increasing radicalization among youth who are most at risk of indoctrination towards violent extremism by terrorist groups and of becoming their pawns. The terrorist attacks of Easter Sunday in April 2019 in Sri Lanka revealed that radicalization leading to violent extremism and devastating terrorist attacks can be perpetrated not only by impressionable vulnerable youth but also by those who are educated and empowered in society. The complexities presented in monitoring preparations for terrorist activity in this new phase of terrorism, as well as tracing their financing, as evidenced by these attacks, have revealed the necessity for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to re-examine their protocols and strengthen capacity and readiness, as well as regional and international cooperation. In order to prevent linkages between prisoners held for terrorism offences and other criminal offences, including that of engaging in the illegal narcotics trade and other underworld activities, there is an urgent need to reform prison structures and prevent their use as a hub for recruitment and platforms for knowledge sharing. In this context, Sri Lanka is currently in the process of restructuring the prison system, as well as training officers to curb this practice, an area where information sharing on best practices could be deemed relevant for the multilateral system to collate and assist. As an island that serves as a maritime transit hub, Sri Lanka is vigilant and committed to ensuring that the country’s territory is not used for illegitimate and illegal transactions. In the national policy framework of the Government of Sri Lanka, entitled Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour, dismantling all structures supporting terrorism and extremism, preventing crime and developing a country free from drugs have been placed as top national priorities. Sri Lanka has been continuously associated with United Nations initiatives on counter-terrorism and remains closely engaged with its counter-terrorism architecture. We take this opportunity to thank the Office of Counter-Terrorism for its work. We are confident that the Office will help strengthen the capability of the United Nations system and enhance coordination and coherence to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, with the cooperation of Member States in accordance with their requirements. Sri Lanka will continue to collaborate with the Office of Counter-Terrorism and welcomes the focus on capacity-building assistance to Member States. The work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Sri Lanka must be acknowledged, having engaged robustly with its Global Maritime Crime Programme and assisted in the foundation of its Indian Ocean Forum on Maritime Crime. Sri Lanka, leading the Indian Ocean Rim Association Working Group of Maritime Safety and Security, has been working closely with UNODC on a range of activities connected to mitigating maritime crimes. In this context, UNODC has been cooperating closely with the Sri Lankan Navy since 2016, contributing to activities with regard to strengthening the capacity-building of the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard. Since 2019, the Sri Lankan Navy, with the support of UNODC, has conducted six training courses on visit, board, search and seizure in Sri Lanka for the participants from Indian Ocean littoral States. In the past few years, drug seizures by Sri Lanka and other littoral States in the Indian Ocean have increased, in particular owing to international cooperation. Terrorism and organized crime transcend boundaries and, in order to enhance early detection, there is a vital need for enhanced international cooperation. We call for greater sharing of information, technology, databases and intelligence in combating this global menace. There should also be increased cooperation in building counter-terrorism and anti-criminal response capacities and training for the critical skills required in this area. Sri Lanka notes that, despite broad support on the need to combat the scourge of terrorism, the inability to reach an agreement on the definition of the term “terrorism” has remained an obstacle to concluding a comprehensive convention on international terrorism. Sri Lanka underscores the need for such a legal framework to strengthen our collective efforts to destroy terrrorists’ safe havens, financial flows and support networks. As Chair of the Working Group on measures to eliminate international terrorism, Sri Lanka looks forward to a constructive dialogue with all States and calls for commitment and resolve to bring those negotiations to a successful conclusion. Sri Lanka condemns in the strongest possible terms all acts of terrorism, irrespective of their motivation, as one of the most serious threats to peace and security. It is imperative to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations by all means. We also condemn in the strongest possible terms the incitement to commit terrorist acts, and we repudiate attempts to justify or glorify such acts. As a country that is party to 13 core terrorism and counter-terrorism conventions, as well as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Sri Lanka remains an active participant in global efforts to counter the odious duo of terrorism and organized crime and will continue to support the work of the General Assembly and the Security Council in coordinating efforts and establishing legal norms to that end.

Switzerland thanks Indonesia for organizing this open debate. We welcome the first report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/754) on the linkages between terrorism and organized crime. Terrorist organizations and transnational criminal networks exploit and benefit from a lack of good governance and the rule of law, porous borders, high levels of corruption and weak and ineffective democratic institutions and law enforcement. These conditions contribute to the exacerbation of armed conflict and other situations of violence, with terrorism and transnational organized crime flourishing and reinforcing each other. While the linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime are widely recognized, they are undeniably complex and diverse. We welcome the fact that this important issue is now on the agenda of the Security Council. However, global efforts to understand and combat these phenomena and their connections need to be strengthened. To that end, Switzerland would like to highlight three priorities. First, all efforts to combat terrorism and transnational organized crime must fully respect international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. They must comply with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination. Given the growing convergence between terrorism and organized crime, criminal justice responses must take this linkage into account and use operational methods and legal instruments that have proven to be effective. Switzerland reiterates the Secretary-General’s appeal to Member States to adopt human rights-based approaches to combat these crimes. Secondly, the Global Counterterrorism Forum is an important platform on this subject. Together with Nigeria, Switzerland co-chairs the Forum’s Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law Working Group. It is also leading an initiative on the criminal justice response to the linkages between terrorism, transnational organized crime and international crime. An addendum to The Hague Good Practices on the Nexus between Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism is expected to be adopted by the GCTF next September. It will provide guidance and recommendations on how to strengthen criminal justice approaches and improve the capacity of law enforcement officials and prosecutors to detect, investigate and prosecute crimes committed at the nexus of terrorism and transnational organized crime, while respecting international law and in particular human rights obligations. Thirdly, corruption and terrorism must be addressed in a more coherent manner. Resolution 2482 (2019) is explicit that counter-terrorism must include the fight against corruption. We call on the Security Council to dedicate more attention to this. More research is also needed on the linkage between the two phenomena in order to properly address the risks. That is why Switzerland worked with the Royal United Services Institute to analyse the nexus between corruption, terrorism and the financing for terrorism. One of the conclusions of this work underlines the importance of strengthening criminal justice and law enforcement approaches in this area, as corruption facilitates the financing of terrorism by exploiting connections with organized crime groups. When terrorism and transnational organized crime intersect, armed conflict and other situations of violence often escalate. That has a clear negative impact on international peace and security. Breaking this cycle requires the commitment of the entire international community, and we call on all Member States and the United Nations to intensify their efforts.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate Indonesia on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and express my appreciation for its convening of today’s open debate on the very important topic of linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime. International terrorism and transnational organized crime continue to pose major threats to international peace and security. Moreover, they undermine regional and international efforts to ensure stability, economic and social development and fundamental human rights. We believe that efforts should be focused eliminating the military infrastructure of international terrorism, thereby depriving terrorists of political, military and, most important, financial support. Acknowledging the seriousness of those threats, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has been taking decisive and comprehensive measures aimed at preventing and combating these phenomena. Among such measures are the approval of the National Concept on Countering Money-laundering, the Financing of Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction for the period 2018 to 2025. Following the Financial Action Task Force guidance on national risk assessments of money laundering and terrorist financing, Tajikistan implemented a similar assessment at the national level. According to our assessment, it was revealed that the funds generated through illegal activities have become more sophisticated and the volume of terrorist financing has increased. In addition to monetary funds, advanced technologies are being employed in the financing of terrorism. Moreover, our assessment indicates that drug-related crimes have become a significant source of illicit money that can considerably contribute to the financing of terrorism. Drug trafficking, as one of the channels of financing terrorism and violence, is yet another challenge causing deep concern in the region and across the world. Combating illicit drug trafficking requires concerted and coordinated actions at the regional and international levels. There is still a need for extensive international cooperation to counter narcotics. To address these challenges, last year the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, in cooperation with the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, hosted a High-Level Conference on International and Regional Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and its Financing through Illicit Drug-Trafficking and Organized Crime. Following the results of the Conference, the Dushanbe Declaration was adopted, in which the participants reiterated their intention to deepen the understanding of the links and synergies between efforts to counter terrorist financing and those to counter illicit drug-trafficking and organized crime, such as illicit trade in natural resources, cultural artefacts and weapons, as well as trafficking in human beings. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that Tajikistan stands ready for open and constructive dialogue in this area. Once again, Mr. President, please accept my sincere congratulations on your assumption of the presidency in the Security Council. I wish you and your team every success in fulfilling your noble commitments.

The nexus between terrorism and transnational organized crime is a crucial yet long-neglected issue. Evidently, this subject matter has gained critical traction thanks to the adoption of the landmark resolution 2482 (2019) in 2019. That resolution provides a critical framework for international efforts to address this challenge. In this respect, we welcome the Secretary-General’s report on actions taken by Member States and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to address the issue of linkages between terrorism and organized crime (S/2020/754). Turkey is among the countries that provided substantial contributions to this important work. Turkey has for years been at the forefront of countering terrorist organizations with a broad spectrum of ideologies, be it Da’esh, Al-Qaida, the Kurdish Workers’ Party/Kurdish People’s Protection Units or the Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organization. Regardless of their ideologies, what connects them all is that they benefit from a wide range of criminal activities. Clearly, transnational organized crimes are not bound by national borders. As the world becomes more interconnected thanks advances in global trade and e-commerce, the area where such criminal organizations find new windows of opportunities expands as well. These organizations no longer limit themselves to drug-, arms- or human- trafficking activities. They resort to more complex and subtler activities, such as trafficking in artefacts, cultural property and wildlife. They widely benefit from the use of cybertools and cyberplatforms, particularly for financing, propaganda and recruitment activities. Due to the increased variety and complexity of these activities, the international community should be more vigilant and agile than ever to address them. As we shared in detail during the process of the preparation of the Secretary- General’s report, Turkey has a variety of legal and administrative measures in place in order to prevent, detect and counter the ties between terrorism and transnational organized crime. Turkey is party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Protocols as well as to the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime. The Prevention of Financing of Terrorism Act of 2013 introduced a number of measures, including the freezing of assets, sanctions and penalties for smuggling activities. As a member of the Financial Action Task Force, Turkey regularly reviews, and revises where necessary, its legislation and administrative practices in order to fully comply with Task Force recommendations. The MASAK Financial Crimes Investigation Board, Turkey’s national financial intelligence unit (FIU), provides significant contributions to the work of the Egmont Group, an international platform for exchange of information among FIUs. With its robust law enforcement and customs control capacity, Turkey makes an essential contribution to international efforts to prevent, detect and disrupt international drug-trafficking. Last but not least, in addition to our bilateral efforts, we have established close operational and results-yielding partnerships with international actors, such as INTERPOL and Europol. We provide support and contribute to the valuable work of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to advance its work. The disruption caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic has inevitably affected terrorist and criminal groups. However, it has not deterred them from seeking new ways to operate and continue their activities. A number of United Nations reports point out that these groups have directed their activities to online platforms. In that respect, there is no room for complacency for the international community in its collective fight against terrorist and criminal activities. On the contrary, we should be more responsive and innovative in the face of the evolving way terrorist organizations and criminal organizations operate and interact with each other. As the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation on resolution 2482 (2019) indicates, “[t]he ability of terrorists to draw on organized crime […] can exacerbate the threat posed by terrorism to international peace and security.” (S/2020/754, para. 105) In concurrence with this understanding, Turkey is committed to countering terrorism and criminal activities in an effective manner. To that end, we remain determined to disrupt all efforts that help such organizations thrive. Security Council resolutions, starting with resolution 2482 (2019), provide us the necessary framework and guidance for preventing interactions between such groups. In this respect, Turkey is deeply committed to continuing to fully implement those resolutions. We will also continue to be a steadfast partner in overcoming the daunting challenges arising from nexus between terrorism and criminal activities. To achieve solid results in this common fight, we need genuine international cooperation more than ever.

Ukraine thanks Indonesia for organizing the present open debate on the linkages between international terrorism and organized crime. Terrorism, fuelled by the root causes of radicalization and violent extremism, is ever-more interlinked with organized crime and the trafficking in persons, drugs and arms, as well as with corruption. The common denominator between terrorist and criminal groups alike is that their activities are not limited to a specific region or State; rather, they have expansionary aspirations and a vast development agenda. Up until now, the international community has been exposed to constantly evolving threats from the so called “crime-terror nexus”, with more sophisticated methods and tactics, including in the financing of transnational criminal acts. In this regard, Ukraine takes note of the joint report submitted by the Secretary-General in accordance with resolution 2482 (2019) on linkages between terrorism and organized crime (S/2020/754). Ukraine is among the States having contributed to that report by sharing their own experiences in countering this phenomenon at the domestic and international levels. Among the factors allowing terrorist and criminal groups to remain active and ambitious are the following: the misuse of technological advances and communication innovations; loosely controlled borders; the complex challenges with regard to returning and relocating foreign terrorist fighters from conflict zones; a lack of effective strategies in countering hostile propaganda and recruiting; and insufficient prosecution and punishment measures in place for those who provide funding or other support to terrorist and criminal activities in any form and by any methods. It therefore remains crucial to ensure the effective implementation of all international instruments in force for combating terrorism and transnational organized crime, namely the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, the United Nations Convention against Corruption as well as the relevant Security Council resolutions, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Financial Action Task Force standards and recommendations. Ukraine wishes to reaffirm the importance of the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols in combating both existing and emerging forms of transnational organized crime, including armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom, money-laundering and corruption. Moreover, as Ukraine pays the utmost attention to the issue of combating human trafficking, since such crimes are often transnational, it can additionally address terrorists’ role in human trafficking, migrant smuggling and illicit transfers of firearms. The fight against these crimes requires joint efforts and coordination of respective activities among countries. Ukraine therefore supports the establishment of an implementation review mechanism for the Convention and its Protocols. We believe that any mechanism that may be adopted should be transparent, efficient, non-intrusive and impartial, while aiming in particular at assisting in the effective implementation of this instrument`s provisions. Moreover, there is an urgent need to find additional effective measures to counter the evolving trends in both terrorism and organized crime. In particular, having being unpunishably integrated into the policy of some States, terrorism and criminal components lead to brutal violations of international law, including to the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ukraine continues to experience such consequences in countering hybrid Russian aggression, now ongoing for more than six years. The reports of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission and of the United Nations Human Rights Mission in Ukraine confirm the continuous inflow of ammunition, weaponry and fighters from the Russian Federation into the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. These military assets are delivered either openly or under the guise of the so-called “humanitarian convoys”. With this and other Russian support, more than 13,000 people were killed in Donbas, while nearly 1.45 million people were forced to leave their homes. In temporarily occupied Crimea, the aggressor State is discrediting international efforts — including those of the Security Council — to counter terrorism by producing fake accusations of terrorist activities and by illegally sentencing innocent people. The Russian occupying authorities just chose to fabricate the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir cases against Crimean activists and civilian journalists, although no one is linked to any recognizable crime or even to planning to commit such a crime. Since 2014, Russia has being using its “terrorism” legislation to put systematic pressure on Crimean Tatars as well as exerting continuous repression on religious, ethnic and political grounds. Considering that Islamic extremism had never been part of the history of the Crimean peninsula before the current Russian occupation, the frequency with which the occupation authorities are using this accusation to justify their searches, detention and robust punitive actions strongly suggests that it is a pretext for discrimination, in blatant violation of the Convention on the Elimination on all Forms of Racial Discrimination. Those and other facts regarding violations of the international legal framework prove, time and again, that combating the activities of individual terrorists and terrorist groups will be insufficient if the problem of State-sponsored terrorism is not effectively and comprehensively addressed. Shifting blame, manipulation and propaganda, interference in the internal affairs of States, fuelling international conflicts by supplying weapons and financing of terrorism, killing civilians, including medical personnel — that is the modern political course of the Russian Federation. That is why the issue of holding to account not only individuals or organizations but also those States responsible for organizing, financing or otherwise supporting terrorist and criminal activities should be duly dealt with. The sanctions imposed on the aggressor-State should be maintained and further strengthened. Therefore, the only option for sanctions to be lifted is thorough complete halting of continuous violations of international law, including armed aggression, occupation and human rights abuses. Transnational criminal activity, including terrorism, must be not only condemned but effectively countered and punished.

The United Arab Emirates would like to thank Indonesia for organizing today’s open debate. We also thank the briefers for highlighting several critical points related to today’s discussion. The United Arab Emirates remains concerned about the growing link between organized crime and terrorism, especially in this difficult time. As highlighted in the twenty-sixth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, terrorist groups are “using the outbreak to advance propaganda and fundraising” (S/2020/717, summary). The report also mentions that some of these groups have been using the lockdown during the pandemic to increase illegal excavations and thefts from archaeological sites in conflict zones. In addition, terrorists continue to raise funds through money-laundering and trafficking in persons, weapons, drugs and natural resources, as well as through kidnapping and extortion. Last year, the Security Council adopted resolution 2482 (2019), on the links between organized crime and terrorism. The United Arab Emirates co-sponsored that resolution because we strongly believe that our efforts to eliminate international terrorism cannot succeed without cutting off all sources of funding, including organized crime. To achieve this goal, the United Arab Emirates recommends the international community enhance its efforts in the following four ways. First, we must strengthen our legal frameworks and implement relevant United Nations resolutions that address terrorism and transnational organized crime. Laws work only if States enforce them through investigation and prosecution. For its part, the United Arab Emirates continues to update its legal frameworks and enhance the efforts of law enforcement bodies to combat and criminalize terror financing. The United Arab Emirates has also implemented the latest recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force to strengthen its anti-money-laundering/counter- financing of terrorism system. In addition, the United Arab Emirates reiterates that the United Nations system must hold Member States accountable for their financing of terrorism when it occurs, especially when such actions violate relevant Security Council resolutions and their obligations under the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. Secondly, we need to enhance the capacity of Governments, the private sector and relevant institutions to combat the threats of terrorism and organized crime. This requires the provision of human, financial and logistical resources, especially to affected regions and countries. Terrorist and criminal groups constantly adapt, and we must do the same to disrupt and dismantle trafficking networks, in addition to enhancing border-control capacities. The financial intelligence units of the United Arab Emirates have the training and equipment necessary to analyse and investigate suspicious transactions. The United Arab Emirates Central Bank also provides anti-money-laundering training at the national and regional levels, in addition to implementing specific measures to address emerging challenges in terrorist financing. We have also launched the “goAML” anti-money-laundering programme to collect and analyse financial information to combat money-laundering and terrorist financing, in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. These combined efforts have successfully disrupted the financing of extremist groups through the United Arab Emirates financial system and within its borders. Thirdly, we encourage greater cooperation at the local, regional and international levels. Transnational threats require collective efforts. For instance, the United Arab Emirates ensures close cooperation with the private sector and not-for- profit and charitable institutions in the country. On a regional level, the United Arab Emirates is one of the founding countries of the Financial Action Task Force for the Middle East and North Africa, the Egmont Group associate member that plays an important role in the exchange of information among financial intelligence units to combat the financing of terrorism in the region. On a global level, the United Arab Emirates worked with France and UNESCO to establish the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas to prevent the destruction and illegal trafficking of cultural property by terrorist groups. We emphasize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We encourage strategies that take into account the unique context of each country or region to effectively address the linkages between organized crime and terrorism. This requires extensive research and the involvement of regional stakeholders. In conclusion, the United Arab Emirates strongly supports continued efforts to understand the nature and scope of the linkages between terrorism and organized crime. We will continue to work with our partners to tackle these joint threats and maintain international peace and security.