S/PV.6862 Security Council

Under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the Syrian Arab Republic to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Thomas Mayr-Harting, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At the outset, I would like to make a joint statement on behalf of the Chairs of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, and of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004). I will then brief the Council in my capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1373 (2001), to be followed by briefings by the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011). On behalf of the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004), I have the honour to update the Security Council on the continuing cooperation among the three Committees and their expert groups, as requested by the Council in its resolutions 1989 (2011), 1963 (2010) and 1977 (2011), and earlier resolutions. Taking into account that the full text of my statement has been distributed to the Council, I shall, with members’ permission, deliver a summarized version. Terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continue to pose a serious threat to international peace and security. It therefore remains important to ensure close cooperation and effective coordination between the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Moreover, the three Committees continue to attach great importance to effective coordination and cooperation between their respective expert groups, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the Monitoring Team of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, and the group of experts assisting the 1540 Committee. The three Committees welcome the continuing efforts of their expert groups to cooperate on outreach activities and country visits conducted within their respective mandates, enhance cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations, increase the exchange of information, participate in joint meetings and engage in reciprocal representation, as appropriate. The need to strengthen capacities remains a key concern of many States faced with emerging counter- terrorism challenges. This is true in particular in respect of the challenges posed by the exploitation of technological advances by terrorists and non-State actors. This includes but is not limited to the use of the Internet as an effective communication channel and for public outreach. The Committees’ groups of experts can play a pertinent role in advising States seeking assistance in building counter-terrorism capacity. The three Committees welcome all efforts aimed at enhancing the visibility of United Nations counter- terrorism activities and at strengthening cooperation, coordination and coherence among United Nations entities with a view to promoting transparency and avoiding duplication. The three Committees also note the invitation extended to the Secretary-General in General Assembly resolution 66/282 of 12 July 2012, adopted within the framework of the review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, to provide Member States with greater detail on the proposal for creating a United Nations counter- terrorism coordinator. The Committees look forward to the discussions to be held on this proposal, including within their respective mandates on further improving cross-institutional coherence in United Nations counter- terrorism efforts. The coordinated outreach activities and country visits of the expert groups are important tools for the three Committees in facilitating the full implementation of their respective mandates. These tools strengthen dialogue with Member States, help to improve understanding of the distinct yet complementary roles of the three Committees, and assist them in the implementation of the relevant resolutions. I am pleased to report on some areas in which cooperation between the expert groups has been increased. Since May 2012, all three expert groups have been represented at over a dozen workshops and other outreach events, and more meetings have been attended by two of the groups. CTED and the Monitoring Team also conducted two joint visits and, in the course of their joint constructive dialogue with Member States, provided advice to two Member States concerning their respective implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions. The Monitoring Team and CTED also continued to participate jointly in events hosted by United Nations bodies. Since their acceptance as observers to the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (FATF), CTED and the Monitoring Team have begun the practice of making presentations on the other’s behalf, where possible, in order to facilitate engagement with as many partners as allowed by the available time and resources, and always bearing in mind their distinct yet complementary roles. Several recent country visits conducted by CTED on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee included the participation of a representative of the Monitoring Team and, where applicable, of the 1540 Committee group of experts. Since May 2012, the coordinated approach to organizations agreed upon by the three expert groups continues to be enriched by the signifi cant contributions made by CTED and Monitoring Team representatives to conferences involving a large number of international, regional and subregional organizations. Continued participation in such events enhances cooperation between and among the Security Council members and the participating organizations and also serves to promote the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. The Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) continues to provide a platform for enhanced cooperation by the three expert groups, not only among themselves, but also with over 30 United Nations institutions, agencies and programmes concerned with various aspects of counter-terrorism. The expert groups also participate in the Integrated Assistance for Countering Terrorism Initiative, which is co-chaired by CTED. The Monitoring Team and CTED have also assumed leading roles in other working groups, for example CTED as co-Chair of the Working Group on Border Management relating to Counter-Terrorism, and the Monitoring Team as co-Chair of the Working Group on Countering the Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes. The relevant expert groups have also worked proactively within the framework of the CTITF Working Group on Dialogue, Understanding and Countering the Appeal of Terrorism. Exchange of information among the expert groups is carried out on a regular basis. The three groups share information about forthcoming meetings and relevant activities with a view to coordinating activities, while bearing in mind their distinct yet complementary roles. The three expert groups continue to hold joint meetings where appropriate, whether involving the heads of each team or the expert teams, in order to prepare for country visits and relevant workshops and to exchange information on particular themes or activities in specific regions or countries. The CTITF continues to be invited to participate in these joint meetings. A fuller version of this statement is available to the Council. I would like to make a second statement on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. I have had the honour to chair the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) since the beginning of 2011. It gives me great pleasure to brief the Security Council on the work of the Committee since the previous briefing, held in May this year (see S/PV.6767). The Committee continues to be guided in its work by the relevant Security Council resolutions, especially resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 1963 (2010), and continues to play a critical role in promoting and facilitating their implementation. As mentioned in this year’s programme of work, the Committee is organizing a special meeting with Member States and relevant international and regional organizations on preventing and suppressing terrorist financing, which will be held on 20 November at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Previous special meetings of the Committee, focusing on various major counter-terrorism-related themes, have been held in New York, Washington, D.C., Vienna, Almaty, Nairobi and Strasbourg. This year’s special meeting will focus on raising Member States’ awareness of the terrorist financing threat; drawing attention to related best practices, including the revised FATF recommendations, and their relevance to the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001); discussion of experiences and effective measures in addressing related challenges; and helping to ensure that combating terrorist financing remains a priority for Member States. The speakers will include representatives of invited Member States and international, regional and subregional organizations. I encourage Member States to actively participate in this meeting. Furthermore, as part of its outreach efforts, the Committee will also explore the possibility of collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union. In June this year, the Committee conducted an interim review of CTED, in accordance with resolution 1963 (2010), which stipulated that the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate would continue to operate as a special political mission under the policy guidance of the Counter-Terrorism Committee for the period ending 31 December 2013. The Committee, through CTED, has also been constantly improving its analytical tools to monitor and assess the progress in implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005) around the world. Having developed preliminary implementation assessments of the entire United Nations membership and achieved considerable progress in stocktaking, the Committee has agreed to revised assessment tools, including the overview of implementation assessment and the details of implementation survey. These tools are designed to further enhance thoroughness, consistency, transparency and even-handedness in the Committee’s stocktaking process, with a view to identifying States’ strengths and challenges in countering terrorism worldwide. The Committee continues to focus on region-specifi c discussions and on issues identified in the 2011 Global Survey. The Committee also continues to organize and participate in discussions and workshops on thematic issues. The major thematic issues considered by the Committee during the past six months include challenges in adopting and implementing counter- terrorism measures for the effective cross-border control of small arms and light weapons, the revised recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and the role of central authorities in enhancing international counter-terrorism cooperation. CTED has also been active in conducting a number of workshops on specific topics aimed at specific regional audiences. Important workshops organized during the period include the practitioners’ seminar on the role of the prosecution in terrorist cases, in Algiers from 5 to 7 June; the regional seminar for southeast Asian States on international joint investigations, in Kuala Lumpur from 26 to 28 June; the workshop for Member States of the Maghreb and the Sahel on the implementation of resolution 1624 (2005), in Rabat from 17 to 19 July; the southeast Europe workshop on countering violent extremism, in Istanbul from 1 to 2 October; the first experts’ meeting on the establishment of an operational freezing mechanism, in Amsterdam from 22 to 24 October; and the fourth regional workshop on preventing abuse of the non-profit sector, in Buenos Aires from 14 to 16 November. In addition, the Committee and CTED have continued to enhance ongoing dialogue with Member States, donors and beneficiaries on facilitating technical assistance for capacity-building at the national and subregional levels. Since the most recent briefing to the Security Council (see S/PV.6767), CTED, on behalf of the Committee, conducted eight assessment missions to Member States, namely, Argentina, Canada, Djibouti, Finland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and Uruguay. I would like to emphasize that the Committee and CTED have will continue to pay close attention to the question of respect for human rights and the rule of law in the counter-terrorism measures taken by States, in accordance with the relevant mandates conferred by the Security Council. The Committee and CTED continue to work closely with the relevant working groups of the CTITF, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre and the Global Counterterrorism Forum in order to support, coordinate and complement each other’s counter- terrorism endeavours. In conclusion, the Committee will continue to play a critical role in the global fight against terrorism, and will strive to do so in a more strategic and transparent manner in order to contribute more effectively to the global counter-terrorism effort within the scope of its mandate. I should like to conclude by expressing my sincere appreciation to Mr. Michael Smith, Executive Director of CTED, and to his team for their excellent work on the Committee’s behalf and to thank the Secretariat for its continued support. I am now required to make a statement in my national capacity. As Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, it has been India’s constant endeavour to provide political direction to the work of the Committee and greater momentum to the efforts to bolster the ability of Member States to confront the scourge of terrorism. The international community must step up its collective efforts with real cooperation among Member States in order to confront the scourge of terrorism squarely and decisively. We need concerted action against terrorists and their sponsors, including the complete dismantling of terrorist safe havens, sanctuaries, training grounds and financial and ideological support structures. We need to adopt a holistic approach that ensures zero tolerance towards terrorism. India fully supports all efforts to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter terrorism and, most important, to help ensure the effective implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), and comprehensive and the integrated implementation of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. We welcome the listing of the Haqqani Network by the Sanctions Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011). That Group has also targeted Indian interests in the past. The unity of the international community is critical in isolating the terror groups that threaten peace and security in our region and in other parts of the world. The Monitoring Team needs to put greater focus on comprehensively and objectively examining the linkages between Al-Qaida and the Taliban, which pose serious threats to international peace and security. It is critical that all sanctions regimes established by the Council ensure swift, fair and transparent decision-making procedures. The process of listing and delisting must be guided by the same set of principles — fairness, credibility and transparency. India has an unwavering commitment to supporting international efforts to prevent non-State actors and terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. The international community must continue to strengthen its efforts to eliminate the risks related to sensitive materials and technologies falling into the hands of terrorists and non-State actors. The international response to the threat needs to be national as well as multilateral and global. India believes that meeting new proliferation challenges requires fresh approaches for evolving a more cooperative and consensual international security order to effectively address genuine proliferation concerns. As announced by Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, held in March, India will host a 1540 Committee workshop on the theme “Building new synergies on nuclear security” from 30 November to 1 December. At the workshop, India intends to bring together important stakeholders for a brainstorming session on building synergies that will contribute to the overall objectives of nuclear security. Success in the fight against terrorism goes hand in hand with progress in strengthening counter- terrorism cooperation and the exchange of information at international, regional and subregional levels. Our collective endeavour should be to enhance coherence and synergy among the various counter-terrorism structures that are dealing with the issue of terrorism at the United Nations. The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) must continue to further strengthen their ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. I give the floor to my colleague, Mr. Baso Sangqu, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004).

I thank the Council for the opportunity to provide a short summary of the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), since our last joint meeting in May (see S/PV.6767), in order to complement the key points made by Ambassador Singh Puri in the joint statement. As Council members know, my tenure as Chair of the 1540 Committee is coming to a close. Since this is my last joint briefing, I would like to thank the Security Council and the Secretariat for the support provided to me and the 1540 Committee during the past two years. Together, we have raised global awareness of resolution 1540 (2004), facilitated assistance to States to enable them to strengthen national capabilities to implement its requirements, laid the foundation for improved mechanisms for sharing the most effective practices on national implementation and promoted synergy with other international organizations. Those are just some of the areas on which the Committee will continue to focus its attention, in accordance with its eleventh programme of work, which we have transmitted to the Council on 22 August. The Committee will continue to work with Member States on the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1977 (2011), guided by the principles of transparency, equal opportunity, cooperation and consistency in its approach. In accordance with resolution 1977 (2011) and within its mandate, the 1540 Committee has continued to engage in various outreach activities to promote the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), including the sharing of best practices and lessons learned, capacity-building and technical assistance in the areas covered by the resolution. Since May, the 1540 Committee and its experts have participated in 14 outreach events organized by intergovernmental organizations such as, inter alia, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean of the Office for Disarmament Affairs, and the Group of Eight Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, at times in collaboration with various governmental and non-governmental entities. In the spirit of transparency required by resolution 1977 (2011), information about those outreach events is posted on the 1540 Committee website. Resolution 1977 (2011) also calls upon all States that have not yet presented a first report to the Committee to submit such a report without delay. All States that have submitted such reports are also encouraged to provide, when appropriate or upon the request of the 1540 Committee, additional information on their implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). I am pleased to report that, since our last meeting (see S/PV.6767), the number of States that have not submitted a report yet has been reduced to 24, as the Republic of the Congo recently submitted its first report on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). As part of its report to the 1540 Committee, the Republic of the Congo has submitted a request for assistance in particular areas. The request has been passed to potential assistance providers for their consideration. The Committee looks forward to working with African States to assist them in meeting their reporting requirements by sharing information and practices on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) through outreach events, coordination with the points of contact established by the African Union Commission, and improved synergy with international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the World Health Organization, the Group of Eight Global Partnership and the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit on providing 1540 (2004)-relevant assistance. The workshop for African States on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) to be held later this month in South Africa will also provide an opportunity to further examine those issues. The improved reporting record of Member States is to be welcomed. There appears to be a better understanding of the challenges of national implementation and the development of tailored strategies to facilitate assistance for overcoming such potential challenges. In that connection, I am pleased to note that we received a second national report from Afghanistan. Paragraph 8 of resolution 1977 (2011) encourages all States to prepare, on a voluntary basis, national implementation action plans, with the assistance of the 1540 Committee, as appropriate, mapping out their priorities and plans for implementing the key provisions of resolution 1540 (2004) and to submit those plans to the 1540 Committee. We are pleased to report that, since our last meeting, Serbia has submitted its national action plan for the period 2012-2016. According to the information received by the Committee, a number of other States are in the process of updating or preparing their initial national action plans. In resolution 2055 (2012), adopted on 29 June, the Security Council emphasized the significantly increased workload of the Committee over the course of its mandate and requested the Secretary-General to increase the size of the group of experts to up to nine experts. On 3 July, the Committee informed the Secretariat that, following extensive consultations on its group of experts, the Committee agreed on nine candidates and, in that connection, requested that the Secretary-General take the necessary measures to establish the group of experts in accordance with paragraph 5 (a) of resolution 1977 (2011) and resolution 2055 (2012). I am pleased to report today that six out of the nine experts are currently on board and we will soon have the entire group effectively established, thus enhancing the capacity of the 1540 Committee to efficiently carry out its mandate. As I mentioned at the beginning of my statement, the 1540 Committee’s eleventh programme of work covers the period through 31 May 2013. I would like to note briefly that that new programme of work emphasizes, inter alia, the 1540 Committee’s cooperation with international organizations, including the Security Council Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001), specifically on considering the expansion of our common strategy on reporting, as well as to develop a more coordinated approach to subregional workshops, in line with paragraph 36 of resolution 1822 (2008) and within our respective mandates. With input from the 1540 Committee’s working group on assistance and from the Committee’s working group on cooperation with international organizations, including the Security Council Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001), where appropriate, we will continue to participate in outreach activities at the international and regional levels. We will also continue to promote our engagement with States, as well as effective dialogue and cooperative action on non-proliferation to prevent the illicit trafficking of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and their means of delivery. I would like to conclude my statement by mentioning that, with the end of my tenure as the Chair of the 1540 Committee drawing near, I encourage the members of the Council to keep in mind our shared commitment to prevent non-State actors from developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery. I will now make a short statement in my national capacity. South Africa acknowledges that, in the past decade, significant work has been done in the fight against the spread of international terrorism. We will continue to work with the United Nations, the African Union and other regional structures in order to uproot the scourge of global terrorism. The sophisticated challenges posed by the complex phenomena of terrorism require comprehensive and collaborative strategies. Having noted that it is of paramount importance to address the fundamental causes of terrorism, such as marginalized people under occupation, socioeconomic and political disparities, if those deep-seated issues are not dealt with, they will continue to be a breeding ground for the manifestation and spread of terrorism. South Africa maintains that the United Nations should continue to lead international efforts to combat terrorism in accordance with legal norms and human rights. South Africa believes that the success of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy lies in effective and meaningful collaboration between the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), as well as cooperation among the 1267, 1373 and 1540 Committees. It has been an honour for South Africa to lead the work of the 1540 Committee in the Council for the past two years. We consider that to be a vote of confidence with regard to the importance that we attach to disarmament and non-proliferation issues. We are heartened that South Africa will end its tenure by, among other things, hosting a workshop on the implementation of resolution 1540 for African States, from 21 to 22 of November, as well as one in India on the synergies between resolution 1540 and nuclear security. South Africa underscores that the threat posed by non-State actors acquiring materials that could be used for nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or their means of delivery is a danger for all States. However, we are equally concerned about the lack of complete and sustainable progress in the area of disarmament when it comes to weapons of mass destruction. States have committed to eliminating weapons of mass destruction through the relevant national treaties and conventions, yet those dangerous and indiscriminate weapons still threaten humankind through their very existence. While many developing countries continue to implement their commitments under resolution 1540 (2004), it is important that we recall that the responsibility is with all members of the international community. The support of fellow States, as well as international organizations, is crucial to prevent non-State actors, including terrorists, from acquiring such weapons or their means of delivery. We acknowledge the work of CTED, with a specific reference to the efforts to strengthen analytical tools for the purposes of monitoring and assessment in order to ensure the effective implementation of resolutions 1873 (2009) and 1624 (2005). It is crucial to continue revising the assessment tools, such as the overview implementation assessment and the details of the implementation survey, which will enhance the work of the Committee through their assistance and collaboration. We have taken note of the CTED assessment conducted in different parts of the world to ensure the success of the United Nations global counter-terrorism efforts. In addition, although significant work has been done to neutralize and eliminate the threat of Al-Qaida, we acknowledge the evolving threat posed by Al-Qaida, which has readjusted itself into small organizations scattered throughout different regions of the world. We acknowledge the role of sanctions in supporting the global fight against terrorism. We acknowledge the work done and the progress made by the Office of the Ombudsperson in that regard. Transparency, fairness and due process remain critical aspects of this work. It is therefore important that States collaborate to further strengthen the Office of the Ombudsperson to ensure the continued application of these principles in the execution of its duties. We believe that the United Nations should, through CTED and the CTITF, in cooperation with regional structures, play a particular role with regard to the threat of terrorism in Africa, especially as it is playing out in Mali and the Sahel. South Africa remains committed to the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy and calls on all Member States to fulfil their commitments in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Peter Wittig, Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities.

In today’s briefing, I would like to provide an update on the activities and achievements of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, since my most recent briefing in May (see S/PV.6767). In my remarks, I shall focus on what the Committee considers to be the most important elements: first, the evolving threat posed by Al-Qaida; secondly, maintaining an up-to-date and dynamic sanctions list; and, thirdly, fair and clear procedures. A more detailed version of this statement will be distributed in hardcopy today and be made available on the Committee’s website. First, with regard to the evolving threat posed by Al-Qaida. Al-Qaida and its associates continue to pose a threat to international peace and security, and that threat continues to evolve. While the operational impact of Al-Qaida’s core leadership has declined since the death of Osama Bin Laden and several other key leaders, Al-Qaida networks have become an ever more complex phenomenon, with an internationally diverse range of supporters and active fighters. Affiliate groups continue to be active in a number of regions worldwide, and in many cases have managed to blend regional and local issues and interests with Al-Qaida’s global agenda in order to increase their appeal. Al-Qaida and its associates are working on rebuilding terrorist structures in Europe. There is a continuing danger that individual acts of terror may occur in that theatre. After thorough consideration and in-depth discussion, the Committee has transmitted to the Security Council the twelfth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (see S/2012/729), together with the Committee’s position on the recommendations (see S/2012/730). The report addressed the issue of the evolving terrorist threat. The Committee has now received the thirteenth report of the Monitoring Team and will begin its discussion of that document shortly. In the light of the continuing threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates, it is important for Member States to continue to make every effort to fully implement the measures outlined in resolution 1989 (2011). The Committee remains committed to ensuring that the Al-Qaida sanctions list is dynamic and responsive to the changing nature of the threat. The Committee recalls that it remains the responsibility of Member States to ensure that the list of targeted individuals and entities accurately reflects the evolving threat posed by Al-Qaida, through the submission of listing and delisting requests in a timely manner. In that context, the Committee also emphasizes that it stands ready to receive from States the names of individuals and groups associated with Al-Qaida in the Sahel region, notably in north Mali, in accordance with paragraph 24 of resolution 2056 (2012) and paragraph 3 of resolution 2071 (2012), to be considered for designation on the Al-Qaida sanctions list. Measures adopted under Chapter VII are binding on all Member States, and the sanctions regime is most effective when States are well placed to facilitate implementation. The Committee, together with the Monitoring Team, continues to explore ways to collaborate with Member States to support implementation efforts. Secondly, with regard to maintaining an up-to-date and dynamic sanctions list, resolution 1989 (2011) directs the Committee to undertake the most extensive and regular review processes of any United Nations sanctions regime. The various specialized and periodic reviews ensure that the Al-Qaida sanctions list is a credible and effective tool in the fight against terrorism. The Committee has undertaken three specialized reviews, as set out in resolution 1989 (2011). The Committee reviewed the list entries of 34 reportedly deceased individuals and 55 entities reported to have ceased to exist. The review resulted in 12 delistings and 24 amendments to the list. In addition, the Committee reviewed 70 entries on the list that lacked identifying information necessary to ensure effective implementation of the sanctions measures. The Committee has also completed its first round of the so-called triennial review, in which 18 names were considered. That is a periodic review of all names that have not been reviewed in three or more years. It ensures that no name remains on the list in perpetuity. Every single entry undergoes a regular assessment by the Committee to determine whether continued listing remains appropriate. The third element is fair and clear procedures. The sanctions regime benefits from increasingly fair and clear procedures. In the light of the renewal of the Committee’s mandate next month, there will be an opportunity to review the procedures, possibly spelling them out in greater detail and rendering them more transparent. The Office of the Ombudsperson continues to provide an important element of fair and clear procedures to the sanctions regime. The Office plays an important role in assisting the Committee to ensure that the list of designated individuals continues to reflect the current threat posed by Al-Qaida. Since the Committee’s most recent report, the Committee decided to delist six individuals and one entity on the basis of reports submitted by the Ombudsperson. In addition, the Committee is considering three comprehensive reports of the Ombudsperson, while the Ombudsperson has three cases in the dialogue phase and six cases in the information-gathering phase. The Security Council will also have to review the mandate of the Ombudsperson in December. That will provide an opportunity to continue improving the procedures related to the Ombudsperson process. Questions to be addressed may include the modalities for information-sharing between the Office of the Ombudsperson and Member States. Member States are strongly urged to provide all relevant information to the Ombudsperson, including any relevant confidential information where appropriate. On 26 July, the Committee held a meeting with Mr. Ben Emmerson, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. Mr. Emmerson and the Committee exchanged views on questions relating to the fairness and effectiveness of the Ombudsperson process. Mr. Emmerson has since published a report providing his assessment of the process, which the Committee will carefully consider. The Committee notes Mr. Emmerson’s recommendations regarding the use of evidence obtained under torture and undertakes to give them close consideration. I would now like to add some brief words in my national capacity. In early 2011, Germany assumed the Chair of the 1267 sanctions Committee, which covered both Al-Qaida and the Taliban. At the time Germany took the helm, there was a clear need to reform the sanctions regime. Among other demands, there were calls to strengthen due process elements. Critics found remedies to listed individuals and entities insufficient. Sanctions implementation was successfully challenged in various courts, the so-called Kadi case, which made it twice to the European Court of Justice, being the most prominent. The challenge to the sanctions regime threatened to undermine the most important tool the Security Council has against Al-Qaida. There was a clear need for a determined response. In June 2011, the Security Council adopted resolutions 1988 (2011) and 1989 (2011), landmarks for the United Nations sanctions policy. Of particular importance was the Security Council’s decision, in resolution 1989 (2011), substantially to strengthen the role of the Ombudsperson for the Al-Qaida sanctions regime. The Office of the Ombudsperson was established, in 2009, to assist the Sanctions Committee in processing applications for removing individuals from the sanctions list. The conclusions of her reports on delisting requests, previously of an advisory character, were upgraded to recommendations. The Sanctions Committee can overrule those recommendations only by consensus. However, any Committee member has the option of taking a case to the Security Council. Those review procedures introduced and element of the rule of law in the sanctions regime. While the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Mr. Ben Emmerson, has reminded us in his recent report that, while countering terrorism, “the mandate of the Ombudsperson still does not meet the structural due process requirement of objective independence from the Committee” (A/67/396, para. 35), we believe that the Ombudsperson process represents an important advance. It has increased the credibility of the sanctions regime and helps to ensure that sanctions are implemented around the globe. The Al-Qaida sanctions regime is coming up for renewal in December. Germany and the group of like-minded countries on targeted sanctions have prepared a number of proposals for the further development and fine-tuning of the regime. Among those are enhancing the cooperation of States with the Ombudsperson for information-gathering, codifying the Ombudsperson’s practice and improving transparency in procedure and substance, including disclosing the designating State and clarifying listing criteria. We further recommend extending the Ombudsperson’s mandate, allowing the Ombudsperson to transmit requests for humanitarian exemptions and to assist persons or entities that are inadvertently affected by the sanctions regime, imposing time limits for all listings and administrative improvements. I am confident that there will be serious discussion among Security Council members about those proposals. Before I conclude, I should like to make a few remarks on the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Attempts by non-State actors to acquire weapons of mass destruction and related material remain one of the gravest threats to global security. The Committee plays a pivotal role in addressing those issues. My country attaches great importance to the effective implentation of resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1977 (2011). We welcome resolution 2055 (2012), which has paved the way for providing the Committee with the assistance of more experts. It is our hope that the group of experts will soon be fully operational again. In our view, the provision of assistance channelled through the Committee continues to be a key priority. We feel that an even more comprehensive and structured approach on collaboration and coordination with other actors, such as intergovernmental and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental bodies, could benefit the work of the Committee. Germany remains committed to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We continue to support the Committee’s work by facilitating the working group on monitoring and implementation. In April 2011, Germany, together with the Office for Disarmament Affairs, organized a first-ever conference in Wiesbaden, an event explicitly focussed on international, regional and subregional industry associations, with a view to identifying how to advance the objective of resolution 1540 (2004). Since the Wiesbaden process continues to attract attention in many parts of the world from various business sectors, we are currently examining, along with interested parties, the scope of further cooperation in specific fields.

I thank Ambassador Wittig for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to members of the Council.

I thank the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) for their briefings today. We appreciate the coordination among the three Committees and their efforts in promoting greater transparency and dialogue with Member States concerning their respective areas of focus. We agree with the Chair of the Al-Qaida Committee that the threat of global terrorism to international peace and security is both potent and serious. It is such a global phenomenon that the current 306 entries in the Al-Qaida sanctions list contain addresses of individuals and entities from different continents. The diverse nature of the complex global and evolving threat of terrorism has taken new forms. Individuals and groups, for instance, have been radicalized by extremists using the Internet and websites in various parts of the world. In that context, it is important to ensure that the list of targeted individuals reflects the changing nature of the threat. We appreciate the Committee’s efforts to undertake various reviews of list entries of reportedly deceased individuals and defunct entities. The problem of insufficient identifying information for the effective implementation of the sanctions regime has yet to be satisfactorily resolved. We hope that regular reviews of such entries will be useful to add adequate information. Sanctions will be more effective if they are implemented with transparent, fair and clear procedures. The introduction of the institution of the Ombudsperson is a step in the right direction. Instead of casting doubts regarding that institution, we need to strenthen it by expanding its powers related to the listing process. The demonstrated effect of the Ombudsperson’s positive contribute should lead the Council to introduce a similar institution in all other sanctions regimes, to ensure due process and transparency. Visits to States by the Monitoring Team and experts’ groups should be used to promote international cooperation and provide technical assistance. Post-visit briefings and reports have been useful in enhancing the Committee’s understanding of issues faced by Member States. The most serious challenge to the sanctions regime, however, is the litigation relating to the individuals on the sanctions lists. Many listed individuals and entities have initiated cases against listings in various courts of the world, including some in Pakistan. Decisions by many national and regional courts against the sanctions regime have been publicized. We have yet to see and determine if courts are satisfied with the recent measures of the Committee, including the introduction of the Ombudsperson. The questions of due process and effective remedy should therefore be at the heart of the Committee’s work. Global cooperation against terrorism has been highly successful. Determined and collective action has disrupted and contained the violent agendas of terrorists. The immediate and short-term anti-terrrorism response must, however, be accompanied by a clear, long-term strategy for success in ensuring an end to the scourge of terrorism. Such a strategy must include addressing the root causes of terrorism. Counter-terrorism activities must conform to international law and must respect the sovereignty of States and fundamental human rights. We support the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s efforts to promote the implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). We commend the Committee’s identification of thematic issues such as the role of central authorities in enhancing international counter-terrorism cooperation. We have noted the global survey of the implementation of resolution 1624 (2005). The issue of the prohibition of incitement to commit terrorist acts is very complex. We should continue to prohibit and prevent incitement to terrorist acts. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the imperative to ensure freedom of expression. That said, all efforts to counter incitement must be undertaken in the light of the agreed principle that terrorism and extremism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, race, ethnicity, faith, value system, culture or society. The delegation of Pakistan appreciates the efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to facilitate technical assistance for countries that need it. The CTED’s seminars in various regions of the world on specific themes have been useful. Pakistan has been regularly participating in regional workshops organized by the CTED. Pakistan is planning to hold the sixth regional workshop on counter-terrorism in Islamabad for police officers, prosecutors and judges in South Asia in the near future. Pakistan endorses the globally agreed objectives of disarmament and non-proliferation, including that of resolution 1540 (2004). The 1540 Committee is playing a role complementary to that of the established treaty regimes and international organizations in the area of weapons of mass destruction. It is essential for all States to undertake effective national measures to prevent non-State actors from acquiring and using materials and weapons of mass destruction, including the means to deliver them. All States parties to multilateral treaties with similar objectives also need to fulfil their obligations. Pakistan has filed four comprehensive implementation reports with the 1540 Committee since 2004 outlining details of comprehensive legislative, administrative and organizational measures taken to promote non-proliferation objectives. The composition of expert groups in the Committees needs rationalization and reform, as the work of these Committees is now mainly focused on assistance and capacity-building. It would be useful to broaden and diversify the pool of experts, particularly to include experts from developing countries. Such an effort would be helpful in promoting an even better level of understanding and ownership of these important issues by a large number of Member States. To conclude, I would once again underscore the evolving nature of the counter-terrorism challenges and the usefulness of these briefings. These briefings increase the level of confidence of all Member States in the three Committees. Acts of terrorism negate and violate the rule of law. The Counter-Terrorism Committee’s work and proceedings must set the highest standards of adherence to the rule of law. The implementation of the three resolutions on which the Committees work can be made most effective by ensuring transparency, due process and fair and clear procedures.

I should like to thank you, Mr. President — the Permanent Representative of India — in your capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001). My thanks go also to the Ambassador of South Africa, Baso Sangqu, and to the Ambassador of Germany, Mr. Peter Wittig, for their briefings on the activities of the Security Council Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1267 (1999). I should like, with respect to the presentations made to the Council at this six- monthly briefing, to pay well-deserved tribute to them for the leadership and commitment shown at the helm of their respective committees. We also support the efforts made by the three Committees and the expert groups assisting them to ensure greater coordination, consistency and interoperability in the implementation of their respective mandates. We support the promotion of greater transparency and intensified dialogue with Member States in order to identify their needs and respond appropriately to their requests for assistance. The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), established more than a decade ago, remains a key mechanism in our actions to counter terrorism. Morocco supports the general line of action taken by the CTC, which is aimed at consolidating a strategic, transparent approach and at strengthening the facilitation and coordination of the provision of technical assistance so as to enhance Member States’ capacities to counter terrorism. We also support the CTC’s intention to consider the possibility of cooperation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The support of members of parliament for the efforts made by Governments and their interaction with our civil societies and citizens are basic building blocks in the strengthening of our common commitment to counter terrorism. We also welcome the holding of workshops at the regional and trans-regional levels aimed at building the capacities of Member States in terms of the practical implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). We welcome also the workshops held on capacity-building for the Sahel and Maghreb countries in order effectively to counter the terrorist threat and associated activities. In that context, and as you yourself have emphasized, Mr. President, last July Morocco hosted a regional workshop for the Maghreb and Sahel countries on the implementation of resolution 1624 (2005). That workshop enabled Government administration and civil society representatives to hold comprehensive discussions on their experiences in combating extremism and in promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Morocco remains convinced that the individual actions taken by the Maghreb and Sahel countries must be accompanied by continuing dialogue and concerted, coordinated and inclusive action involving all countries of the region. In that respect, we believe that given the concerns expressed by Council members at previous meetings regarding the critical situation in the Sahel region, the CTC and the 1267 and 1540 Committees must focus in particular on that region, which has witnessed a recent increase in the frequency and degree of sophistication of terrorist attacks perpetrated by groups operating in areas suffering from political, economic, social and climate-related vulnerabilities. Morocco remains committed to supporting concrete action by the Council, together with the countries of the region, aimed at combating the growing and increasingly urgent threat terrorist. The sanctions regime established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) represents one of the most effective tools for combating terrorism and continues to reflect our collective will to counter the threat posed by Al-Qaida and associated entities. We will continue to urge greater cooperation with Member States in order to help them to implement their obligations under the sanctions regime, taking into account the specific context of each region and the particular challenges facing each of the countries therein. The periodic review of the listing procedure remains an important tool for continuing to ensure the accuracy of information relating to individuals and entities included on the list. The completion of the three reviews regarding persons who supposedly have died, entities that supposedly have ceased to exist and entries that lack sufficient information should encourage us to deploy even more strenuous efforts to help Member States to implement the sanctions regime and maintain the effectiveness and credibility of the list. That exercise must continue with the same perseverance and discipline, in order to be in line with the developing threat and the significant changes in the modus operandi of terrorist groups. In that regard, we pay tribute to the commitment and work of the Ombudsperson, Ms. Kimberley Prost, and assure her of our support as she continues to implement her mandate. The ongoing reform of the Committee’s procedures in order to make it more equitable and transparent remains a strategic goal and continues to arouse the interest and mobilization of all members of the Committee. In the context of the upcoming consultations of the renewal of the Ombudsperson’s mandate, we are ready to consider any proposal that could contribute to meaningful progress in achieving that objective. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), Morocco, which has presented an initial report and additional information, welcomes the work of the Committee and commends its role in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and in preventing their acquisition by non-State actors. In that regard, we would like to underscore the importance of strengthening activities related to assistance and international cooperation in order to meet the needs of States. The guidelines established by the Committee should serve as a basis for dialogue with Member States in order to identify the shortcomings and difficulties in implementing resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1977 (2011). We are delighted by the contribution of the Committee’s panel of experts to numerous activities and underscore that such participation should continue on the basis of their respective mandates and in full respect of the international reality. In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm that, regardless of the context or the area in combating the scourge of terrorism, Morocco will remain an active and committed partner of the United Nations and the entire international community in order to tackle this challenge and its consequences.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, and Ambassadors Sangqu and Wittig, for the respective briefings. I also commend your leadership as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. During the latest reporting period, the Counter- Terrorism Committee (CTC) continued to work towards fully implementing resolution 1373 (2001) and undertook significant work to that end. With the help of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the Committee is now considering how to improve work related to the preliminary implementation assessments and is soon to hold a special meeting on preventing and suppressing terrorist financing. China welcomes that development. We support the various CTC initiatives, such as the organizing of regional workshops and relevant activities in providing technical assistance through CTED. We hope that the Committee will continue to engage in dialogue with Member States and to help them to strengthen their counter-terrorism capacity. China supports the sound and steady work of the 1540 Committee to achieve the goals of resolution 1540 (2004) in a comprehensive, balanced and effective way and to help Member States to fulfil their relevant obligations. We hope that the Committee will successfully undertake its second annual review. We are pleased about the establishment of the group of experts and welcome those experts who have taken office. China is ready to actively participate alongside other parties in the Committee’s work to promote the international non-proliferation agenda. The Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee has continued to strengthen its relevant work on listing, delisting and updating the sanctions list and has made extensive efforts to comprehensively implement resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011). China views positively the relevant efforts of the Committee to periodically update the sanctions list, as provided for, and to strengthen its dialogue with Member States. China welcomes the support provided to the Committee by the Monitoring Team and notes the work undertaken by the Office of the Ombudsperson to safeguard the impartiality and transparency of the sanctions regime. We hope that Member States will actively cooperate with the Committee in order to preserve the authority and effectiveness of the sanctions regime. Terrorism is a common scourge faced by the international community. As a victim, China is opposed to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and opposes the practice of double standards with regard to counter-terrorism. China supports the United Nations and the Security Council in playing a leading role in international counter-terrorism cooperation, including enhanced cooperation among the various bodies. We hope that the international community will continue to cooperate in our joint efforts to prevent and to combat terrorism.

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, and Ambassadors Baso Sangqu and Peter Wittig, for the detailed and full reports to us in your capacities as Chairs of the Committees on the Council’s agenda today. Terrorism in all its forms and the proliferation of weapons of mass, in addition to the danger that they pose were they to fall into the hands of non-State armed actors and terrorists, remain a serious threat to international peace and security. Close and effective cooperation is therefore needed among the Committees established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, resolution 1540 (2004) and resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities and their respective groups of experts. We welcome the outreach activities carried out by those Committees and their groups of experts that, within their respective mandates, have helped to strengthen cooperation with subregional, regional and international organizations, to optimize information-sharing and to increase their level of participation in joint meetings with reciprocal representation when needed. The national capacity-building of States in order to overcome new challenges in countering terrorism remains one of the main concerns, in particular given technological developments and their use by non-State actors and terrorists. In such circumstances, we can see the important and decisive role that the Committees and their groups of experts can play in advising States. Taking into account the different but complementary roles of the Committees and their groups of experts, their coordination and joint participation should help to promote cooperation among and within them and to support the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. To achieve strict compliance with resolution 1989 (2011), the quality of information provided by Member States with regard to adding, keeping or removing names of individuals or entities to, on or from the list must be improved. In order to respect due process and the transparency of the Committee, we believe that it is very important that the designation criteria established and agreed in paragraph 4 of resolution 1989 (2011) be observed. As we have stated on previous occasions, in order to effectively implement sanctions, the Committee must continue to develop strategies that help provide technical assistance and cooperation to Member States. There have been positive developments with regard to the updating and impact of the list. However, it is necessary to continue strengthening areas such as the observance of procedures on time frames set out in the resolution. We recognize the significant contribution of the Office of the Ombudsperson. We believe it necessary to continue strengthening its functions and capacities in order to ensure respect for due process. With regard to the renewal of the Office’s mandate in December, we must make progress on aspects such as communication and the provision of information by States, including confidential information, and in approving a permanent mandate. That mechanism must be extended to all sanctions committees. We welcome the special meeting of the Counter- Terrorism Committee that will take place on 20 November. For Colombia, preventing and suppressing the financing of terrorism is a particularly important topic. We will therefore contribute constructively to that debate. My delegation underscores the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee in further supporting and facilitating the implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 1963 (2010). Through its Executive Directorate, the Committee has worked tirelessly in developing analysis tools to monitor and assess the progress of Member States in implementing resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). We very much welcome the fact that the Committee has created two tools for assessment: the general implementation review and the inquiry implementation details. The proliferation of all sorts of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and associated material, as well as the risk that they may fall into the hands of non-State actors and terrorists, continues to be a serious threat to international peace and security, That is why the 1540 Committee and its group of experts play a fundamental role in enabling Member States to fully carry out their obligations and commitments regarding the control of armaments, disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects regarding weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. By means of its coordination and facilitation role in providing assistance and cooperation, the 1540 Committee and its group of experts contribute to national capacity-building and the promotion of the exchange of best practices, bringing together Member States so that they can determine what responses to give to requests for assistance. In that context, we believe that it is of the greatest importance to take into account regional organizations, as they play a decisive role owing to their proximity to, and understanding of, the situation on the ground in their countries. Colombia appreciates the efforts being made at the regional, subregional and international levels to strengthen the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). For that reason, we have organized several meetings and workshops aimed at capacity-building at the national level. Colombia once again reiterates its commitment to combatting terrorism in all its manifestations regardless of its motivation and/or perpetrators. We believe that the effective implementation of the resolutions we are discussing today is an unavoidable commitment. Effective coordination will make it easier for Member States to fulfil their obligations when it comes to combating terrorism.

First of all, I would like to express France’s gratitude to the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) , as well as to you, Mr. President, and to the representatives of South Africa and Germany. All three of you, Sir, have shown your strong commitment over the past two years, which we welcome. I wish to associate myself with the statement to be made later by the observer of the European Union. The threat linked to Al-Qaida did not disappear with death of Osama Bin Laden. It has developed today and become regional; indeed, it remains ever-present. To cope with that reality, the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee plays an indispensable role. Its decisions, which must be implemented universally, are a key barrier against that threat. In order for the system to continue to be effective, several aspects are key. First of all, the sanctions lists must follow the development of the threat. Its regular updating is therefore crucial, and, for that reason, we would encourage all States Members of the United Nations to continue to submit to the Committee requests for inclusion on the list in order that it may best reflect the state of the threat. It was in that spirit that the Council called for the adoption of sanctions against Al-Qaida in Mali. Next, in order for the list to be credible, the delisting system needs to be fair and accurate. In particular, the processes in that regard must uphold the fundamental freedoms of people on the list. By creating and strengthening the Ombudsperson’s mandate, the most recent resolutions have allowed for the bolstering procedural guarantees. The forthcoming revision of resolution 1989 (2011) must be an opportunity for us to continue along those lines. France attaches particular importance to the work carried out by the Counter-Terrorism Committee with all of the States Members of the United Nations and, in particular, its awareness-raising role. In that regard, we welcome the holding of a special meeting of the Committee on 20 November to discuss combating the financing of terrorism. That topic, highlighted in resolution 1373 (2001), is a crucial part of any counter-terrorism strategy. The event will, inter alia, enable us to implement the best practices resulting from recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering in terms of combating the financing of terrorism. We would like the Committee to continue to organize special meetings and we are in favour of ensuring that the one that takes place next year look at porous borders, which is something that has already been raised in the Committee. I would also like to commend the ongoing efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) to carry out numerous regional workshops on important topics in combating terrorism, such as border management, legal prosecution of terrorism and freezing assets, and capacity-building. It is crucial for the most vulnerable States to enjoy ongoing support from the international community. Given the current situation of the terrorist threat, it is necessary to strengthen programmes on capacity- building for countries of the Sahel. I would also like to remind the Council that the Committee, with the support of CTED, has thoroughly analysed the way in which Member States implement the relevant Security Council resolutions thanks to preliminary assessments. Revision work on this tool has been under way for some months now in order to improve it, and we would like to commend the efforts in that area. We very much hope that the new format for the tool will soon be available and operational. Nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical terrorism are some of the main threats to our security. The possibility that weapons of mass destruction may fall into the hands of non-State actors or terrorists is a real threat that affects us all. Since the Bashar Al-Assad regime confirmed in July the presence of chemical weapons in Syria, we are very concerned about the safety of those stockpiles and by the risk of uncontrolled proliferation, which would be catastrophic for the stability of the region. Resolution 1540 (2004) is key in preventing those risks. As the representative of South Africa said in his statement, much progress has been achieved since the resolution’s adoption, in 2004. Today, most States have taken measures to implement it, and the work of the 1540 Committee is being shored up within the United Nations and elsewhere. With the adoption of resolution 1977 (2011), complemented recently by resolution 2055 (2012), the Council endowed the Committee with the means to fulfil its mandate more efficiently, in particular by creating a group of nine experts responsible for supporting the Committee in its increasing number of activities. Much remains to be done. Many provisions have not been fully implemented, for example, the definition by the Committee of specific priorities for its work, the sharing of good practices or the strengthening of cooperation between the Committee and other organizations, in particular, in the area of assistance. As the Council knows, my country coordinates the working group on this issue, and I welcome increased dialogue with Group of Eight Global Partnership Working Group in this area. Combating terrorism must be coordinated. It is crucial to work to strengthen and coordinate the United Nations Committees. We also rely a great deal on the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force to make progress in that coordination. Lastly, we support the recommendation of the Secretary-General to create a post of United Nations counter-terrorism coordinator. We very much hope that such a post will be set up soon. It would enable us to strengthen coherence and raise the profile of the United Nations in terms of combating terrorism.

I would like to begin by thanking Ambassadors Hardeep Singh Puri, Baso Sangqu and Peter Wittig for their briefings. We wish to express our sincere appreciation for their excellent leadership of the Security Council Committees with counter-terrorism mandates. With their wisdom, professionalism and dedication, they have been doing a tremendous job over the past two years. I wish them every success in their future endeavours. With its changing nature and character, terrorism is a serious threat to international peace and security, as well as to the political independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the social and economic development of all States. Although the international community has achieved remarkable results in countering terrorism, more should be done to prevent and combat that scourge. Today, when the world continues to suffer from the terrorism menace and when the frequency and magnitude of terrorism acts still challenge the well-being all societies, the role of the three Security Council Committees with counter- terrorism mandates remains as important as ever. Azerbaijan strongly supports the close cooperation and effective coordination among the three Committees and their groups of experts. The Council has repeatedly stressed the need for enhanced interaction and collaboration among them. Information exchange, joint outreach activities and country visits, coordinated activities with international and regional organizations, joint meetings and representation are important tools employed by the Committees for the benefit of United Nations counter-terrorism efforts. In that regard, we are pleased to note the increased cooperation between the experts’ groups in some areas. The lack of proper counter-terrorism capacity is a perennial problem that should continue to be a focus of United Nations counter-terrorism efforts. Understandably, not all requests for assistance can receive an adequate response, in view of the particular requirements of donors and of the time that the process takes. Given the changing nature of terrorism and the security situation related to that, the individual needs of States, as well as their ability to effectively implement their counter-terrorism obligations, may vary. United Nations entities are always there to assist Member States, but it is also essential that States strengthen cooperation with one another on the issues of capacity- building assistance. Concerning the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), I would like to underline the extraordinary importance of the full implementation by Member States of the Council’s resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 1963 (2010), and to stress in that regard the crucial role of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate in promoting and facilitating the implementation of those resolutions. With its vast expertise and various tools, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate is the backbone of the overall activities of the Committee, as well as a unique mechanism that provides many opportunities for Member States to strengthen their counter-terrorism capabilities. The Directorate’s close interaction with Member States is a prerequisite for the effectiveness of both the Committee’s work and the full implementation of counter-terrorism commitments. I would like to commend the hard work of the Committee and Executive Directorate in finalizing the revision of implementation assessment tools. The revised assessment process not only ensures transparency, consistency and objectivity in the Committee’s stocktaking process but also further enhances cooperation between the Committee and Member States in many areas. Turning to the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, Al-Qaida is a global terrorist movement that continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security, even though it is currently undergoing a complex transition process and lacks strong central leadership. Its regional and national affiliates have been growing in strength and importance. It has switched to an increased focus on local issues, and thus has become more complicated to deal with. Against that backdrop, the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 1989 (2011), must be ensured in order to continue to effectively counter the threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates with success and in a timely fashion. We acknowledge the Committee’s efforts to maintain the effectiveness and credibility of the Al-Qaida sanctions list, including by regularly updating and reviewing it. It is essential that the sanctions be fully applied and that the list reflect current and future threats from Al-Qaida and its associates. We underline the Monitoring Team’s special role in raising awareness of the sanctions regime and its contribution to completing the narrative summaries for all entries on the Al-Qaida list, as well as to making proper amendments to it. A fair and clear procedure for listing and delisting has established a firm basis for a successful fight against emerging threats. For those reasons, the Committee should continue to approach listing requests and recommendations with due consideration. In that regard, we affirm the importance of the Office of the Ombudsperson as an essential element of fairness in the application of the sanctions regime. Azerbaijan is greatly appreciative of the activities of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), in particular its close interaction with Member States. It is essential that the Committee, with support from its group of experts, continue to work constructively with Member States in order to increase the number of national implementation reports. We welcome the adoption of resolution 2055 (2012), and hope that an increase in the group of experts will make a positive contribution to enhancing the 1540 Committee’s capacity to prevent, among other things, non-State actors from developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery. We also commend the Member States that recently organized a number of important events focused on promoting the goals of resolution 1540 (2004), as well as on capacity-building and assistance. Areas of armed conflict, especially territories under foreign military occupation, often create conditions conducive to exploitation by terrorists and other non-State actors. The accumulation of a great number of armaments and munitions in such places, beyond the reach of international control, and the risk of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related materials to non-State actors pose a serious threat to international peace and security. That requires the diligent implementation by all States of their respective commitments and strengthened cooperation among them in order to effectively address such challenges. The war on terrorism should not be used to target any particular religion or culture, and there is a vital necessity for joint efforts and dialogue to counter defamatory manifestations and misconceptions. Constructive interaction between different cultures and religions, including within the framework of such initiatives as the culture of peace and the Alliance of Civilizations, should continue playing a special role in contributing to peace and mutual understanding, and thus to the efficient implementation of counter- terrorism measures. Sir Mark Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): Let me thank the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004), Ambassadors Wittig, Singh Puri and Sangqu, for their comprehensive briefings today and their effective leadership of those Committees. It is important to remember why we come together for these regular meetings. The threat from terrorism and proliferation to international peace and security remains significant. The three Committees under discussion today are on the front line of the work of the United Nations in addressing those threats. But the work of the Committees is only as strong as the action taken by Member States to implement their obligations. We should therefore redouble our efforts with Member States to ensure that dangerous people and entities have their assets frozen and their movement restricted, that States work to tighten their borders and import and export controls, and that legislation is put in place so that those who commit or support terrorist acts are prosecuted. Only in that way can we ensure that the fight against terrorism succeeds, and that the next attack, be it in Mumbai, Peshawar, London or our host city of New York, is prevented. Over the past few years, we have seen the development of the Ombudsperson system as a part of the United Nations Al-Qaida sanctions regime. That development has been conspicuously successful. We welcome the Ombudsperson’s conclusion, in her fourth report to the Security Council, that the process has “operated in conformity with the fundamental principles of fair process which it was designed to address” (S/2012/590, para. 30). The United Kingdom thanks Kimberley Prost for the exemplary way in which she fulfils her mandate. We will continue to work with members of the Sanctions Committee, the Ombudsperson and other interested parties to consider further enhancements to the Ombudsperson process. We will redouble our efforts to further improve the implementation and effectiveness of that regime. The United Kingdom also pays tribute to the consistently excellent work accomplished by the sanctions Monitoring Team. Their work has made a significant contribution to enhancing our understanding of the threat, engaging effectively with countries concerned and helping to set the framework within which the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee operates. The third biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy reminded us that the whole of the international community, and every part of the United Nations system, must work together to address this challenge. The Committee has also done a great deal of work with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate to improve the way it communicates with States. Getting a clear understanding of progress against benchmarks set out by the Committee is essential to determine what more needs to be done to assist those States in need of help. We look forward to next week’s special meeting on combating terrorist financing. The threat that terrorists may acquire weapons of mass destruction has been a growing concern for the international community over the past decade. Resolution 1540 (2004) represents the resolve of the international community to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors. But the effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) requires commitment and cooperation by all States. The United Kingdom encourages all States to report their efforts to the 1540 Committee. National reporting to the Committee has a direct impact on terrorists who may be trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction. It also has a positive impact on State security through better border management, improved legislation and safer controls over dangerous materials. We encourage States to view the submission of 1540 national reports as an effective way to improve national and global security. The Committee, as supported by the new group of experts, is well placed to provide assistance and expert advice. Finally, I say to the three Chairmen that, because of the changing nature of terrorism and proliferation, the work of their three Committees is never truly done. As the threats evolve, so we must adjust and adapt. The work of States supported and guided by the three counter-terrorism and non-proliferation Committees is critical. As the Chairs come to the end of their terms heading those important Committees, they can take credit for leading that work.

I wish, at the outset, to thank Ambassadors Peter Wittig, Hardeep Singh Puri and Baso Sangqu for their informative briefings and the great skill and dedication with which they guide the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council under their respective leadership. Such joint meetings as this are very useful in considering terrorist threats from a broader perspective. They also contribute to the strengthening of coordination and coherence of actions throughout the system. This year, the General Assembly carried out the third review of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. That exercise reaffirmed both that we all share the same goal and the particular importance for the three subsidiary bodies of the Security Council continuing their close cooperation with the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force and its working groups. With regard to the work of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), we welcome the improvements effected by the Committee regarding procedural guarantees and the consideration of applications for listing and delisting. However, that remains a work in progress and much remains to be done. We trust that we will find a path by which to harmonize political processes with legal standards. We await with interest the forthcoming negotiations on the renewal of the mandate of the Committee, which will provide an opportunity to improve and strengthen the credibility of the sanctions regime. That brings me to the work of the Ombudsperson, whom I should like to congratulate. We wish to voice our great admiration and respect for the independence, professionalism and courage with which the Ombudsperson has carried out her work. Reassured by that experience, we are interested in specific proposals to strengthen the mandate of the Ombudsperson. We look favourably on the document prepared by several delegations addressed to the Council (S/2012/805). We would be particularly interested to see the mandate of the Ombudsperson broadened to cover all sanctions Committees. We would also like there to be greater access to information with regard to the reasons leading to the addition of a person or institution to the list. We also welcome the frank and extensive exchange of views that the Committee held with Mr. Ben Emerson, Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights Council on the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the fight against terrorism. The recommendations contained in his report are still being carefully scrutinized, but they will surely provide input for our deliberations on strengthening the mandate of the Ombudsperson. With regard to the Counter-Terrorism Committee, we believe that for us to continue to make progress, we have to continue with the preliminary assessments regarding the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001). We now have a revised version that will help us in our task and reduce “report fatigue” that many Member States face. It will also allow for more detailed recording of information provided for follow-up and evaluation. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate deserves a special word of praise for the contribution it makes in helping States to stay up to date with the evolving risks and threats posed by terrorist acts, in identifying shortcomings and gaps regarding their obligations under resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), and in proposing new practical means to ensure that those resolutions are fully implemented. We also encourage the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate to continue its capacity-building activities and providing technical assistance mechanisms to those countries that request it. It is particularly important for there to be even greater emphasis on the conditions that can provide a breeding ground for terrorism and its propagation. We believe that the effectiveness of our counter-terrorism efforts depends upon our ability to successfully tackle the economic, social and political conditions that often fuel terrorism. With regard to non-proliferation, we commend the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for the work it has carried out, in particular regarding the provision of assistance, cooperation and outreach activities. We believe that the Committee and its group of experts must continue to promote the further intensification of activities by the international community in order to combat the risks and threats of proliferation. Likewise, we believe that the Committee must continue its work as far as possible in close cooperation with the other such international organizations as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, so as to avoid the duplication of efforts. We take note of the Committee’s programme of work and welcome the steps taken to ensure that the work of the Committee is more systematic. We particularly welcome the emphasis on cooperation between the Committee and international organizations, including the Security Council committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001). We believe it is important to pursue those efforts. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) has proven itself to be a crucial mechanism in strengthening support and assistance to Member States in promoting and continuing to develop their capacities to counter such threats. Guatemala acknowledges and commends that work. With respect to assistance and capacity-building, we welcome the organization of a number of regional workshops, seminars and round tables by various Member States. As for the role of the group of experts of the 1540 Committee, its work as set forth in resolution 1977 (2011) is of paramount importance. Without the support provided by the experts to Member States, in particular the developing States, it would be very difficult for many of them to develop action plans, submit national reports and progress on measures necessary to implement resolution 1540 (2004). In that respect, we welcome the fact that the issue of the selection of experts was resolved with the adoption in June of resolution 2055 (2012). Six experts are already working, and we trust that the remaining three will soon begin to do so. In that context, we reiterate our position on the criteria for the selection of experts under resolution 1977 (2011). In particular, we highlight the need for broad geographical representation to meet the legitimate expectations of the international community for equitable and fair representation. Resolution 1977 (2011) contains clear criteria for the selection of experts. It is important to meet those criteria in order to ensure the legitimacy of the 1540 Committee. To conclude, over the past decade the role of the Security Council in combating terrorism has quickly grown and evolved. Guatemala trusts that the subsidiary bodies of the Council will continue to promote cooperation among Member States and to assist them in overcoming obstacles to implementation of the relevant Council resolutions. In addition to enjoying our gratitude, the Permanent Representatives of Germany, India and South Africa can also rely on our full support for their work.

We thank the Permanent Representatives of Germany, India and South Africa for their briefings on the work of the Council’s subsidiary committees. Despite the best efforts of the international community, terrorism remains one of the main threats to international peace and security. We are reminded of that by the never-ending terrorist attacks in the Middle East, the Sahara and the Sahel, which every day take the lives of innocent people, including children. We firmly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of the targeted location, be it Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else. Furthermore, we expect our partners to also condemn unequivocally the global scourge. Double standards or designating terrorists as either good or bad — any and all attempts to justify such barbaric acts by saying that they appear to target military goals — are unacceptable. In view of the current situation, it is more important than ever to strengthen the central role of the Security Council in the counter-terrorism sphere by bolstering collective efforts to combat terrorist threats. In that regard, the work of the Committees and the strengthening of cooperation among them play a key role in enhancing the effectiveness of the Council’s contribution to the fight against global terrorism. We expect that the reform of the main assessment mechanism of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) — namely, the preliminary implementation assessment — and improving the working methods of its Executive Directorate (CTED) following its country visits will help the CTC to fulfil its mandate more effectively by complementing the implementation efforts of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the work of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force in that area. At a time when various regions of the world are undergoing transformation, it is important to prevent both the radicalization of certain populations and the triggering of sectarian or inter-religious clashes. In that regard, we attach particular importance to implementing Council resolution 1624 (2005), focusing on preventing terrorism, limiting the range of terrorist activities, and combating the spread of terrorist ideology and violent extremism and the use of media and the Internet for terrorist purposes. We support strengthening of the CTC’s contacts with international and regional organizations in order to expand the network of counter-terrorism cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations. We note the close and regular contacts of the CTC, as well as the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1540 (2004), with the Meeting of Heads of Special Services, Security Agencies and Law-Enforcement Organizations on terrorism-related issues, which was initiated by the Russian Federal Security Service. Early this year, we heard the most recent briefing to the CTC by the representative of that Meeting. We should maintain that practice. We commend the role of CTED in providing assistance to the CTC. Resolution 1963 (2010) renewed the Directorate’s mandate, which assigns important tasks to that structure, while requiring the whole of CTED, including its leadership, to deliver fully. Russia will endeavour to enhance dialogue with the Executive Directorate in order to significantly strengthen its capacity. Russia also intends to foster closer cooperation with potential donors, develop cooperation with international regional organizations and expert groups of the Council’s committees, and continue the practice of CTED field missions. We commend the October visit by CTED experts to the Russian Federation. The visit showed that Russia remains at the forefront of international efforts to combat terrorism and has significant experience that may be transformed into best practices in that area. We are prepared to share our experience with our partners. It is our hope that the changes made in June 2011 to the sanctions regime of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), whereby the anti-Taliban component was removed, and to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) will help to promote national reconciliation in Afghanistan. It is still difficult to assess the impact of that reform. Taliban activity is increasing. It remains difficult to make a clear distinction between exponents of Al-Qaida and pure Taliban, despite their individual statements. Al-Qaida has no intention of leaving Afghanistan and cutting its ties with the Taliban. It is present not only in the eastern part of the country, but also elsewhere. We can discuss whether the agendas of those organizations differ or not, but it cannot be denied that relations and interactions among them involving terrorism remain. We cannot fail to focus attention on the active participation of Al-Qaida in the events of the Arab world, where a breeding ground is being created for them. In those conditions, the sanctions listing of the 1267 and 1989 Committee must appropriately reflect the threats posed by Al-Qaida, which, in the light of recent events in the Arab world, have in no way decreased. We support the proposal to include new names provided by Member States on the list. However, the practice of using sanctions against individuals and organizations involved in terrorist activities must continue to be based on an individual approach with respect for appropriate procedures. The expanded powers of the Ombudsperson on delisting, set out in resolution 1989 (2011), and the new procedure for considering applications for delisting have ensured an optimal level of transparency in the Committee’s procedures. On the eve of the adoption of the new sanctions resolution on Al-Qaida in December, it will be important, when considering further improvements to the procedures, not to engage in populism and not to have the Committee fulfil functions that were not mandated to it, but rather to focus on preventing the fundamental principles and effectiveness of its work from being undermined. It is equally important to improve the effectiveness of the sanctions mechanisms, which are totally dependent on States’ compliance with their own obligations in this area. I take this opportunity to underscore the fruitful and highly professional work of the Monitoring Team of the 1267 (1999) and 1989 and 1988 Committees. An important challenge for the international community is preventing all opportunities for weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and associated materials from falling into the hands of terrorists. A key international legal instrument for implementing this is resolution 1540 (2004), which guides States in strengthening national non-proliferation monitoring and control systems. Russia is in favour of the full implementation of thie resolution by all countries, bearing in mind the complex and long-term nature of its requirements. We welcome the start of work of the new group of experts of the 1540 Committee. We expect that its composition will be completed in the coming weeks and that it will be able to assist the Committee fully. It is important for the Committee to continue to prioritize matters of assistance to States in implementing resolution 1540 (2004), acting as a coordinator of the relevant efforts of the international community. For our part, Russia will continue to play an active role in its efforts, including with regard to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in cooperation with members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Allow me to thank you, Sir, and Ambassadors Peter Wittig and Baso Sangqu for your very comprehensive briefings. I wish to congratulate all three for your leadership, commitment and the smooth and efficient way in which you led the work of the Committees that you chair. I agree with your analysis, conclusions and recommendations. A lot of ground has already been covered by previous interventions, so I will not repeat them and I can be very brief, which I think will be to the general relief. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism (CTC), let me state the obvious, which is that an effective long-term sustained fight against terrorism must continue to address simultaneously three main aspects. Those are prevention, compliance with human rights and the rule of law, and technical assistance to States and regions particularly in need. Let me also highlight the particular attention being given by the CTC and its Executive Directorate (CTED) to the reinforcement of regional cooperation in such areas as the Sahel, North Africa, Central Asia and East Africa. Providing assistance to States and regional organizations is indeed one of the most significant priorities of the international community, and the coordination efforts of the United Nations are crucial to ensuring its effectiveness. With regard to the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, let me highlight the issue of fair and clear procedures for delisting. In this context, I wish once again to express our full support for the important and useful work of the Office of the Ombudsperson. The contribution of the Ombudsperson to furthering the credibility, transparency and fairness of the delisting regime of the 1267 Committee is indeed of great importance, and we believe that the Council should look forward to the establishment of such a useful instrument in the framework of other relevant United Nations sanctions committees, building on the positive experience gathered. On the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), let me commend in particular the efforts to better match assistance requests with offers from Member States, as well as outreach activities that contribute to strengthening national capabilities with regard to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and to advancing cooperation with all relevant international organizations in one of the areas where the Committee should continue to build upon. In conclusion, I reiterate our support for all the measures that could be instrumental to enhancing coordination mechanisms and joint tools between the three Committees and their groups of experts, thus maximizing their effectiveness and cooperation towards the common goal of preventing and countering international terrorism.

In the General Assembly in September, President Obama reminded us that terror attacks are not simply an assault on one country, but an assault on the very ideals upon which the United Nations was founded (see A/67/PV.6). Through concerted action and international cooperation, the world has made significant progress in combating the scourge of terrorism, but we have not yet eliminated it. Although Al-Qaida’s core has weakened, we have seen the rise of affiliated groups around the world, such as in the Sahel and the Arabian peninsula. The Security Council’s three counter-terrorism Committees exemplify our common efforts and reflect the international community’s multifaceted approach to confront this challenge. Thwarting nefarious actors from supporting acts of terror, building national capacities to address terrorism domestically, and working to prevent the most dangerous weapons and materials from falling into the wrong hands are all essential elements of a comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism, and they require constant multilateral cooperation. The Council’s sustained commitment to promoting the implementation of resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) has helped build stronger legal, policy and institutional counter-terrorism frameworks at the national and regional levels. We commend the Committees for their dedication, their Chairs for their leadership over the past two years, and the three expert groups for their continued excellent work. The sanctions regime of resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) remains a critical tool for countering Al-Qaida and affiliated groups, which continue to pose grave danger to international peace and security. The actions of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities help prevent these groups from perpetuating acts of terror. The United States encourages the Committee to reinvigorate the implementation and enforcement of the regime, in particular to strengthen the international community’s ability to thwart terrorist finance and travel. We further urge the Committee to impose targeted measures against Al-Qaida-linked militants operating in the Sahel, especially those responsible for violence in Mali. The Committee should hold special meetings to discuss the financing of terrorism through kidnapping for ransom and to focus on key regions victimized by terrorism. We remain committed to ensuring that the Committee’s procedures are fair, and we commend Ombudsperson Kimberley Prost for her important role in aiding the Committee’s review of delisting petitions. Finally, we recognize the dedicated service to this Committee of Richard Barrett and several other long-standing members of the Monitoring Team who will depart at the end of this year. We deeply value their work. Moving forward, we encourage the Team to continue focusing on implementation challenges, particularly in those States in which sanctioned individuals and entities are located, and we would welcome recommendations for actions the Committee might take in cases of non-compliance. The effectiveness of international efforts to combat terrorist activities depends on countries’ abilities to take action domestically. The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and its Executive Directorate (CTED) have played a vital role in building the capacities of nations to deal effectively with terrorism. We strongly support their efforts to monitor and promote the implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 1963 (2010), as reflected in our voluntary contributions across the United Nations system for regional and national training. The valuable work of the CTC and CTED includes training judges and prosecutors, developing witness protection programmes, and programmes to rehabilitate and reintegrate violent extremists. The appointment of a United Nations counter-terrorism coordinator, as proposed by the Secretary-General, would further strengthen our collective counter- terrorism efforts by fostering a more strategic and coordinated United Nations approach to these issues and integrate the work of the three counter-terrorism expert groups. In addition, the United States strongly supports the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy and the work of the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force. The United Nations should continue to work with multilateral entities such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum to increase international capacity to counter violent extremism. We look forward to the United Nations developing a close partnership with the new International Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism in Abu Dhabi and the soon-to- be-established international institute for justice and the rule of law in Tunisia. One of the greatest threats to international security is terrorists gaining access to weapons of mass destruction. For eight years, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) has been dealing with that threat. We have seen significance progress towards the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), for which we thank the 1540 Committee and its experts. But much more remains to be done. The full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) is a long- term endeavour that will require continuing Security Council commitment and engagement with regional, subregional and intergovernmental organizations and industry. We must continue to find ways to integrate the competencies and capabilities of those organizations into the global effort. We also hope that the 1540 Committee’s expanded group of experts will energize implementation. Only with sustained financial support can the goal of full implementation be reached. The United States has donated a total of $4.5 million to the United Nations trust fund for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), and we encourage all Member States to make voluntary contributions to the fund. The ongoing threat of terrorism around the world should reinforce for us the importance of these Committees and their work. We are pleased with the Committee’s progress, grateful to those who have made it possible and confident that, under the capable leadership of the Chairs, the Council’s counter-terrorism efforts will guide and reinforce Member States’ action to combat terrorism in the coming years.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) for presenting their reports on their activities since last May. As we did at their previous briefings to the Council, we pay well- deserved tribute to the representatives of Germany, India, and South Africa for the degree of commitment that they have displayed in heading up their respective Committees. In the context of counter-terrorism efforts, the positive thing to note is that the threat represented by Al-Qaida has been decreasing globally under the significant blows dealt to the leadership of that terrorist organization. However, at the same time, the group has expanded its reach in several regions of the world by, in particular, focusing on regional or local entities that spread devastation wherever they go, as is currently the case in northern Mali. Given this situation, it is more crucial than ever to continue to adapt the sanctions regime to new threats and to improve procedural rules. My country is grateful to the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team and the Office of the Ombudsperson for the excellent work they have been carrying out. Next month, the mandates of the 1267 Committee and the Office of the Ombudsperson will be renewed. Our Council should take that opportunity to provide clear answers to the various concerns and pertinent questions that have been raised, in particular on procedural issues, on the basis of broad consensus. In this regard, we are pleased to note that a group of States has submitted a document for consideration that addresses the need to develop fair and clear procedures for a more effective sanctions system. This document, by proposing, inter alia, the codification of the institution of the Ombudsperson with extended powers and the expansion of that institution to other sanctions committees, as well as encouraging broader cooperation among States, could be a basis for continued consideration. Nevertheless, Togo believes that efforts to improve the rules of procedure should be undertaken without casting in a favourable light those terrorists who are considered to have repented but who might still take up arms one way or another. Regarding resolution 1540 (2004), we are pleased that the efforts deployed by the Committee established pursuant to that resolution have strengthened the resolve of States to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. This is evidenced in the activities carried out and the number of countries that have presented reports on the implementation of the resolution. The awareness-raising campaigns, sharing of best practices, capacity-building and technical assistance that the Committee has provided to States are efforts that we rightly welcome and that are appropriate means to promote the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). However, the comprehensive implementation of that resolution should not be up to the States themselves. Regional and subregional organizations should constantly be called upon in activities for raising awareness and sharing good practices. Furthermore, given the importance and clout of the Committee’s activities, which require enhanced efforts, Togo believes that the Secretariat should do all it can to enable the three remaining experts to join the Committee. Resolution 1373 (2001) is an important element in the arsenal of international legal instruments to combat terrorism. We note that, given the activity report, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate (CTED) have remained very active in pursuing and implementing the resolution. Awareness- raising activities, workshops, seminars and evaluation missions are activities that help draw the attention of the international community to the central issues concerning the fight against terrorism. Here, Togo welcomes the upcoming special meeting on preventing and curbing the financing of terrorism, to be held on 20 November, and the meeting on the financing of terrorism and the challenges posed by porous borders, to be held in spring 2013. We cannot reiterate often enough that applying measures to combat terrorism can entail violations of human rights. The rights of the victims of terrorist acts must be respected throughout the entire process of investigation and appearance before judges, as Member States and human rights organizations have always insisted. This is why the delegation of Togo welcomes the fact that the Counter-Terrorism Committee and CTED are paying particular attention to this question. In conclusion, I would like to say that I welcome the crucial cooperation that has been established between the expert groups of the three Committees. No one can deny that combating terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction require a significant investment, both from States and from international organizations. Henceforth, cooperation and coordination of the work of the groups of experts of the Committees should be strongly encouraged, as they will not only prevent duplication and enable the best use of the limited resources available, but also and most importantly channel assistance where it is needed. We are pleased to note that, in the context of this inter-institutional cooperation, capacity-building for States facing the threat of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains a key concern, given the rapid ability of terrorists and non-State actors to adapt.

Allow me to appeal to the remaining speakers, of whom there are eight on my list. Given the time that we have available, which is less than 30 minutes, I would request them to follow the same procedure that the members of the Council used, which was to have their statements in their entirety distributed so that members can see them, and confine their statements to a part thereof. That way, we will be able to complete our work within the stipulated time. I must also point out that we have some other urgent, pressing business thereafter. I give the floor to Mr. Vrailas. Mr. Vrailas: I am speaking on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The acceding country Croatia; the candidate countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Iceland and Serbia; the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina; as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. At the outset, I thank the Committee Chairs for their comprehensive updates and summaries of actions and initiatives taken within the past six months. We remain convinced that the work of all three Committees is of pivotal importance to countering and preventing the evolving threat of terrorism. We also remain committed to their full implementation. We are of the view that protecting human rights and ensuring respect for the rule of law are of critical importance in achieving the ultimate goal of countering and preventing terrorism. We therefore welcome the fact that the Security Council has taken significant steps to further reinforce fair and clear procedures in the Al-Qaida sanctions regime, particularly through the enhanced mandate of the Ombudsperson introduced by resolution 1989 (2011). We commend and highly value the Ombudsperson’s work. The Office of the Ombudsperson provides listed individuals and entities seeking removal from the consolidated list the guarantee that they can put their case for delisting before the United Nations authorities through an administrative review process that includes an independent and impartial body. We look forward to the forthcoming renewal of the mandate of the Ombudsperson in December. We support the further enhancement of the Ombudsperson’s Office and underline the importance of fully equipping it with all the resources necessary. We call upon all Member States to continue full cooperation with the Office of the Ombudsperson in each and every case. The third biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy puts on a solid footing all United Nations efforts towards countering and preventing terrorism. We welcome the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001). With regard, in particular, to the Committee’s work on enhancing State capacity, we would like to commend the seminars organized in Kuala Lumpur and Algiers, as well as the workshop for Maghreb and Sahel States. We are looking forward to the special event devoted to the pertinent issue of the financing of terrorism scheduled to take place on 20 November. I would like to make a few remarks on the non-proliferation regime under resolution 1540 (2004). The risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security. No single Member State can handle the threat alone and therefore continuous cooperation, exchange of information and outreach activities and assistance play an important role in building capacity to counter the threat of weapons of mass destruction being used by terrorists. The workload of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) is increasing significantly, and for that reason we commend efforts to reinforce the group of experts. The EU member States engage actively in the promotion of the objectives of resolution 1540 (2004), and to that end in June Lithuania hosted a workshop for countries bordering the Baltic Sea and for representatives from a number of international, regional and subregional organizations. In July 2012, Poland organized a workshop on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), with a focus on innovative approaches to capacity-building and assistance. Countries representing Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as representatives of the EU, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, took part in the workshop. I would like to conclude by stressing that, while we have witnessed significant progress in the fight against terrorism, we should not lower our guard. We should continue our joint efforts as terrorist threats systematically adapt to the changing environment. Therefore, unwavering commitment and a comprehensive and global response are continually needed.

I give the floor to the representative of the Netherlands.

To begin with, I want to thank you, Sir, for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the group of like-minded States on targeted sanctions. The group has taken a specific interest in strengthening fair and clear procedures for targeted sanctions with a view to enhancing due process and making the United Nations sanctions regimes more effective. Our group consists of Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. In previous years, the Security Council has taken significant steps to enhance fair and clear procedures within the relevant Committee. In particular, the establishment and strengthening of the Ombudsperson process by resolutions 1904 (2009) and 1989 (2011) were important steps towards creating an independent and effective sanctions review mechanism, rendering more accurate and more legitimate the list maintained by the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities. Nonetheless, regional and national legal challenges to the Al-Qaida sanctions regime and its implementation persist and put the uniform application of and full compliance with United Nations sanctions at risk. Against that background, and with a view to the adoption in mid-December of the follow-up to resolution 1989 (2011), we sent a letter to the President of the Council at the beginning of this month, outlining several proposals that we believe would merit close consideration by the Council in its continued efforts to improve and strengthen the system. The letter is being distributed as an annex to the written copy of this statement as I speak. In the interest of time, I will highlight only some of the proposals today. First of all, we would like to call on all Member States to enhance their cooperation with the Office of the Ombudsperson for information-gathering by providing her in a timely manner with all relevant information on persons and entities applying for delisting, including confidential and classified information or declassified documents. In that regard, Member States should be encouraged to conclude confidentiality agreements and arrangements with the Ombudsperson and to abide by the time limits, as set forth in annex II of resolution 1989 (2011). Secondly, in the view of the group of like-minded States on targeted sanctions, improving the transparency of the delisting process is of the utmost importance to increasing its acceptance. Procedural transparency could be increased if the Office of the Ombudsperson were to inform the petitioner, upon request, about the state of play of his or her request for delisting, where necessary, to ensure the transparency of the process. Material transparency could be enhanced if all Committee decisions, regardless of whether they maintain a listing or delist an individual or entity, contained adequate and substantial reasons that could be conveyed to the petitioner by the Ombudsperson. Thirdly, we believe that to ensure the independence and impartiality of the Ombudsperson process, the length of the mandate of the Ombudsperson should be extended to an unlimited period. To ensure its effective functioning, the Office of the Ombudsperson should promptly be provided with all resources necessary to fulfil its mandate, including funds for translation and interpretation. Finally, regarding the scope of the mandate of the Ombudsperson, only individuals and entities listed on the Al-Qaida sanctions list currently have access to the Ombudsperson process. Yet similar due process concerns exist in other United Nations sanctions regimes. In our opinion, the Security Council should therefore consider the extension of the competence of the Office of the Ombudsperson to other relevant regimes on the occasion of their next mandate renewals.

I invite the representative of Spain to take the floor.

We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this open debate. We endorse the statement made by the observer of the European Union. I would also like to address a few issues that I consider especially pertinent. I thank the Chairs of the counter-terrorism Committees for their briefings, and I commend the work they continue to do, together with their respective groups of experts. Given Spain’s experience in combating terrorism, I reiterate my country’s strong commitment to continuing to cooperate with the three Committees and the entire United Nations system in fighting that threat to the world order, which must remain a permanent priority of the Organization’s agenda. Terrorism is a complex, many-faceted phenomenon that is constantly evolving. Terrorists never stop seeking out new strategies, new tools and new methods with which to attack and harm the international community. We must therefore be constantly alert so as to tirelessly adjust our response to the terrorist phenomenon and to address it using a multidisciplinary approach. The Secretary-General has on several occasions referred to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Coordinator. Spain has no doubt as to the usefulness of that post given that it will help to promote a more strategic approach that facilitates communication and interaction among the various United Nations entities. Thus the full implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy will be possible on the basis of broader participation and greater transparency and functionality. In that context, Secretariat bodies such as the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force will be able to play a more active role in coordinated efforts within the system to promote national and regional strategies to counter terrorism. Those entities will also have at their disposal instruments aimed at strengthening coherence such as the Integrated Assistance for Countering Terrorism Initiative and new entities such as the United Nations Centre for Counter- Terrorism, which will allow them to increase such coherence. It is also necessary to promote interaction with the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, which, despite having been established only recently, has managed to set out a number of principles of action for international cooperation, whose value should be broadly promoted. Despite their common denominator, all terrorist manifestations have their own specific characteristics depending on their location. Each terrorist attack therefore requires special consideration and the adoption of national and regional strategies that allow for a local and systematic response. The counter-terrorism Committees, and in particular the efforts made by the Executive Directorate (CTED), must continue to be strengthened so as to promote the inclusion of their valuable contributions in the framework of local strategies that are fully agreed to by the recipient countries and regions. We encourage CTED to continue improving the effectiveness of preliminary implementation assessments so as to identify the most relevant shortcomings in the fight against terrorism, with the goal of strengthening its field presence and encouraging cooperation on the part of international donors. Spain believes that the following aspects deserve special attention: the victims of terrorism; the fight against terrorism in the context of the Internet; incitement to terrorism; prevention; and the efforts made by the CTED to promote dialogue and tolerance in accordance with resolution 1624 (2005). Spain welcomes the efforts made by the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) to improve the rigour and transparency of its working methods. I call upon the Committee to continue those endeavours. The commendable work done by the Ombudsperson since the adoption of resolution 1904 (2009) has allowed for the process of the delisting of sanctioned individuals to proceed in a satisfactory manner. Spain fully supports all processes that lead to initiatives contributing to improving the effectiveness of the system of sanctions. We support the constructive spirit of the reforms undertaken to strengthen safeguards in connection with the proceedings. I wish to make clear that Spain does not question the legitimacy or the legal foundation of the established system, which represents a fundamental pillar of the fight against terrorism.

I now give the floor to the representative of Switzerland.

In line with your wishes, Mr. President, I should like to read only a condensed version of my statement. I would ask that the full text be distributed later on. I will skip the congratulations, but I wish to state that I agree fully with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands on behalf of the group of like-minded countries. While we welcome the important measures taken by the Security Council in adopting resolution 1989 (2011) in June 2011, we cannot but note once again that respect for the rule of law, including the right to a fair public hearing before an independent and impartial mechanism established by law, remains insufficient. Many Governments, regional and national parliaments and national and regional courts share that view, as does the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. Until the United Nations system offers the possibility of an effective and independent judicial review of the sanctions lists, the dilemma faced by Member States will continue, in that they are obligated to apply Security Council sanctions while also possibly required to comply with contrary rulings by a court of law regarding their own human rights obligations. That is my first point. My second and last point is that the sanctions regime under resolution 1267 (1999) is not, as members know, the only body that has an impact on the enjoyment of the human rights of individuals and entities affected by targeted sanctions. Other sanctions regimes do not have mechanisms that allow for the imperatives related to the principle of the rule of law to be taken into account. We therefore encourage the Security Council to consider the proposal of the group of like-minded countries that other sanctions regimes be provided with mechanisms similar to those established by the Security Council in the framework of the Al-Qaida sanctions Committee. We believe that our concerted efforts and those of the group are inspired by our sincere desire to strengthen the sanctions regimes and to increase the effectiveness and legitimacy of the Security Council. We are convinced that the approach proposed by our group will help to achieve those objectives.

I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

Poland fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. We deeply appreciate the efforts undertaken by the respective three Security Council Committees aimed at eliminating not only the results of terrorist activity but also at looking into their causes and countering the appeal of terrorism. Poland is convinced that the United Nations should serve as a platform to discuss and upgrade the implementation of the international norms against weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear terrorism. To that end, we strongly support the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). On 12 and 13 July 2012, the Government of Poland, in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Stimson Center, hosted an event in Warsaw devoted to the regional aspects of the implementation of that resolution. Throughout the two-day conference, participants from the European Union Eastern Partnership countries, the Caucasus and Central Asia engaged in a conversation on their national plans to implement resolution 1540 (2004). An important facet of the workshop was to highlight the interconnection between the capacity-building necessary to combat the threat of WMD terrorism and the measures required to fight a broader range of security concerns: organized crime; trafficking in illicit drugs, small arms and humans; irregular labor migration; and trafficking in nuclear, biological and chemical materials or dual-use technologies. The workshop was also aimed at demonstrating a very important aspect of the implementation of global non-proliferation obligations. In an era of globalization, it is of the utmost importance to take a holistic approach to counter-proliferation and counterterrorism efforts. That means that the international community must engage with both the public and private sectors to minimize the risk of the smuggling of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials and the illicit trafficking of dual-use goods. We deeply appreciate the fact that this aspect remains an important part of the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). The workshop was an attempt at featuring the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in that dual-benefit manner. Subsequently, a regional approach to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) is of utmost importance in bringing together countries with similar experiences and similar security challenges. Poland will continue to support such cooperation.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.

I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

I will abridge my statement almost by half in the hope that members of the Council will read my full statement very carefully, if not now then at a later time. I would first like to express my appreciation to the Chairs of the Council’s three counter-terrorism Committees for their respective briefings. I believe that we can make efforts to counter terrorism in various ways and in various situations. Each State has its own counter-terrorism measures in place so that it can take action, for example, to enhance its ability to cope with terrorism or to hold discussions with neighbouring countries. In that regard, Japan has conducted bilateral and multilateral dialogues and consultations, inter alia, with China, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and has made efforts in regional forums, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Those efforts have brought much progress in advancing the capacity for counter-terrorism in many States, including Japan. I believe that we should also emphasize addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. In that regard, since 2006 Japan has supported the Mindanao peace process. In October, a framework agreement in that process was signed between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. In order to gain broader support from the international community for United Nations counter- terrorism measures, it is necessary to ensure the legitimacy and credibility of those measures. In that regard, the sanctions list of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) must be regularly updated to reflect the current status of individuals and entities listed. Each State must cooperate in order for the Committee’s Monitoring Team to be effective in its actions. Japan also highly values the activities of the Ombudsperson in maintaining and enhancing the legitimacy and credibility of the sanctions regime. Japan attaches great important to the activities of the three Committees, and believes that it is essential for those activities to be conducted in close collaboration with the relevant regional and international organizations and initiatives, especially with regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Accordingly, Japan has been committed to the Group of Eight Global Partnership and the Proliferation Security Initiative. We believe it essential to consider and implement activities designed to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in accordance with regional needs and characteristics, with a view to making greater contributions to developing States in order to close their capacity gaps. We strongly hope the 1540 Committee group of experts will soon move into high gear. As outreach activities of the group and the Committee itself are important, it is necessary for the Committee to make great strides if the importance of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other recently identified challenges is to be conveyed to Member States. To that end, Japan has hosted three series of seminars here in New York on sanctions, non-proliferation and disarmament. We are planning a fourth seminar in the near future in order to support the activities of the 1540 Committee.

I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

Thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s important debate on counter- terrorism. I would like to express my appreciation to the Chairs of the Committees for their professional work and for their informative briefings this afternoon. As we gather here today, 1 million Israelis are facing the frightening reality of Hamas terrorism. In the past few days, including tonight, Hamas has launched nearly 200 rockets into our cities, our homes and our schools. It hides behind civilians to carry out those horrific attacks. Instead of treating the Palestinian people as human beings, it uses them as human shields. It uses Palestinian schools to launch rockets at Israeli schools. That cannot continue. No nation, no people and no Government should be expected to accept the daily targeting of its civilians. Israel will not play Russian roulette with the lives of its citizens. Today Israel was compelled to exercise its right to self-defence. We will continue to launch surgical strikes on military targets in Gaza in response to Hamas rocket fire. Israel is not interested in escalation, but we have a right and a duty to defend our people. Gaza poses a danger to the world that no one can ignore. In letter after letter and speech after speech, we have conveyed the danger of the situation in Gaza. Under Hamas rule, terrorism has become one of Gaza’s main exports. It is a haven for and a hotbed of global terrorist organizations like Al-Qaida and a giant arsenal for deadly Iranian weapons. Let me also point out that the Palestinian Authority often speaks in the halls of the United Nations about its peace-loving intentions. Yet it embraces the same Hamas terrorists that are firing rockets into Israel as we speak. Israel commends the ongoing work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate (CTED). Those bodies have done an excellent job of monitoring the national implementation of resolution 1373 (2001). Israel is playing an active role in the fight against terrorism at the national, regional and international levels. We fully implement resolution 1373 (2001) and submit periodic reports to CTED. Here at the United Nations, we are strengthening our professional cooperation with CTED. I would like to commend Executive Director Mike Smith for his able leadership. We appreciate his regular briefings to Member States. That ongoing dialogue is critical. Israel continues to support the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), especially in the development of legal tools for counter-terrorism. In that regard, Israel has offered to host a legal seminar in the field, under the auspices of UNODC. Israel is also engaged in technical assistance initiatives for capacity-building with a large number of States and regional organizations in Africa, Central America, East and Central Asia, and elsewhere. In particular, we work closely with the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, the Economic Community of West African States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and NATO. Those collaborative efforts span a range of issues, from money-laundering to border control, from aviation security to terrorist financing. In that regard, we look forward to next week’s special meeting on the pressing issues of preventing and suppressing terrorist financing. The Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities is an essential part of the effort to isolate terrorists and deny them the means to inflict harm. There has been considerable progress towards establishing clear and fair procedures about how individuals and entities are included on the consolidated list. To that end, Israel recently completed the process of adapting its legislation to ensure compliance with resolution 1267 (1999) and the consolidated list. The creation of the Office of the Ombudsperson has become one of the counter-terrorism success stories of the United Nations, and we support the extension of Judge Prost’s mandate. Her recent report offers specific suggestions for improving the effectiveness of her Office. Those suggestions are particularly timely in the consideration of the renewal of her mandate. I wish to reiterate Israel’s full support for resolution 1540 (2004). More could be done to enhance dialogue between the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and Member States. In particular, we would welcome periodic informal briefings by the Expert Coordinator of the Committee. The international community must step up its efforts to keep the world’s most dangerous weapons out of the hands of the world’s most dangerous actors. This means that we must develop international standards that truly prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and dual-use items. Today in particular, we see grave threats to the global non-proliferation regime in Syria. The world cannot ignore the frightening reality that Bashar Al-Assad’s stockpiles of chemical weapons could soon be placed in the hands of non-State actors, such as Hizbullah. We must all wake up to this danger, today, not tomorrow. Action is necessary; the red lines are clearer than ever. It is time for the world to do something to prevent the continuous flow of weapons to terrorists in our region. Let me be clear — the transfer of Iranian and Syrian weapons to Hizbullah and Hamas is not just a threat to Israel; it is a threat to peace and security everywhere. Turning a blind eye to those weapons is like allowing dynamite to pile up in a tightly packed room. One spark could set off catastrophic consequences. Terrorism does not begin with an attack on a bus or a café. That is how terrorism ends. Terrorism begins with words and thoughts of hatred. Addressing incitement to terrorism represents another long-term yet effective part of the counter-terrorism equation. In the Middle East today, State-sponsored incitement fills schools, mosques and the media. Across the region, terrorism and martyrdom are being taught and glorified to the next generation. Let us invest in the future now. We must show zero tolerance for this indoctrination into hatred. We need education that promotes peace rather than hatred. We need education that promotes tolerance rather than violence, and mutual understanding rather than martyrdom. Member States regularly reaffirm their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. A casual observer of global events would be confused by this periodic ritual. There is a logical disconnect between many of the words spoken in the Council and the actions on the ground. Some States pledge themselves to the fight against terrorism in this Chamber; at the same time, they harbour terrorists at home. Some States condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; at the same time, they excuse terrorist acts. Some in this Chamber claim to recognize the rights of victims of terrorism while they finance, arm and train those who murder them. Iran stands chief among those nations. It serves as the primary sponsor, central banker and chief trainer of terrorists, from Bangkok to Baghdad. Together with Syria and Hizbullah, it forms a trio of terror that threatens innocents everywhere. The victims of terrorism depend on every State to take the words spoken here and put them into action. As long as the international community fails to act with unity, we will undoubtedly suffer more horrific acts of terrorism, and we will undoubtedly again sit in this Chamber and speak once more about a wake-up call. I find it impossible to believe that there is even one State among us that is not already fully awake to the danger of terrorism. There are very few that have not directly suffered its consequences. Terrorism is not a substitute for the ballot box. It is not a card to be pulled from one’s sleeve when diplomacy becomes difficult. We must be steadfast in our commitment to fighting terrorism anywhere and in any form it may take. The challenge before us demands nothing less.

There are no more speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.