S/PV.5239 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Egypt, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the consideration of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council unequivocally condemns the terrorist attacks that took place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 23 July 2005, and expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of these attacks and their families, and to the people and Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, as well as to all other countries whose citizens have been killed or injured in these attacks; “The Security Council underlines the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this horrendous act to justice, and urges all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and resolution 1373 (2001), to cooperate actively with the Egyptian authorities in this regard; “The Security Council reaffirms that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever and by whomsoever committed. “The Security Council further reaffirms the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. “The Security Council reiterates its determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2005/36. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 5.10 p.m.