S/PV.7071 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Austria, Croatia, Israel, Japan 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. Gilles Marhic, Head of the Legal Section 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, Ambassador Gary Quinlan will make a joint statement on behalf of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004). Following that joint statement, the Council will hear briefings by the Chairs of those three Committees. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Gary Quinlan, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities.

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, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, I have the honour to brief the Council on the continuing cooperation among those three Committees and their respective expert groups. On 18 November, the Chairs of the three Committees joined the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) concerning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, resolution 1737 (2006), which concerns the Islamic Republic of Iran, and resolution 1988 (2011), which concerns the Taliban, and the President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in an open briefing for Member States on the respective roles of the Security Council and the FATF in combating the financing of terrorism and proliferation. It was the first such meeting and aimed to increase awareness among Member States of the measures imposed by the Council, the related recommendations and guidance developed by the FATF and the assistance that the Council’s sanctions committees and their expert groups and the FATF can provide to Member States. Further to that open briefing, the three Committees, through their panels of experts, have continued their practice of sharing relevant information and of meeting, where appropriate, in order to discuss common issues and to coordinate actions and exchange points of view on particular issues. The three panels of experts participate actively in the activities of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force and have continued their close cooperation on issues, in particular, related to combating money-laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation, All three panels of experts coordinate their outreach activities and country visits on a regular basis. Where appropriate, they consult each other when planning country visits or similar trips so as to allow the participation of the experts of the other groups in a particular visit or to enable the other groups to communicate the specific needs for information of the countries to be visited. The three panels of experts continue to explore the further strengthening of the current coordination and cooperation. Allow me now to turn to my statement on behalf of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities. A major lesson learned from 2012-13 is that Al-Qaida and its affiliates have already evolved in several regions. The threat is no longer anchored primarily in a global Al-Qaida organization but revolves around a range of increasingly heterogeneous franchises that are themselves continually evolving with the recruitment of younger fighters and increased mobility across borders. Al-Qaida has effectively adapted to local conflicts and mobilized local affiliates that, despite their differences, support the broader Al-Qaida ideology. Some States that have not yet been the victims of terrorism face many of the same risk factors as countries that have. As the 1267 Monitoring Team found in its fourteenth report (S/2013/467), terrorist propaganda on the Internet continues to grow in sophistication and reach and contributes to the problem of self-radicalization. That, in turn, inspires acts of expressive terrorist violence committed by individuals or small groups, such as the recent attacks in Boston, London and Paris. Asymmetric tactics and complex and simultaneous multipronged attacks used by small but highly mobile Al-Qaida units draw strength from a close understanding of regional weaknesses, such as long and porous borders. In today’s briefing, I will focus on three principal areas of work of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, as it continues to monitor the implementation of resolution 2083 (2012). Those areas are, first, effectively addressing the evolving threat to international peace and security posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates, with a particular focus on the work of the Committee to address recent threats to peace, stability and security in Mali and the Sahel region, including through engagement with the States in the region; secondly, ensuring that the regime’s application remains relevant and effective; and, thirdly, ensuring that the sanctions regime has fair and clear procedures. A more detailed version of this statement will be distributed in hard copy today and made available on the Committee’s website With regard to the evolving threat, in its fourteenth report, the Monitoring Team highlighted the Sahel and the Middle East as the two most visible arenas for Al-Qaida affiliate activity during 2013. That is reflected in the Committee’s activities for that period. In May, I reported that the Committee had held a special meeting on 9 April on threats to Mali stemming from the activities of Al-Qaida affiliates in the region, including Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Movement for Unity and Jihad in Western Africa (MUJAO) and Ansar Eddine (see S/PV.6964), That meeting highlighted the need for the continued monitoring of the role of the Al-Qaida affiliates in Mali and the Sahel, with a more central role for capacity- building efforts in the area of counter-terrorism. That followed the Committee’s action earlier in the year to list Ansar Eddine and its founder and leader, Iyad ag Ghali, as well as the leadership of the already listed MUJAO and AQIM, Hamada Ould Mohamed El Khairy and Abderrahmane Ould El Amar, respectively. Although the French-led Operation Serval dislodged AQIM, Ansar Eddine and MUJAO from the main towns in northern Mali, restoring governmental authority and significantly degrading those groups, pockets of resistance remain and the risk of attacks by Al-Qaida affiliates across the Sahel persists. Operation Serval also demonstrated the high level of the training and equipment of terrorist groups in the region and the close link between organized crime and terrorism, highlighting the need to strengthen regional and subregional cooperation, both within and between the Maghreb and the Sahel. Similarly, the Monitoring Team’s fourteenth report also describes operational contacts between terrorist entities in eastern Libya and Al-Qaida affiliates in the Sahel, the Maghreb, the Middle East and South Asia and the presence of training camps in Libya, to which many foreign fighters travel before heading elsewhere to fight. The Committee has responded through the listing of Muhammad Jamal Abd-Al Rahim Ahmad Al-Kashif and his Muhammad Jamal Network, which is responsible for establishing terrorist training camps in Egypt and Libya and was reportedly involved in the attack on the United States Mission in Benghazi. Libya, on 11 September 2012. In response to those ongoing and evolving threats, the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee has invited Member States of the Sahel and Maghreb regions to a special meeting to discuss the threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates to consider ways in which the sanctions regime could support affected States and to discuss how best such measures may be integrated into the national and regional responses to the Al-Qaida threat. This special meeting represents an important innovation in Committee engagement with States of regions on the front lines. If the Al-Qaida sanctions regime is to constitute a useful tool in efforts to counter the destabilising activities of Al-Qaida affiliates in these regions, it must be placed in the hands of affected countries and regional groups. This will ensure that the sanctions list accurately reflects the dynamic nature of the threat and will enhance the implementation of measures on the ground. Meanwhile, the continuing civil war in the Syrian Arab Republic has seen the emergence of a strong Al-Qaida presence, drawing from Al-Qaida in Iraq under the name Jabhat al-Nusra and attracting hundreds of recruits from outside the Syrian Arab Republic. The Committee has responded through the listing in May of Jabhat al-Nusrah as an alias of Al-Qaida in Iraq, as well as its leader Abu Mohammed Al-Jawlani in July. On the third point of ensuring the regime’s application remains relevant and effective, the Committee has also continued in its efforts ensure that the regime’s application remains relevant and effective. It has recently concluded its consideration of the recommendations contained in the fourteenth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. In its report, the Team made 19 recommendations, primarily focused on advancing a more effective, evidence-based United Nations targeted sanctions regime and improving the implementation and effectiveness of the Sanctions measures. Notably, based on the Team’s recommendation, the Committee has requested the Team to provide an annual confidential briefing to the Committee of how the list reflects the current threat picture, in recognition that the sanctions will have most impact if the individuals and entities targeted by the regime are those currently involved in influential roles in or supporting Al-Qaida and its affiliates. In addition, so as to preserve the element of surprise with new listings and prevent asset flight, the Committee encourages Member States to make every effort to reduce delays between the Committee’s notification of new listings and the domestic implementation of the measures. Finally, the Committee has asked the Team to engage with Member States to better understand the impediments to full compliance with the measures and to present their findings to the Committee. The Committee has continued to review the entries on the Al-Qaida sanctions list, focusing particular attention on entries that lack identifiers necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the sanctions measures, entries corresponding to reportedly deceased individuals and to entities that are reported or confirmed to have ceased to exist, and entries that have not been reviewed in three or more years. The responsiveness of Member States remains crucial to the successful implementation of these reviews, and I want to thank those Member States that have actively participated in these review processes by providing detailed and updated information. The Committee has bolstered the way that it interacts with Member States in the context of these reviews, aiming to encourage greater and more precise information-sharing on listed individuals and entities, and to increase the attentiveness of the Committee to Member States’ views and concerns. Since the last briefing to the Council (see S/PV.6964), the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee has continued to operationalise the procedural enhancements of resolution 2083 (2012), supporting the Committee’s mandate to clearly and effectively respond to the threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates. In November, the Committee considered a request from a listed individual for an exemption to the travel ban. This request was the first of its kind to be received through the focal point mechanism established in resolution 1730 (2006). The Security Council expanded the mandate of the focal point to receive exemption requests in paragraph 8 of resolution 2083 (2012), and this development affords listed individuals and entities broader access to Committee procedures. In 2013, several listed individuals were informed of the identity of the State that suggested their name for designation. This disclosure was streamlined last year in paragraph 12 of resolution 2083 (2012), which reverses the presumption that a State proposing an individual or entity for listing wishes to have its status as a designating State kept confidential. This development, together with the provision of reasons for the Committee’s decision in Ombudsperson cases, means that listed individuals and entities are afforded greater scope to understand their designation. The Office of the Ombudsperson continues to play an integral role in guaranteeing that the Committee’s procedures are clear and the list dynamically reflects the current threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates. The Office of the Ombudsperson has a significant, ever-increasing caseload. Since the last briefing to the Council in May, the Committee has de-listed five names following its consideration of reports submitted by the Ombudsperson. There are currently 15 open petitions received through the Office of the Ombudsperson at various stages of consideration. Going forward, the Committee will continue to pay heed to due process principles in the context of the Security Council so as to ensure that its procedures are clear and that the regime adheres to fundamental principles of fairness. In the past six months, the Committee has remained actively engaged on the situation in Mali, the Sahel, the Maghreb and the Middle East, given the common threat from Al-Qaida affiliates in these regions. The second special meeting of the Committee will stress the complementarity between the United Nations broader Sahel strategy and the Al-Qaida sanctions regime measures, particularly on the issues of countering terrorism and creating a security environment conducive to economic and social development. Ensuring that the Al-Qaida sanctions regime remains an effective tool to address the continued threat from Al-Qaida and its affiliates is a shared undertaking, in which the participation of all Member States is crucial. Member States on the front lines are in a unique position to assess the nature of the Al-Qaida threat in their regions, as well as the main challenges to implementation of the measures, and they are therefore strongly encouraged to share their views with the Committee.

I thank Ambassador Quinlan for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Loulichki.

It gives me great pleasure to brief the Security Council on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) since the previous briefing, held in May (see S/PV.6964). The Committee continues to be guided in its work by the relevant resolutions, especially resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 1963 (2010), and continues to play a critical role in promoting and facilitating their implementation. The Committee has benefitted from the valuable assistance of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTD), under the leadership of Mr. Mike Smith and Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde, its recently appointed Executive Director. Monitoring and promoting Member States’ implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2004) is one of the core components of the Committee’s mandate. Among the vehicles and tools to achieve those objectives are two new assessment tools introduced in May, the overview of implementation assessment and the detailed implementation survey, developed by CTED to replace the preliminary implementation assessment and to assist the Committee to continue its constructive dialogue with Member States. The Committee has adopted nine files, and it is expected that another five will be completed before the end of 2013. Another tool is the country visit, which is a critical part of the direct interaction and engagement between the Committee and Member States. Conducted on the Committee’s behalf by the Executive Directorate, such visits provide an opportunity to discuss, inter alia, terrorism-related trends and challenges; States’ counter-terrorism efforts, strengths, weaknesses, and technical assistance needs; and good practices in implementing the two resolutions. During the review cycle, the Committee conducted visits to six States, bringing the total number of States visited since 2005 to 88. The Committee expects to conduct two further visits before the end the year. The facilitation of technical-assistance delivery is another core function assigned by the Council to the Committee. A number of steps have been undertaken to strengthen the facilitation efforts of the Committee and its CTED, which include,first, giving priority to States visited by the Committee and focusing on follow- up requests; secondly, working with traditional and new donor States and organizations and on a regional and thematic approach to facilitate the provision of assistance; thirdly, increasing its focus on prevention and implementation; fourthly, participating actively in the Integrated Assistance for Countering Terrorism Initiative of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF); fifthly, integrating an approach based on human rights and rule of law into its activities; and finally, establishing working relations with the Global Counterterrorism Forum. In that regard, CTED, acting in cooperation with partner organizations and entities, also facilitated a number of regional and thematic workshops and events within the framework of global, multi-year projects on a variety of topics, including the freezing of terrorists’ assets, misuse of the non-profit sector for terrorist purposes, the regulation of alternative remittances against misuse for terrorist financing purposes, joint investigations, community policing, the prosecution of terrorism cases,strengthening the capacity of central authorities, countering the illegal cross-border movement of cash, the protection of witnesses and victims of terrorism, and countering violent extremism and implementing resolution 1624 (2005). On 20 September 2013, the Committee held a special meeting on enhancing cooperation and technical assistance to States in the Sahel region to strengthen their capacity in the global fight against terrorism. The meeting highlighted the importance of the prevention and capacity-building approach and international cooperation. The Committee, with the assistance of CTED, also arranged a number of special events and open meetings with Member States and international and regional organizations on issues of common and current concern, including countering terrorism through the use of new communications and information technologies and countering violent extremism through education. The special meetings and events of the Committee, which are open to Member States and international and regional organizations, help raise the international community’s awareness of counter-terrorism issues. They provide a useful forum for States and organizations to discuss new threats and capacity-building initiatives to address terrorism challenges. The Chair of the Committee also arranged a number of public briefings for the wider membership by CTED on regional and thematic topics regarding various aspects for the implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). Those arrangements and discussions helped the Committee to not only raise awareness of its strategic and transparent approaches, but also to make known its work and maintain links and dialogue with the wider membership. CTED has also been active in conducting a number of workshops on specific topics. Important workshops organized during the reporting period include two regional workshops, in Jeddah in May and in Algiers in June, on the implementation of resolution 1624 (2005), as part of a series on enhancing the implementation of that resolution; the 4th workshop on the links between terrorism and organized crime, co-arranged by CTED, the Regional Cooperation Council, the Centre for Security Cooperation and the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center; the 7th regional workshop for judges, prosecutors and police officers on effectively countering terrorism in South Asia, held in Pakistan in October; and four subregional workshops on freezing mechanisms, held in Tanzania, Thailand, the Bahamas and Turkmenistan. Resolution 1963 (2010) encourages CTED to work with Member States on developing comprehensive and integrated national counter-terrorism strategies. During the Committee’s visits to Member States, CTED discusses with the visited States the potential benefits of putting in place a comprehensive and integrated national counter-terrorism strategy that employs a multidisciplinary approach that includes civil society. Based on that constructive dialogue, and with the consent of the State in question, the Committee has on several occasions recommended in its visit report that the State adopt a national comprehensive and integrated strategy. CTED has conveyed its readiness to provide expert advice in that regard or to facilitate the delivery of the necessary and required technical assistance. CTED, working in close cooperation with the CTITF Office and its constituent entities, also engaged with regional organizations on the development of comprehensive regional counter-terrorism strategies. CTED and the CTITF Office co-led a Working Group of the Whole on National and Regional Counter- Terrorism Strategies. The Working Group also facilitated and co-chaired an international conference on national and regional counterterrorism strategies, at which participants identified a set of principles to be considered by Member States and regional organizations when developing their respective strategies. Effective counter-terrorism measures and respect for human rights are complementary and mutually reinforcing. That is an understatement. They are an essential part of any successful counter-terrorism effort. In accordance with the Committee’s policy guidance on human rights, CTED continued to take into account the relevant human rights concerns, including in preparing the overview of implementation assessments and the detailed implementation survey, in its dialogue with States on behalf of the Committee and within the framework of country visits, regional workshops and other events. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights came to brief the Committee on 24 October 2013. The discussions were useful. The Committee and the Office of the High Commissioner will continue to work together to ensure that Member States’ counter- terrorism legislation and practices complied with their obligations under international human rights law. In closing, I would like to say that terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security. There are various emerging threats and challenges in our common endeavours to combat terrorism. The Committee is now considering the renewal of the mandate of CTED, which will expire at the end of December this year. The Committee will consider strategic and practical recommendations to the Security Council for the future work of the Committee and its CTED to better meet these threats and challenges.

I thank His Excellency Ambassador Loulichki for his briefing. I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Joon Oh, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004).

I am privileged to report to the Security Council as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the members of the Security Council and the Secretariat for the support extended to the 1540 Committee. Guided by the 12th programme of work, submitted to the Council on 31 May, I am pleased to note steady progress in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) since our most recent joint meeting, held on 10 May 2013 (see S/PV.6964). Since then, the 1540 Committee and its experts participated in 46 outreach events organized by various entities and on the main thematic areas related to resolution 1540 (2004). Those events provided opportunities to enhance the awareness of resolution 1540 (2004) globally and, in many cases, to facilitate assistance aimed at helping States strengthen their national capacities to implement the resolution. The value of direct interaction with States was demonstrated in the visits to Grenada, Burkina Faso and the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, bilateral discussions have been conducted specifically to develop voluntary national implementation action plans for Armenia, Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which were organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and supported by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. That has shown, once again, the importance of the role played by regional organizations in implementing the resolution. Croatia and Poland have conducted a novel peer review process that has enabled the States concerned to analyse their implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in a rigorous and frank manner, identify areas where improvements were needed and close gaps. It also facilitated the direct sharing of experience and effective practices. I look forward to hearing a briefing from the representatives of Croatia and Poland in that regard. The Committee and all Member States will be able to draw upon the lessons learned from that new initiative. In July, the Committee approached 16 non-reporting States in an effort to attain universal reporting. To date, two additional States have provided their initial reports, bring the number of non-reporting States down to 22. Also, Committee members and experts have used other opportunities at outreach events and during meetings of the First Committee to engage non-reporting States. Facilitating matchmaking between assistance requests and offers remains a priority for the Committee. Assistance requests and related matters are discussed at almost all our outreach events, including the Global Partnership working group meetings. Since the last meeting, Japan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have offered Kyrgyzstan assistance in the legislative and export control areas in response to a request from that country. The United States continues its financial support to the regional coordinator position of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The UNODC offered legislative assistance and the training of criminal justice officials for CARICOM. The 1540 Committee’s Group of Experts has improved the compilation of assistance requests and offers, enabling a more systematic approach to assistance matchmaking. Just days after I took over the chairmanship of the Committee, I gave a keynote speech on 7 October at a special session of the 2013 Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Geneva. That direct interaction with legislators from around the world contributed to raising awareness and to opening a new stage for high-level cooperation between the 1540 Committee and the IPU. Since 10 May, we have received new notifications of 24 points of contact, bringing the total to 65 States and 15 international and regional organizations. In particular, INTERPOL, the World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health have recently registered as assistance providers. One of the key tasks that the Security Council requested of the Committee in resolution 1977 (2011) was to compile various effective practices that States have employed to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery, in accordance with resolution 1540 (2004). On 6 November, I wrote to all Member States and international and regional organizations seeking advice about their effective practices in implementing the resolution. I would like to appeal to Member States and international and regional organizations to be forthcoming in sharing their effective practices, so that we can develop a useful online resource to support the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). On 29 September, the importance of resolution 1540 (2004) as a key non-proliferation instrument was once again demonstrated with the adoption of resolution 2118 (2013) on chemical weapons in Syria. That resolution, while determining the use of the chemical weapons as a threat to international peace and security, declared that Member States should inform the Security Council of any violation of resolution 1540 (2004), so that the necessary measures could be taken. That decision adds to the importance of the efforts directed towards the universal and full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). I would like to conclude by reiterating the Committee’s commitment to seeking the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). As we approach the tenth anniversary of the resolution next year, there is a substantial agenda before us. I look forward to the continued active cooperation of all stakeholders in addressing every aspect of the resolution with a view to preventing the proliferation of WMDs to and by non-State actors.

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

I would like to begin by thanking Ambassadors Gary Quinlan, Mohammed Loulichki and Oh Joon for their briefings and updates on actions taken over the past six months. We are grateful for their efforts and leadership of the Security Council Committees with counter-terrorism mandates. Terrorism is a serious threat to international peace and security and to the political independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and social and economic development of all States. The international community has achieved remarkable progress in countering terrorism. Significant efforts have been undertaken by the United Nations and other international, regional and subregional organizations to promote cooperation and coordination and to enhance the capacities of Member States to tackle terrorism. Nevertheless, more should be done to prevent and combat that scourge. The full and faithful implementation of international legal obligations by all States is critical. The role and work of the Security Council Committees with counter- terrorism mandates in the prevention and response to terrorist threats remain vitally important. Azerbaijan strongly supports close cooperation and effective coordination among the Committees and their Groups of Experts. We take positive note of the efforts undertaken by the Committees to that end during the reporting period. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) continued to play a critical role in promoting and facilitating the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. We note the introduction of new assessment tools, namely, the overview for implementation assessment and the detailed implementation survey, which were developed to assist the Committee in continuing its constructive dialogue with Member States. The special meetings and events organized by the Committee have also made an important contribution to raising awareness on counter-terrorism issues, encouraging discussions on new terrorist threats and challenges, and revealing shortcomings in the fight against terrorism. We commend the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) for its close interaction with Member States, its capacity-building activities and its cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, which continue to contribute to the effectiveness of both the Committee’s work and the full implementation of counter-terrorism commitments. The statement just made by the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities clearly outlined the evolving threat to international peace and security posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates. Over the past six months, the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee has remained actively engaged on the situations in Mali, the Sahel, the Maghreb and the Middle East. We commend the Committee for its efforts to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the sanctions regime and to operationalize the procedural enhancements of resolution 2083 (2012). We reiterate the importance of the Office of the Ombudsperson as an essential element of fairness in the application of the sanctions regime. Azerbaijan greatly appreciates the activities of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), in particular its close interaction with Member States. We welcome steady progress in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) during the reporting period. We take positive note of a number of important events held in various countries, which provided opportunities for enhancing the awareness of the resolution globally and facilitating capacity- building assistance to States. Areas of armed conflict, especially territories under foreign military occupation, often create conditions conducive to exploitation by terrorists, separatists and other non-State actors. The accumulation of great quantities of armaments and munitions in places beyond the reach of international control and the risk of the spread 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 stronger cooperation among them in order to effectively address such challenges. Last but not least, the war on terrorism cannot and must not be used to target any religion or culture. That principle must be part of any counter-terrorism strategy. It is also important to continue to work together to ensure that counter-terrorism measures by Member States comply with their obligations under international human rights law. Since this is the last public meeting of the Council this month, I would also like to express our appreciation to you, Mr. President, and to your delegation for your excellent leadership of the Council’s work in November. We also wish the delegation of France a successful presidency in December.

The work of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction ,has never been as important to the maintenance of international peace and security as it is today. We have all witnessed the historic turn of events in the second half of this year, mainly resolution 2118 (2013), on the destruction of the Syrian chemical stockpiles, and now the agreement reached last Sunday by Iran and the Permanent Five countries and Germany on the Iranian nuclear programme. Rwanda congratulates all the stakeholders for those achievements. The contribution of the Sanctions Committee in all of these and other positive developments is indelible. Therefore, I would like to commend Ambassador Joon Oh of the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Gary Francis Quinlan of Australia and Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki of Morocco for their efforts and activities undertaken by their respective Committees under their able leadership, as well as for the statements they made today. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) on Al-Qaida, we commend the transparent work of the Ombudsperson and support the regular review of the Al-Qaida Sanctions List as essential to maintaining accuracy and reponding to the changing nature of terrorism threats. Therefore, we remain interested in getting more information on the interaction between the Office of the Ombudsperson and the Committee, as well as on the cases that are under investigation. Rwanda remains strongly concerned with the evolving threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates across North Africa, the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa. In that context we look forward to the special meeting on the Sahel region to be held in December and to the Committee’s efforts to increase engagement with States in the Sahel and the Magreb and to consider ways to utilize the sanctions regime as an integral part of their national and regional responses to the threat of Al-Qaida. We believe that such initiatives by the Committee will increase the ability of States to propose listings and the capacity of monitoring teams to assist countries in managing the listing process. We should all remain resolute not to give room for these terrorist groups to make entire regions of our continent their stronghold. We therefore encourage greater engagement between the Committee and all States across the Sahel to utilize 1267 sanctions regime in order to be even more responsive in terms of anticipating the threat, adapting and updating the regime to reflect challenges on the ground. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Rwanda recognizes that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains a global challenge to this day. It is firmly committed to the non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery by non-State actors. There is no doubt that the new developments in Syria and now Iran regarding their chemical weapons and nuclear programmes, respectively, may be a turn of trends. This will require close follow-through by the Committee, and we will be ready to support, where necessary, any modifications to the sanctions regimes to push forward the agenda of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. However, we need to remain vigilant and take seriously the observations and warnings by countries of the region, which are the first potential targets of these deadly weapons. Rwanda looks forward to the African Union’s scheduled workshop for States Members of the United Nations on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), to be held in Addis Ababa next month. We are told Ambassador Oh Joon will attend as Chair of the Committee for resolution 1540 (2004), along with experts of the panel. We believe that the practice of workshops on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), especially those organized for African States must be pursued in order to assist the remaining non-reporting African countries in the preparation of their reports. We are encouraged that more countries are submitting their national reports, as Rwanda did, and we call on all remaining countries to do so with the support of the Committee, if required. We hope that all countries will be on board by the tenth anniversary of resolution 1540 (2004), in April next year. Rwanda takes this opportunity to commend the efforts of the 1540 Committee in raising global awareness on that resolution, in strengthening the capacity of States to improve mechanisms for sharing best practices, and in increasing efforts to address the issue of proliferation-financing, including through the provision of relevant technical assistance. Much has been achieved by the Counter-Terrorism Committee in destroying or weakening terrorist networks since the beginning of the war on terror. However, given the current trend in global terror acts, the war is not yet over. The terrorists are changing their modus operandi and the recruitment nets are widely set. The war on terror is complicated by continued arms supplies by some States Members of the United Nations to non-State actors. If we do not change the way we do our business, we can expect a prolonged campaign. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the donor community should provide tangible technical and financial support to States affected by terrorists. That support should focus on youth, education, job creation and development projects. In that regard, Rwanda welcomes Mr. Tony Blair’s briefing to the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate on the role of education in fighting extremists. With regard to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Rwanda welcomes the collaboration of the United Nations and such specialized agencies as the FATF in advancing the United Nations mandate on combating terrorism. We therefore welcome the strategies adopted by the two organs aimed at streamlining and strengthening their cooperation in fighting against the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We also welcome the FATF recommendations in support of countries in their implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. In conclusion, it is encouraging that the three Committees are closely cooperating on key thematic areas of interest to all by coordinating project implementation, regularly exchanging information on best practices, and improving collaboration with regional and subregional organizations. We encourage them to strengthen such cooperation, particularly by implementing the specific recommendations Ambassador Oh Joon presented in the joint statement of the Chairs of the three Committees. We once again commend the Committees’ efforts in enhancing the visibility of the United Nations counter-terrorism activities, the fight against weapons of mass destruction, and cooperation with global and regional organizations aimed at making this world a safer and better place.

Two months after the deadly attacks in Nairobi, where Al-Shabaab slaughtered over 60 civilians and wounded hundreds more, and over a month since the suicide bombing in Volgograd that took the lives of six innocent people and injured more than 30, we are again and again reminded that terrorism remains one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. As we adapt to the evolving terrorist landscape, we must continue to work as one United Nations to respond to those challenges and threats. The Security Council’s three counter-terrorism Committees play a crucial role in stemming the growth of Al-Qaida, boosting the capacities of States to counter-terrorism, and ensuring that weapons of mass destruction (WMD) stay out of terrorists’ hands. We commend the Council’s continued commitment to promoting the implementation of resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004), which have helped to build policy, legal and institutional frameworks for Member States and regional organizations to counter terrorism. As always, we are grateful to the Chairs of these committees — the Permanent Representatives of Australia, Morocco and the Republic of Korea — for their excellent work. The Security Council sanctions against Al-Qaida are today preventing terrorists from travelling internationally and from raising money to fund acts of terror. But those sanctions are effective only when they are implemented fully. That is why bolstering implementation must be the Committee’s first priority. We are encouraged that the Committee has endorsed the Monitoring Team’s recommendation to engage with States, in confidence, to understand situations where sanctions are not being implemented. If necessary, the Monitoring Team can then work with Member States to rectify any issues and provide the Committee with recommendations to tighten enforcement in such instances. We hope that the Monitoring Team and the Committee will continue to explore ways to deal with these cases of non-compliance. We also support a focused effort to strengthen Member States’ legal and technical capacities to implement the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. The United States recently contributed $400,000 to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) to provide technical assistance to help countries develop national capacities, to propose listings and to implement the sanctions. We encourage others to support these and other initiatives. We also continue to support the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). We welcome Assistant Secretary-General Laborde’s appointment and look forward to working with him and his team. Almost a decade after its creation, CTED has become an indispensable player in the United Nations efforts to identify trends in terrorism, diagnose the capacity gaps of Member States, and facilitate funding for capacity-building projects. These will allow countries to develop the capacities to deal with terrorism and related threats within their borders and regions. The United States supports CTED’s work on issues as diverse as strengthening border security in the Sahel, boosting the capacity of civilian courts to prosecute terrorists, and training judges and law enforcement officials in South Asia. Since 2011, we have funded $8.4 million in capacity-building projects to support the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) and the wider United Nations counter-terrorism legal and policy framework. We continue to believe that greater interdependence and collaboration between CTED, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre and CTITF, as well as non-United Nations actors, such as the Global Counter- Terrorism Forum, can better insure a more effective whole-of-United-Nations approach to countering terrorism and the violent ideology that underpins it. To prevent and respond to terrorist threats around the globe, over the long term our collective efforts must be comprehensive and address the political, social and economic drivers of the instability that can create the space for terrorists and violent extremists to operate and recruit. In many cases, the most effective way to address terrorist threats over the long term will be not through training and equipping the military or security services, but through non-counter-terrorism tools and programmes designed to build the basic capacities of civilian institutions in particular countries to provide justice, education, jobs and liberty to local citizens. That is why we must continue to encourage CTED to work closely with development actors, such as the United Nations Development Programme and others, as it carries out its work. The efforts of non-State actors to gain access to weapons of mass destruction or help others to do so remain among the greatest challenges to international security. We applaud the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for its adoption of a more forward-looking strategic approach in its twelfth programme of work, which will help the international community to better address those threats. A few examples of how that has been put into action include an increase in the number of official country visits, unprecedented work with parliamentarians via the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the Committee’s recent request to States and international organizations to submit information on effective practices and lessons learned. The United States believes that effective monitoring constitutes an essential element in fostering the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In that regard, the United States recently submitted additional information on the steps it has taken and continues to take to meet its obligation. In particular, for the first time we included information that shows the United States has put in place measures to implement all of our 200-plus obligations. Next year marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption resolution 1540 (2004). We look forward to working with the Committee, the United Nations Office on Disarmament Affairs and other bodies to use this milestone to reinvigorate efforts to implement the resolution fully and reduce the threat posed by the nexus of non-State actors and WMD. The United Nations has created a plethora of committees and entities that are dedicated to responding to the changing threats terrorism poses. The measure of our success, however, will be determined not by how many committees we create or how many projects we implement, but by how many lives we save. We must continue to coordinate our efforts and work as one United Nations to rid the world of that pervasive threat.

We thank Ambassadors Gary Quinlan, Mohammed Loulichki and Oh Joon — Chairs of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), respectively — for their comprehensive briefings today. We appreciate the coordination between the three Committees and the efforts being made by them to promote dialogue and transparency with Member States. Pakistan’s comprehensive approach to counter- terrorism is based on three D’s — deterrence, development and dialogue. Deterrence is necessary to impede, impair, isolate and incapacitate terrorists and their outfits. Development helps meet basic human needs, build community resilience and prevent terrorism. Dialogue is equally important, and it must be allowed to continue according to national priorities. Those who are willing to renounce violence should be brought back to societal and national mainstreams. Terrorists adapt to new conditions. Their tactics continue to take more sinister forms. Terrorists use new technologies and the Internet to store, transmit and manipulate information for recruitment and incitement. They use information technology to plan and finance their activities. Counter-terrorism efforts also need to adapt to those challenges and to develop strategies for real-time responses. We should address the root causes of terrorism. Deprivation, unresolved conflicts, marginalization, exclusion and stereotyping often create conditions for a drift towards terrorism. Terrorism and extremism should not be associated with any religion, race, ethnicity, faith, value system, culture or society. That said, the universal norm of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations should be strengthened. We agree with the Chairman of the Al-Qaida Committee that Al-Qaida has evolved in various regions with diverse franchises. The second special meeting of the 1989 (2011) Committee, with its focus on the complementarity between the United Nations integrated strategy for the Sahel and the Al-Qaida sanctions regime, created new synergies for holistic solutions. Al-Qaida has changed in many ways. The phenomenon of individuals radicalized by extremist websites is rampant. Terrorists now use electronic safe havens to host websites for inspiration and training. The Al-Qaida sanctions regime should continue to be made more effective, targeted and evidence-based by using clear, fair and transparent procedures. We support the efforts being made to strengthen the role of the Ombudsperson by expanding her mandate to the listing issues and by extending it to other sanctions regimes. A large number of recommendations made by the Ombudsperson has led to the delisting of individuals and entities. That requires the Committee to improve and refine the quality of the listing process. The biggest challenge to the sanctions regime comes from court cases. Questions of due process and effective remedy are at the heart of courts’ deliberations. A number of listings have been challenged in Pakistan courts. The 18 July judgement of the European Union Court of Justice in the case of Commission, Council, United Kingdom v. Yassin Abdullah Kadi, established a new precedent in the implementation of the United Nations sanctions regime for a judicial review of listing procedures for a fair balance between the maintenance of international peace and security and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of the person concerned. It also prescribes concrete and detailed, not abstract and superficial verification of the allegations. While acknowledging improvements in the listing and delisting procedures, the judgement underlines that the guarantee of effective judicial protection has not been fully provided to the listed individual. The judgement may well set new standards for the judicial review of Security Council decisions in other areas whenever a balance needs to be struck between the protection of human rights and the maintenance of international peace and security. We support the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s efforts to build the capacities of States to implement resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). We welcome the appointment of Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde as Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). We are confident that his experience and outstanding leadership will be helpful in the effective implementation of the CTED mandate. CTED’s work in devising new assessment tools, such the overview of implementation assessment and the detailed implementation survey, will help establish a meaningful dialogue on technical assistance to Member States. We also appreciate CTED’s focus on the assets freeze, the prosecution of terrorism cases, the strengthening of the capacity of central authorities, and the protection of witnesses of terrorist incidents. CTED seminars and workshops on specific themes in various regions have been useful. In Islamabad last month, Pakistan hosted the seventh regional workshop for judges, prosecutors and police officers in South Asia on effectively countering terrorism. The workshop was aimed at strengthening cooperation among professionals working in the field of counter-terrorism. The war against terrorism must be prosecuted within the framework of international law. The use of armed drones in the border areas of Pakistan is a continued violation of our sovereignty, international law, international human rights and humanitarian law. In that context, the Secretary-General has called for adherence to the recognized principles of distinction and proportionality. The use of armed drones results in casualties among innocent men, women and children, and leads to disaffection, violence, alienation and psychosocial trauma among the population centres hit by drones. It is also detrimental to our efforts to conduct dialogue and eliminate extremism and terrorism. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, has called for the immediate cessation of drone strikes against Pakistan’s territory. Pakistan fully supports the shared goal of preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) to non-State actors. The 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts play a complementary role to the treaty-based regimes and international organizations on non-proliferation issues. The full implementation by States parties of their respective obligations, arising from relevant WMD treaties, including the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by all States, is essential and urgent. Pakistan will continue to be an active partner of the international community in that effort. Pakistan supports the measures undertaken by the 1540 Committee and its experts in such areas as awareness-raising, outreach, implementation, assistance and capacity-building. The long-term impact and success of the 1540 Committee depends, in our view, on the role that the Committee can play in mobilizing assistance for Member States. As the Committee promotes universal reporting and implementation, assistance and capacity- building will serve as anchors for such activities. Pakistan supports efforts to promote cooperation and coordination between the subsidiary bodies of the Council and their respective groups of experts. That objective is best advanced when joint activities are conducted in close consultation with all Council members and are consistent with the mandate and nature of the work of each subsidiary body and its group of experts.

At the outset, I would like to thank Ambassadors Gary Quinlan, Mohammed Loulichki and Oh Joon for their informative briefings and for the capability and dynamism with which they have been leading the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council under their respective terms. We also appreciate the collaborative spirit that they embody in making a joint presentation covering their respective spheres of action. I would like to make a few brief remarks on each of Committees, beginning with the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities. The sanctions against Al-Qaida play an important role in the fight against terrorism by targeting the operatives of the various factions or chapters of Al-Qaida, depriving them of weapons and restricting their ability to travel, which limits their ability to carry out terrorist acts. In order for that regime to work effectively, the process of including names on the list and of removing them must be guided by the principles of equality, due process, credibility and transparency. Likewise, sanctions should be applied in a diligent manner. We believe that the Office of the Ombudsperson is of fundamental importance as an element of impartiality in the implementation of the sanctions regime. Further improvements to the authority of the Ombudsperson and reforms to the procedures for removing names from the list are important measures in that regard. The Ombudsperson is now better placed to assist persons in the process of having their cases reviewed. We need to ensure that that is done in a way that strengthens counter-terrorism capacity. We hope that the positive contribution of the Ombudsperson will create an example for other sanctions regimes, and we congratulate Kimberly Prost for the degree of independence, professionalism and courage with which she has carried out her work. We also believe that the list of persons and entities subject to sanctions should keep pace with the changing nature of the threat. In that regard, we would like to applaud the role of the Monitoring Team of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) to address the need to express the changing nature of the threat; the Team has recommended ways for us to update the sanctions established under that resolution. That sanctions regime is one of the international community’s most important multilateral tools in the fight against terrorism. Mr. Evans and his team have our full support for effective discharge of their mandate. With respect to the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, also known as the Counter-Terrorism Committee, we support the efforts of that Committee to enhance the capabilities of States to implement resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), and that includes its activities of dissemination and outreach. We appreciate the Committee’s focus on the use of new communications technologies and technical assistance in the Sahel region during its special meetings earlier this year. We also found useful the recent presentation by former Prime Minister Tony Blair on the role of education in combating extremism. We take note of the report of the Counter-Terrorism Committee on its work and that of its Executive Directorate. We are in the midst of carefully reviewing that report. We await with interest the forthcoming negotiations to renew the mandate of the Committee, which will also provide an opportunity to strengthen it. We salute Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde for his leadership of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, which deserves special recognition for keeping States apprised of developments in the risks and threats posed by terrorist acts. The close interaction between the Executive Directorate and Member States is a prerequisite condition for the effectiveness of the Committee’s work and for the full implementation of commitments made in the fight to combat terrorism. In that light, we encourage the Executive Directorate to continue to promote capacity-building activities and to propose technical assistance mechanisms to countries that request it. We are particularly interested in seeing greater emphasis placed on addressing the conditions that favour the existence and spread of terrorism. We believe that the effectiveness of our counter-terrorism efforts is closely linked to our ability to successfully confront the economic, social and political conditions that often give rise to that phenomenon. Finally, with regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), the terrorist threat is accompanied by the risk that weapons of mass destruction might fall into the hands of terrorists. In the current context of international peace and security, it is more urgent than ever to make concrete progress in our fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Guatemala is committed to the complete elimination of such weapons, and we believe that that should also be the goal of the international community. In that context, resolution 1540 (2004) is an important complementary tool in that fight. The excellent work of the Group of Experts of the 1540 Committee deserves mention at this point, along with its efforts in the area of dissemination and, in particular, its country visits. Without the support that the Experts give Member States, particularly developing countries, it would be difficult for many of them to comply with the provisions of resolution 1540 (2004). The Group of Experts also provides essential support to the Committee’s four Working Groups, to which we can testify directly, since we have the honour of coordinating the Working Group on Monitoring and National Implementation. My delegation considers the two elements that are key to full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) are assistance and information exchange. In that regard, we urge the Committee to continue to seek ways to facilitate communication between donor countries and Member States that request assistance. Beyond that, transparency and information exchange are equally crucial. We consider it essential that the recently begun work on effective practices within the Committee be continued and intensified with the aim of posting compilations of them on the Committee’s website and eventually producing a technical reference guide on the subject. In that regard, we welcome such initiatives as the recent peer review exercise undertaken by Croatia and Poland, which, in our view, could serve as an exemplar of effective practices and urge all Member States who are interested to share with the Committee other examples of experiences and practices that could be useful. As others have done, Guatemala welcomes the interim agreement reached in Geneva on 24 November between the Islamic Republic of Iran, the European Union and the E3+3 countries on Iran’s nuclear programme. It is an encouraging development and we urge the international community to redouble efforts to take advantage of that first step. Lastly, we reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to the cause of a safer world in which weapons of mass destruction no longer exist, and our determination to continue to work constructively and positively with the Committee, both now and after our two years as a non-permanent member of the Security Council are over.

We are grateful to the Permanent Representatives of Australia, Morocco and the Republic of Korea for their reports on the Committees they head. What they do is an important contribution to strengthening the central coordinating role of the United Nations and its Security Council in the area of international cooperation on anti-terrorism. Unfortunately, despite all our efforts, terrorism remains one of the chief threats to international peace and security. We are reminded of this by the unceasing terrorist attacks in various regions of the world that claim the lives of innocent people, including children, day after day. It is clear that terrorism is rapidly adapting to new realities. Terrorists are making active use of the latest advances in the field of information and communications technologies. They recruit new extremists in cyberspace, move freely across porous borders and take advantage of gaps in criminal law. One extremely dangerous trend today is how terrorism has become woven into the fabric of regional conflicts, a phenomenon that continues to have serious explosive potential in North Africa, the Sahel, the Middle East and the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. Terrorist methods are widely used by anti-Government groups in Syria. Eradicating the threat of terrorism can only be achieved by intensifying the collective efforts of all members of the international community, focused around the United Nations, and in strict compliance with international law. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning Counter-Terrorism (CTC) remains the cornerstone at the base of the entire counter-terrorism architecture of the United Nations. Ambassador Loulichki’s skilful chairmanship has contributed in no small measure to its effective functioning during the reporting period. In our view, that the recent reforms improving the Committee’s procedures and changing the format of its evaluation documents, together with continuing the important practice of sending visiting missions, are helping the CTC fulfil its mandate under resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1963 (2010). There is growing attention being paid, including in the Security Council, to an integrated approach to counter-terrorism with an emphasis on preventive measures for combating this evil. In that connection, a hugely important task is preventing the radicalization of social attitudes and incitement to religious and sectarian confrontations collisions all over the world. It is therefore vital that States continue efforts, under the auspices of the United Nations, to reduce the attractiveness of terrorist activity and to combat the production of terrorist ideology and violent extremism, as well as terrorists’ use of the media and the Internet. We believe it is important to strengthen the CTC’s contacts with other structures and organizations in order to expand the network of antiterrorist cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations. In that regard, we note the collaboration of the CTC, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) at the Conference on Terrorism Issues for chiefs of special services and security and law enforcement bodies held by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. We intend to continue the practice of holding briefings for representatives from the Conference and the CTC. We value the role of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) in assisting the CTC and commend the energetic efforts of the new Executive Director, Mr. Laborde, aimed at tackling the major tasks facing CTED under his mandate. We hope that the concerns we voice today will be taken into account in the preparation of the draft resolution extending CTED’s mandate, scheduled to be adopted next month. The 1267/1989 Committee is one of the Security Council’s most effective mechanisms in the field of combating terrorism, and we would like to note the active efforts of Ambassador Quinlan in his capacity as its Chair. The Committee’s sanctions list should adequately reflect the terrorist threat posed by Al-Qaida, and we support proposals by Member States for the inclusion of new entities on the list. We also believe it is essential that the Committee react rapidly to the changing nature of the threat of terrorism and without unnecessary red tape when considering relevant requests. In that context, it is regrettable that the Committee has still not listed Storsjö, Djabrailov and the non-governmental organization Imkander, whose links to an Al-Qaida entity on the list, the terrorist organization Imarat Kavkaz, are more than compelling. The powers of the Ombudsman and the procedure for considering delisting requests laid down in resolution 2083 (2012) ensure an optimal level of transparency in the Committee’s work. A more important task, however, is improving the effectiveness of the sanctions mechanisms, which are entirely dependent on States’ implementing their obligations in that area. Unfortunately, as practice has shown, there are still unresolved problems here. Thus, for example, despite paragraph 4 of resolution 2083 (2012), the Kavkaz Centre website, the information arm of Imarat Kavkaz, is still active. The task established in resolution 1540 (2004) of preventing weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery from falling into the hands of terrorists remains relevant. Russia has consistently pushed for the resolution’s implementation by every State and with full recognition of the complexity and long-term nature of its requirements. We are grateful to Ambassador Joon Oh and his predecessor Kim Sook for their effective leadership of the 1540 Committee, and we note the useful work of Committee’s Group of Experts in giving them substantive support. Among the Committee’s activities over the past six months, we would highlight the efforts to help build States’ capacities to meet the requirements of resolution 1540 (2004). The Committee continues to develop cooperation with States and specialized international and regional organizations. One of the outcomes of that work has been the reduction in the number of States with reports still pending, now that both Liberia and South Sudan have submitted their first reports in implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We hope that further progress in that area will take place next year, when we are due to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the resolution. The adoption in September of resolution 2118 (2013) on the destruction of the Syrian chemical-weapons arsenal has again reaffirmed the role of resolution 1540 (2004) as a key non-proliferation instrument. We should remember that States are now committed to briefing the Security Council on any violations, so that the Council can take appropriate steps. In the light of reports of the use in Syria of chemical weapons by opposition armed groups, a number of which are linked to Al-Qaida, that point is particularly pertinent. With regard to the further work of the Committee, we believe that it is necessary to continue prioritizing the provision of assistance to States. The coordinating role of the Committee in the efforts of the international community to comply with the resolution is extremely important. For its part, Russia will continue to actively participate in those activities, including in the context of our cooperation with the member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States on issues relating to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).

At the outset, I would like to thank the Chairs of the Committees set up pursuant to Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004), namely, the Ambassadors of Australia, Morocco and the Republic of Korea, for introducing the reports on the activities of their respective Committees and for their significant contributions to the fight against terrorism. I would also like to commend the Ombudsperson, Ms. Kimberly Prost, for her delicate investigative work, as well as the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Monitoring Group, which have been carrying out their tasks in an exemplary manner. I wish to focus my statement on two main points: the financing of terrorism and combating money- laundering; and technical cooperation and assistance aimed at countering those scourges. In the institutional framework established by the United Nations for combating terrorism, the three aforementioned Committees are key elements. Cooperation among those bodies not only contributes to the best possible implementation of the relevant legal instruments in that area, but also plays a major role in improving the effectiveness of Security Council action. In that regard, the growing synergy that exists among those various bodies, on the one hand, and between them and States, on the other, has been extremely useful in enabling coherence in the efforts of the various stakeholders and in the utilization of the very limited resources at their disposal. Togo welcomes in particular the ongoing cooperation among the Committees when it comes to outreach, country visits and cooperation with other regional and subregional institutions, all of which enable the Committees to grasp the specific needs of States and institutions and to provide them with the appropriate assistance. One of the most effective means of fighting terrorism is to prevent terrorist groups and actors from accessing funds that allow them to perpetrate such acts. Unfortunately, national authorities are ill-equipped to detect such funds at their origin, for the simple reason that they shift and mutate, flowing through both formal and informal financial channels. One solution that we believe would help rectify that situation is greater cooperation among States, since many States continue to act alone on that front, and, worse still, encounter major difficulties in implementing Security Council resolutions, which call for appropriate measures to be taken, such as the freezing of assets and stopping the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and travel bans. A number of reasons can explain those shortcomings, including fear of the threat posed by terrorism, the lack of financial resources, the lack of appropriate infrastructure, porous borders, the absence of appropriate human resources and insufficient inter-institutional cooperation. With regard to States’ efforts to combat money- laundering and the financing of terrorism, despite the multifaceted assistance States receive from the specialized bodies, including the three Security Council Committees, shortcomings persist, not owing to a lack of will, but because it is often difficult for such States, especially the least wealthy ones, to incorporate in a comprehensive approach both national priorities and international requirements. In that regard, it is important that the three Committees continue to provide all the aid and assistance required by States and fragile regional institutions, which are nevertheless thoroughly committed to the fight against money-laundering and the financing of terrorism. Nonetheless, we believe that the approach used by the Committees to build the capacities of States should go further and engage civil society and, in particular, private financial institutions in the countries concerned, which participate on a daily basis with States in the regulation and control of financial flows. If we want all States to develop mechanisms to prevent and combat acts of terrorism in a way that meets United Nations standards, such institutions and States must be provided adequate support. Given that the world is plagued by a proliferation of terrorist acts and abductions for ransom, in particular in Africa, it is important to take stock of the actions already taken, so as to determine the actions and initiatives that should be focused on how to strengthen the fight against terrorism. The celebration next year of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004) provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate the actions taken. However, that cannot be done without collaboration among the Committees, between the Committees and States, among States themselves and between States and financial institutions. It goes without saying that the struggle must be pursued with full respect for the rule of law and human rights, without which the participation of all of us in the struggle to preserve human life will be difficult to achieve.

I wish to join other speakers in thanking the Chairs of the Committees, Ambassadors Quinlan, Loulichki and Oh, for their comprehensive briefings today but, above all, for their strong leadership of the three important Committees. Terrorism continues to pose a grave threat to international peace and security. Since those Committees last briefed the Security Council (see S/PV.6964), we have seen many attacks by terrorist groups, including the tragic attack against the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi that killed 67 civilians. The work of those Committees is vital. As was highlighted in Ambassador Quinlan’s briefing, the threat from terrorism is evolving. Terrorist propaganda is becoming more sophisticated. It has now grown so sophisticated that we see the self- radicalization of individuals and small groups. We know that in the United Kingdom, and we have seen the effects of self-radicalization, most recently in London with the killing of an off-duty soldier by individuals in May 2013, an act that produced revulsion at home. Terrorism is an international threat. It transcends geographic borders and requires an international response. But it can be disrupted with the right tools and with a united effort. I believe we have seen evidence of that here today. The Council must make the best possible use of the tools available in order to counter the threat. Al-Qaida sanctions are vital for disrupting the activities of terrorist actors. We support the Committee’s effort to improve the implementation of Al-Qaida sanctions, as outlined by the Chair, and urge Member States to implement the regimes that we have agreed. As terrorism evolves, sanctions must also evolve to counter the threat. The United Kingdom commends the agreement of the 1267 Committee to engage Member States of the Sahel and Mahgreb regions next month. The global reach of United Nations sanctions can be a powerful tool to strengthen States’ own domestic counter-terrorism efforts. We think that Ambassador Quinlan is right to hightlight the importance of clear and fair procedures within the Al-Qaida sanctions regime. As others have said, the Ombudsperson process is important to the relevance and robustness of the regime and it deserves the support of Member States. I think that there has been a clear signal here today of the importance of that role from members of the Security Council. Next year is the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004). There is much to celebrate. All but 22 States have reported on their obligations to stem the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons to non-State actors. However, global fears that terrorists may acquire weapons of mass destruction persist. Countering that remains a strategic priority. For States to comply with their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) and for that compliance to be effectively implemented and monitored, all States must comply with both the letter and the spirit of the resolution. Evasive answers, such as those given by Syria on chemical weapons before September this year, can cast doubt on a State’s commitment to effectively account for and to protect its nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. We have witnessed the destruction and suffering inflicted by such weapons. Prohibiting their use is the responsibility of all. Measurable and sustained progress in that reagrd is the only way to establish enduring global confidence. The last time that we met to discuss counter- terrorism, the United Kingdom stressed the need for all relevant components of the United Nations counter-terrorism system to work together and avoid duplication (see S/PV.6964). Others have referred to that today. We welcome the appointment of Jean-Paul Laborde as Head of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) earlier this year and of Jehangir Khan as Head of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF). As others have said, that new leadership must bring with it a new level of coordination, with a clear allocation of activities and responsibilities for assistance, reporting and capacity-building. CTED should focus on conducting assessments and on facilitating assistance. CTITF should focus on its role in convening United Nations entities to deliver capacity-building. There should also be a more comprehensive and forward-looking information-sharing matrix for United Nations counter- terrorism activities. That would assist Member States in planning their coordination with and support for such activities. We support Ambassador Loulichki’s statement that effective counter-terrorism measures and respect for human rights are intertwined. We welcome the integration of human rights considerations in CTED’s work and the briefing of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Counter- Terrorism Committee in October. Our work on counter- terrorism cannot become static nor can it be carried out in isolation. Only though a unified, complementary and evolving approach can the international community effectively deal with the scourge of terrorism. The United Kingdom urges the Committees to redouble their efforts to make their work relevant and effective and to adapt them to meet the challenges of the evolving threat of terrorism.

Luxembourg associates itself with the statement to be made by the observer of the European Union. Like previous speakers, I wish to thank the Chairs of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) — Ambassadors Gary Quinlan, Mohammed Loulichki and Oh Joon, respectively — for their briefings and for the commitment with which they lead the work of the Committees. I thank our Australian colleague for his joint briefing, which underscored the ongoing cooperation among the three Committees and their panels of experts. The briefings of our colleagues described the efforts of the United Nations to combat terrorism. However, such efforts will be effective only if all Member States take the necessary steps to meet their obligations. Today’s meeting is important in that regard as it enables the Council to show all Member States what its subsidiary bodies are doing to counter terrorism and to raise awareness with regard to those activities. In the same spirit of transparency and outreach, as Ambassador Quinlan said in his joint briefing, the Chairs of the three Committees and of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1718 (2006), 1737 (2006) and 1988 (2011) spoke in the presence of the President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) at an open briefing on 18 November on the respective roles of the Security Council and the FATF in the fight against terrorism and proliferation. That meeting was useful, we hope, in briefing Member States sooner on the measures decided by the Council and the relevant recommendations and guidance of the FATF and in underscoring the assistance that the Committees, their panels of experts and the FATF can provide to Member States. The sanctions against Al-Qaida have an important role in the fight against terrorism. I pay tribute to the Monitoring Team for the excellent work that it continues to undertake, which clearly shows the changing natuire of the terrorist threat. The sanctions list is continually updated so as to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the sanctions regime. We also commend the activities undertaken by the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities in underscoring the implementation of the sanctions. The special meeting of the Committee on the changing nature of the terrorist threat posed by Al-Qaida in the Sahel and the Mahgreb, to be held on 3 December, seems particularly timely in that regard. We can never stress enough that the fight against terrorism should be guided by respect for fundamental democratic values and the principle of the rule of law. Luxembourg fully supports the work of the Office of the Ombudsperson and thanks Ms. Kimberley Prost for the examplary way in which she carries out her mandate. We call on all Member States to continue to cooperate fully with the Office of the Ombudsperson. We commend the steps taken in recent years to ensure the clear, fair and transparent procedures in the context of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. It is important to continue to work for the improvement of those procedures. The authority and legitimacy of the measures imposed by the Council depends on that. In that regard, we await with interest next year’s review of resolution 2083 (2012). Luxembourg also acknowledges the important work carried out by the 1373 Committee and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), particularly with regard to their outreach role. I would like to take this opporunity to welcome the new CTED Executive Director, Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde, We are certain that he will continue his predecessor’s excellent work and assure him of Luxembourg’s full support for the activities under his leadership. As the end of his term approaches, we would like to pay a strong tribute to Ambassador Loulichki and his team for the work accomplished at the helm of the 1373 Committee, in particular in building the capacity of the countries of the Sahel. The year 2014 marks the tenth anniversary of resolution 1540 (2004), which plays a key role in curbing the threat of the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. That continues to seriousouly threaten international peace and security. Resolution 1540 (2004) will be effective only if all Member States are determined to implement its provisions. We encourage all new initiatives in that regard and await with interest the lessons learned from the peer review process on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), led by Croatia and Poland. During the period under consideration, Liberia and South Sudan submitted their reports on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) to the Committee. We support the objective of the Committee’s Chair to achieve the universality of reports by the end of 2014. Cooperation, information-sharing and outreach and assistance activities will make it possible to strengthen the capacity of Member States to deal with the threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We encourage the 1540 Committee and its panel of experts to persevere in their efforts to match the requests for and offers of assistance in that regard.

At the outset, on behalf of my delegation, I should like through you, Sir, to thank the Permanent Representatives of Australia, Morocco and the Republic of Korea for their briefings and for their laudable work at the head of their respective subsidiary bodies. Argentina believes that the United Nations has a key role to play in multilateral action and that the General Assembly, the Security Council and their subsidiary bodies are the most appropriate forums for effective efforts to counter terrorism. We also believe that ongoing cooperation among the Committees — whose work we are considering today — and their Groups of Experts strengthens coordination and consistency in the activities of the United Nations in this sphere. I underscore the importance of the open briefings — held jointly by the Chairmen of the three Committees and of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1737 (2006) and 1718 (2006) , on the role of the Security Council and the Financial Action Task Force to halt the financing and proliferation of terrorism. We believe that, generally speaking, the holding of these open briefings on a regular basis is a good practice that strengthens the link between the Security Council and all Member States. We therefore encourage the Committees to pursue their efforts to that end. I should like to refer to the work of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities. Like the Chairman of the Committee, we stress the importance of following clear and fair procedures. We believe that it remains essential to ensure respect for due process. We highlight the work of Ombudsperson Kimberley Prost for its professionalism and independence. On the basis of this experience, we understand that it may be possible to consider strengthening her mandate or extending it to all the Sanctions Committees. We share the Chairman’s concern that the regime should remain relevant and effective. The consolidated list must therefore be reviewed periodically by the Committee in order to ensure its quality and utility to the Member States when they implement it. We appreciate the work done by the Monitoring Team in that regard. The availability of the list in the six official languages of the Organization is of particular importance in that respect and has a direct link to its implementation by the competent authorities. In that regard, I particularly welcome the efforts of the Chairman of the Committee, Ambassador Quinlan, and his team to resolve this problem. We also appreciate the cooperation of the Secretariat in that respect. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism plays a crucial role in making the international community’s fight against terrorism more effective. The Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) makes an essential contribution in its assistance to the Committee and in building the capacities of States. My delegation therefore participates with great interest in the negotiations on the Committee’s report to the Council on CTED’s work with a view to the review of its mandate. We also hope that CTED will continue to cooperate in building States’ capacities, and believe that respect for human rights should remain a cross- cutting issue in its own work and that of the Committee, as well as in the overall fight against terrorism. Resolution 1540 (2004) and the Committee established pursuant to it are essential instruments in preventing weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems from falling into the hands of terrorists. However, the efficacy of international efforts to that end hinges on the adoption and implementation of the requisite national measures and on regional coordination. We are therefore convinced that resolution 1540 (2004) should be implemented at the regional level, in which the effective control of technology and dual-use materials is made possible by the effective harmonization of operational and legislative efforts in each region. I underscore the importance for States to brief the Committee on their practical efforts to implement the resolution, in follow-up to the note of the Committee Chairman. Such practices can be models that may be adapted to the realities of other regions, thereby enhancing their effective implementation. As we approach the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the resolution next year, we highlight the efforts of the Committee Chairman to achieve universality in its implementation and the presentation of reports. My delegation fully supports such efforts. In conclusion, I reiterate our support for initiatives that help to improve transparency in the work of the Security Council and its subsidiary bodies and that strengthen coordination and cooperation among the three Committees and their Groups of Experts. As we understand it, greater synergy among the three Committees would improve the Security Council’s contribution to the fight against terrorism and allow the matter to be addressed in a more comprehensive manner.

Like previous speakers, I thank Ambassadors Quinlan, Loulichki and Oh for their briefings and their leadership of their respective Committees. I also associate myself with the statement to be made ​by the observer of the European Union. I should like to speak briefly about each of the three Committees, beginning with the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities. The threat of Al-Qaida is unfortunately still alive, as the Nairobi attack a few weeks ago and the murder this month of two French journalists near Kidal, Mali, reminded us. If the fight against Al-Qaida is to progress, we must remain vigilant in the implementation of sanctions. It is therefore crucial that the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee continue to work closely with all Member States in order to ensure the effective implementation of the sanctions regime and the regular updating of the list, which must optimally reflect the state of the threat. In this regard, we welcome the Committee’s holding of meetings dedicated to the fight against the spread of this threat, such as that held in April on Mali and that to be held in early December on the Sahel. The organization of such events, involving the States of the region in the debate on sanctions against Al-Qaida, ensures that the regime responds to the new challenges in the fight against that organization in areas particularly affected by this threat. Above and beyond the importance we attach to the effective implementation sanctions, we also feel it to be essential that they respect the fundamental freedoms of persons on the list and that the sanctions regime has adequate procedural safeguards. Ambassador Quinlan was right to insist on that point in his briefing. We welcome the outstanding work of Ombudsman Kimberley Prost, who has been doing critical work to that end for more than three years. Over the past year, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism has done rich work and focused on pursuing several initiatives, in perfect tune with topics of interest to the Council. On the Sahel, for example, several events have taken place, including a conference convened in March in Rabat on border control in the Sahel, and the organization of a special meeting on the Sahel in September. Next month, the Security Council will renew the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. I wish to make two comments in that regard. In its new mandate, it is essential that the Committee continue to attach the greatesy importance to the due implementation by Member States of the Council’s decisions concerning the fight against terrorism, namely, resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). In recent years, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate has carried out a significant number of visits to inform the Committee on the status of implementation of those resolutions by Member States. It will now be crucial to pursue that dialogue with Member States by ensuring regular follow-up to those visits. The second point I would like to make is that it is essential that the Committee continue to accord the highest importance to respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism. In that respect, I would like to welcome the fact that on 24 October Ms. Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, paid a visit to the Committee. I wish to highlight that regular dialogue between the Committee and the Office of the High Commissioner is an excellent practice, one that should continue. I would like to pay tribute to Mike Smith, who has done an outstanding job at the head of the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. I take this opportunity to congratulate his successor, Mr. Jean- Paul Laborde, on assuming his functions and wish him every success. Finally, I would like to say a few words on the 1540 Committee. I wish to recall that the proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and their means of delivery and related materials and the risk of them falling into the hands of terrorists are real threats, and that States should maintain and strengthen their commitment to fighting those threats. The implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) plays an important role in the prevention of those threats, and the progress achieved since its adoption in 2004 is important. Today, a majority of States around the world have adopted measures to include the provisions of that resolution in their national legislation. In that regard, we welcome the efforts of the South Korean chair aimed at encouraging the handful of countries that have not yet done so to report to the Committee on the implementation of that resolution in their national legislation. However, for those reports to be relevant, they must above all be sincere, and that is not always the case. In that respect, the 1540 Committee received a new report from Syria in May. In that report, as in previous ones, Damascus once again failed to mention the existence of its military chemical programme. Since the chemical attack at Ghouta, in August, Syria has acknowledged that it owns several tons of chemical weapons. Under international pressure, it agreed to join the Chemical Weapons Convention and, consequently, to destroy those weapons. Syria’s use of chemical weapons against its own population reminds us that we must remain vigilant with regard to Syrian statements. We must not lower our guard. I note that the implementation of resolution 2118 (2013), on the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, which requires that the Council be informed of any violation of resolution 1540 (2004), will contribute to improving the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and thus to strengthening our collective security. In conclusion, I would like to say that the fight against terrorism must be coordinated. We also rely heavily on the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force and its working groups to make concrete progress in that coordination. That will strengthen the coherence and visibility of the United Nations efforts in the fight against terrorism.

I will now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of China. I thank Ambassador Quinlan, Ambassador Loulichki and Ambassador Joon Oh for their briefings. China appreciates the important contributions made by Ambassador Loulichki, during his tenure as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, to the effective implementation of the Committee’s mandate and the coordination of international efforts in the fight against terrorism. China also expresses its appreciation to Ambassadors Quinlan and Joon Oh for their leadership as the Chairs, respectively, of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). The Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee is one of the main instruments at the disposal of the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, in the fight against terrorism. China supports the Committee in its efforts to improve communication with the countries concerned, strengthen the activities for the review of listing and delisting on an ongoing basis, conduct regular consideration of the sanctions list as planned, and implement resolutions 1267 (1999) and 2083 (2012) in a comprehensive and accurate manner, with a view to contributing further to the cause of counter-terrorism at the international level. China supports the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team in its activities under the leadership of the Committee and notes the efforts by the Office of the Ombudsperson to improve the fairness and transparency of the mechanism. We hope that Member States will actively cooperate with the Committee in its activities in order to preserve the authority and effectiveness of the United Nations sanctions mechanism. China appreciates the many activities of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism (CTC). China supports the CTC and its Executive Directorate (CTED) in their continued efforts to promote the implementation of the Council’s relevant resolutions by improving assessments of resolution implementation, organizing relevant meetings and events, conducting country visits and providing the necessary technical guidance to Member States, upon request. China hopes that the CTC will continue its dialogue and interaction with Member States and assist them in strengthening capacity-building for the fight against terrorism. As the Security Council is going to consider the extension of the mandate of CTED, China will take an active and constructive part in the consideration of the relevant draft resolution. Over the past six months, thanks to the joint efforts of the members of the 1540 Committee and the panel of experts, the programme of work of the Committee has been carried out in a steady manner. Its outreach activities in particular have raised awareness of the resolution among Member States and have enhanced international assistance and cooperation. Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004). A universal, comprehensive and balanced implementation of the resolution depends on Member States playing a central role and requires the Committee to carry out its mandate in letter and in spirit. China supports the Committee’s efforts, through solid and steady efforts and in accordance with its mandate, to increase the number of reporting States, to compile experience in the context of the resolution’s implementation, and to promote international assistance and cooperation in its main activities. China will continue to work with all parties in a joint effort to enhance the role that the United Nations plays, as it should, in the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. I now resume my function as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.

I now give the floor to Gilles Marhic, head of the Legal Section, Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. Mr. Marhic: 1 have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia; the countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina; as well as the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, align themselves with this statement. At the outset, let me thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this timely and useful briefing. 1 should also like to thank the Chairs of each Committee for their extensive updates and summary of actions and for the initiatives taken within the last six months. The recent dreadful attacks in Kenya were further evidence — as if any were needed — that terrorism remains one of the major global threats. The fight against terrorism is one of the highest priorities of the European Union and its member States and should continue to be a priority for the United Nations. In that context, we are convinced that the work of all three Committees is of vital significance, as it contributes to the prevention of and response to terrorist threats. We are of the view that the scourge of terrorism can be overcome only by measures that adhere to the highest human rights standards and are in full compliance with the rule of law. That is one of the reasons why the EU fully supports the establishment of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law in Malta. Sanctions remain a vital part of our counter- terrorism mechanisms. With regard to the targeted sanctions regimes, we acknowledge the importance of the recent case law in the European Court of Justice. We remain convinced that fair and clear procedures and respect for the rule of law are necessary to uphold the legitimacy and efficiency of such regimes. We welcome the significant steps taken by the Security Council to further reinforce fair and clear procedures for Umited Nations sanctions, including through enhancing the role of the Office of the Ombudsperson and publishing delisting procedures online. We commend the work of the Ombudsperson. We welcome the renewal of the mandate of the Ombudsperson last December with further enhancement to the Office, including its effectiveness and transparency. We note with appreciation that in her sixth report to the Security Council (S/2013/452), on 31 July 2013, the Ombudsperson emphasized the strong and continued cooperation with Member States. We call on all Member States to extend their full cooperation with the Office of the Ombudsperson in each and every case. We commend the work of the Committee established persuant to resolution 1373 (2001), in particular with regard to enhancing State capacity-building and strengthening regional cooperation. In that regard, we praise the 2 October launch by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) of the Global Initiative on Effective Counter-Terrorism Investigations and Prosecutions while Respecting the Rule of Law and Human Rights. This project, to which the European Union has pledged €3 million, intends to build effective cooperation at the regional level and to support the efforts of States to strengthen the capacity of criminal justice and law enforcement officials to effectively investigate, prosecute and adjudicate terrorism cases. Additionally, the EU is going to finance the Nigeria/EU/UNODC/CTED partnership on strengthening criminal justice responses for multidimensional security, which is due to start very soon. The EU also supports and promotes multilateral and regional counter-terrorism cooperation. In cooperation with other countries and regions, the EU has started to develop comprehensive counter-terrorism strategies, in partnership with countries in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Pakistan. Those strategies reflect our long-term engagement, building on national and regional counter-terrorism approaches and therefore ensuring ownership and participation. Increasing efforts regarding countering violent extremism, radicalization and recruitments, as well as terrorist financing, is one of our top priorities. Regarding Prevent, the EU anticipates €7 million in this area this year, €2 million in the Horn of Africa and €5 million in South Asia. We welcome United States Secretary of State Kerry’s announcement of the establishment of a global fund to support efforts to counter violent extremism. The EU looks forward to discussing the details of that initiative and will actively participate in its establishment. We also regard the establishment of Hedayah — the first International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, generously hosted and supported by the United Arab Emirates — as a key achievement of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) in that area. The EU already supports the work of the Centre, both financially and through knowledge and expertise from all our member States. We will also address countering violent extremism issues through regional workshops starting on 3 December 2013, focusing on the Horn of Africa/Yemen, Sahel/West Africa, North Africa, and South Asia. We are also working on updating our strategy to combat radicalization and recruitment. The recent CTED briefing on the action plan for implementing resolution 1624 (2005) was particularly useful and timely in that regard. Taking a geographical approach, we see the Horn of Africa and Yemen as a region of primary importance to follow closely. It is crucial that we support international efforts to stabilize the region, as was underlined during the recent New Deal for Somalia Conference held in Brussels on 16 September, which the EU co-hosted with the President of Somalia. Following the last meeting of the GCTF Ministerial Plenary and the renewal of the terms of the co-chairs of GCTF working groups, the EU will continue to co-chair, with Turkey, the GCTF Horn of Africa region working group. In light of the recent events in Nairobi, the EU will reflect jointly with its co-chair on how to enhance our focus on border security, terrorist travel and countering violent extremism in that region. The Sahel is another region where we must focus our efforts. We therefore welcome the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, which puts forward an integrated approach by focusing on three strategic objectives: security, governance and resilience. It is of vital importance to start implementing such strategy. I would like to share a few comments regarding the 1540 regime. The risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors remains a significant threat to international peace and security. We should spare no efforts to increase our capacity in proliferation prevention. Although in recent years we have fortunately been spared an attack using such weapons, we cannot be complacent. As technology progresses and more people get access to advanced systems and the know-how to operate them, the threat of a chemical and biological weapons attack in particular is increasing. The EU and its member States are fully committed to the implementation of the 1540 regime and to offering assistance to the Committee and other States, as appropriate. There is a shared understanding that no single member State can handle the threat alone and that continuous cooperation, exchange of information, outreach activities and assistance play an important role in building tools to counter the mass-destruction capacity of terrorism. We also recall that cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations is essential, as it provides the Committee with specialized expertise. I would like to conclude by stressing that while we have witnessed significant progress in the fight against terrorism, our resolve to defeat terrorism must never weaken or falter. All acts of terrorism are criminal and reprehensible, wherever and by whomever they have been committed. The active promotion of counter- terrorism policies and actions must therefore remain a priority for the United Nations and its Member States.

The European Union has already spoken on the matter, but I would like to make an additional statement on behalf of Poland and my country, Croatia, and to brief the Council on a joint endeavour our two countries undertook earlier this year to promote the objectives of resolution 1977 (2011) within the scope of resolution 1540 (2004). As the Council is aware, resolution 1977 (2011) extended the mandate of resolution 1540 (2004) for ten years and tasked the 1540 Committee to work to identify effective practices, templates and guidance for the implementation of that resolution. Poland and Croatia combined their efforts in that regard and gave birth to an initiative known as peer review, which was officially launched in Croatia in June 2013. The 1540 peer review was a tailored process of cooperation between Poland and Croatia by which the two countries engaged their national non-proliferation experts in coming together to compare national measures, regulations and legal frameworks related to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Although it is by no means a novelty in the overall international security architecture, Poland’s and Croatia’s peer review was fairly uncharted territory in the 1540 arena. Poland and Croatia moved beyond the traditional tools of 1540 implementation and introduced a brand-new concept in identifying effective implementation practices. The peer review initiative featured an exchange of visits of national peers and opposite numbers to their respective capitals and their hands-on interaction on a wide range of 1540-related matters. A pivotal question here is what makes the peer review such a ground-breaking idea in the entire 1540 framework.The highlight of the initiative was the local ownership of the process, which enabled Poland and Croatia to engage in a voluntary dialogue, identifying differences rather than setbacks and opportunities rather than shortcomings in a cooperative, non-patronizing, audit-free way. The United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs and 1540 experts maintained an advisory role throughout the entire process. As I already mentioned, the peer review process was rolled out in two phases — phase one in Croatia in June 2013 and phase two following in Poland four months later, in October. As a wrap-up of the final session in Warsaw, the two delegations presented several tools and measures hand-picked as the effective 1540 practices. They included, inter alia, a national strategy and/or a pertinent action plan serving as a framework 1540 document at the national level; the interaction of national agencies and stakeholders; regional cooperation and activities fostering collaboration between individual States; and awareness-raising among industry and academia. A detailed report will be presented to the 1540 Committee early next year. Finally, let me briefly add, in my national capacity, that Croatia stands ready to share that experience with our partners in South-East Europe. Thus in the lead-up to the tenth anniversary of the 1540 resolution, I can announce the follow-up to the peer-review initiative next year in Croatia. It will take the form of a regional workshop, which we intend to hold in our ancient city of Split in spring 2014.

I would like to congratulate China on its presidency of the Security Council this month. I also wish to express my appreciation to the Chairmen of the Committees for their informative briefings and professional work. I want also like to take this opportunity to welcome the new Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), Jean-Paul Laborde. We are happy to have him on board and look forward to working closely with himin the future. Israel believes that the United Nations counter-terrorism committees are essential to the global efforts to isolate terrorists. We appreciate their dedicated work, along with that of other relevant United Nations agencies. Since the inception of the State of Israel in 1948, not a single day has gone by where we did not face the threat of terrorism. Out of that persistent need to defend our citizens, Israel became a specialist in the field of counter-terrorism with techniques, technologies and tools unmatched by any other country. Over the years, terrorists have become increasingly sophisticated, and Israel’s counter-terrorism efforts have evolved to keep us one step ahead. From aviation security to border security and from money-laundering to legal infrastructures, Israel has a well of expertise for countries to draw on. From the plains of Africa to the jungles of Central America, Israel is proud to be sharing its counter-terrorism capabilities and saving countless lives. Let me give the Council just one example. The issue of aviation security is increasingly a focus of concern for many nations today. Israel has been grappling with that threat ever since an Air France flight filled with Israeli passengers was highjacked in 1976 and forced to land at the airport at Entebbe in Uganda. Since that time, Israel has become a leader in the field of aviation security, as we share our innovative techniques with countless nations, Israel is making the skies a safer place and airports more secure. Just as it is with family, we do not get to choose our neighbours on the map. Israel is not exactly surrounded by Benelux countries. I do not have to convince anyone in the Chamber that Israel finds itself in one of the most volatile and violent neighbourhoods in the world. Every day, we use our counter-terrorism expertise to keep our citizens safe from the threats that surround us on every side. For years, Israel’s southern citizens have been the targets of rocket fire and terror attacks from Gaza. Just last month, the Israeli Defence Forces discovered a 2-kilometre-long tunnel originating in Gaza and ending just outside an Israeli community, not far from homes, kindergartens and playgrounds. The tunnel was built by Hamas, using 500 tons of cement that had been earmarked for construction. Just imagine how many schools, hospitals and homes could have been built with all that cement. Instead of using construction materials to build a better future for the Palestinian people, the leadership in Gaza is committed to destroying the State of Israel. On our northern border, Hizbullah has laid siege to southern Lebanon and is hiding its arsenal of 60,000 rockets in civilian homes, schools and hospitals. In doing so, Hizbullah has committed a double war crime, first, by using the people of Lebanon as human shields, and secondly, by targeting Israeli civilians. No Government can be expected to stand by and allow its citizens to be the targets of terror. Israel will take every measure necessary to protect its citizens and will not allow any strategic weapons to reach the hands of Hizbullah and internationally recognized terrorist organizations. Israel commends the steps that have been taken to destroy Syria’s chemical arsenal. That must continue to be a priority for the international community, which must also ensure that the process is properly monitored, verified and completed. While ensuring that the agreed timelines are met, we must also ensure that chemical weapons never fall into the hands of terrorist organizations. As we speak, terrorist groups are taking advantage of the chaos and instability in Syria to train, recruit and arm a new generation of terrorists. Syria has become the foremost academy for foreign terrorists, who are taught the philosophy of fundamentalism, the engineering of explosives and the calculus of chaos. Two of the terrorists behind the September attack in a shopping mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead were found to be European citizens who had been trained in Syria. The ongoing slaughter in Syria was made possible through the financing of fighters that Iran sends to prop up the dictator in Damascus. Iran may have a charming new President, but its real decision-maker is still Khamenei; the Ayatollah has been an accessory to Al-Assad’s slaughter of 120,000 Syrians, while accessorizing terrorists with suicide belts in Gaza and in Lebanon. Iran remains the world’s primary sponsor of terror. Its proxies include Hizbullah and Hamas, which have dispatched hundreds of suicide bombers, planted thousands of bombs and fired tens of thousands of missiles at civilians. It does not take the detective skills of Agatha Christie to see Iran’s fingerprints on terror attacks from Argentina to Bulgaria and from Thailand to India. Last week, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair provided a report to the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) focusing on the importance of education in countering terrorism. Israel strongly supports the assessment that counter- terrorism efforts must attack the root of the problem, namely, the fertile soils for incitement. Terrorism does not begin when a bomb detonates on a bus or in a café. It begins in classrooms and mosques where children are being taught prejudice instead of peace, terror instead of tolerance and martyrdom instead of mutual understanding. In Gaza, Hamas is poisoning the hearts and minds of the next generation. They recently published textbooks for 55,000 high-school students in which page after page denies Judaism’s historical connection to the land of Israel and describes Zionism as racism. Textbooks should be for education, but Hamas uses them for provocation, indoctrination and escalation. Millions of Palestinians are growing up in a society that portrays murderers and kidnappers as heroes. That culture of incitement has led to deadly consequences. Since the beginning of this year, there have been 1,163 terror attacks against Israelis and dozens of attempted kidnappings. No nation should have to stand alone in the face of global terrorism. Israel commends the CTED for its efforts to coordinate actions and monitor the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001), which constitutes the centrepiece of United Nations effort to create a robust counter-terrorism regime. Israel fully implements resolution 1373 (2001) and has adapted its legislation to ensure compliance with resolution 1267 (1999), which established the important Office of the Ombudsperson of the Security Council Counter- Terrorism Committee and the Al-Qaida sanctions list. Israel also supports resolution 1540 (2004), recognizing that export-control systems and appropriate national counter-terrorism legislation are critical for preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and dual-use items. Finally, Israel supports the 2006 United Nations Global Terrorism Strategy and reiterates that all four pillars of that strategy should be treated as a whole. We look forward to the upcoming fourth review of that strategy. Today, millions of Israelis are mourning the passing of Arik Einstein, an Israeli cultural legend. Over the course of his career, Einstein’s music became the soundtrack of our nation, comforting us in times of sorrow and making our hearts soar in times of joy. One of his most famous songs is called “Me and You” and its lyrics are as follows: (spoke in Hebrew) “You and I will change the world. You and I, and others will join us. They have said it before. It doesn’t matter, because you and I will change the world”. (spoke in English) As we mourn the passing of one of Israel’s icons, let the music that he left behind guide our efforts to make this world safer, stronger and more secure. Together, all of us here can change the world.

I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

At the outset, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Chairs of the Council’s three counter-terrorism-related Committees for their respective briefings. The Committees were established nearly a decade ago in response to the serious terrorism conditions at that time and have carried out dedicated efforts in the fight against terrorism. We believe that the many kinds of practical measures taken by the international community in that regard have made a substantial difference. At the same time, we have to admit that we are still living in a reality that includes the threat of terrorism. The tragedy in Kenya and the terrorist attack in In Amenas, Algeria, in which 40 citizens, including 10 Japanese nationals, were killed, are still vivid in our memory. It is obvious that many challenges remain and that the international community must reinforce its efforts with a particular focus on the threats on the African continent. Based on such recognition, Japan recently announced a pledge of $16 million to support capacity- building in the States of North Africa and the Sahel. At the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in June, Japan also committed to providing $1 billion in humanitarian and development assistance over the next five years and extending assistance to foster human resources in the field of counter-terrorism in the region. Despite our collective efforts towards international cooperation, it is undeniable that there is a limit to the resources available for the fight against terrorism. We believe that it is crucial for all relevant United Nations agencies to act effectively and efficiently. At the same time, it is also necessary for us to promote more positive counter-terrorism activities within the United Nations and outside it so as to maximize the effect of measures taken by the international community as a whole. In that context, Japan welcomes the recent initiative of the Chairmen of the Committees to invite the President of the Financial Action Task Force to the United Nations. From that perspective, we believe that there may be some room for improvement in order to avoid duplication with respect to counter-terrorism measures taken by the United Nations. We have seen several United Nations agencies conduct various programmes, sometimes alone and sometimes in cooperation with each other. We would like to stress the importance of avoiding unnecessary duplication, and expect those agencies to make a special effort in that regard. We believe that the role of each primary counter- terrorism entity — namely, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, (CTED) the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime — must be clear. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the mechanism for ensuring the overall coordination and coherence of the programmes conducted by those entities and by Member States. As the next Security Council resolution expanding the mandate of CTED will be adopted soon, we expect a practical and fruitful discussion in that regard. In addition, concerning the creation of a post of United Nations counter-terrorism coordinator, we understand the need for such a post on the grounds that it would enhance coordination of all efforts in the field of counter-terrorism at the United Nations. We believe that we need to clarify the actual role of the post in order not to end up increasing the number of relevant posts with little substantive added value. For its part, Japan has made efforts for the sake of effectiveness and efficiency in the fight against terrorism. In May, Japan received a focused visit by CTED, conducted on behalf of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism. During that visit, we widely shared our best practices and latest measures in such fields as the financing of terrorism, law enforcement mechanisms and border control. We believe that Japan’s cooperation with CTED during its visit contributed to making the future activities of CTED more effective, and strongly expect CTED to put the fruits of its visit to practical use. Japan continues to attach great importance to preventing the proliferation of goods and technologies related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD). We have been working closely with the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) to strengthen regional and global efforts to better regulate the export and border control of WMD-related materials. In addition to regional seminars in Tokyo, Japan has been organizing seminars on non-proliferation and disarmament here in New York as well, partnering with the Missions of Poland and Turkey. We believe that this endeavour, which we will continue in the future, has helped to nourish ties between Member States and the Committee. Japan expects that the three Committees will continue to carry out their roles and fully cooperate with each other, and we will continue to cooperate positively in the efforts and activities of the three committees.

I thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor in order to speak on behalf of the group of like-minded States on targeted sanctions. That group is comprised of Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and my own country, Austria. As is well known, our group aims to support the efforts of the Security Council to enhance the fairness and transparency of its various sanctions regimes, thereby contributing to their credibility and effectiveness. We thank the Committee Chairmen for their informative briefings. We welcome this biannual occasion to engage on this important set of Council measures, which are binding and have significant implications for the entire membership of the United Nations. It is therefore important to note that all Member States, most recently during the High-level Meeting on the Rule of Law in September 2012, have recognized the need to further develop fair and clear procedures for United Nations sanctions regimes. The like-minded group commends the concrete actions taken to date by the Security Council to address serious due process concerns regarding the Al-Qaida sanctions regime. In particular, we congratulate the Council on its decisions to establish and subsequently to strengthen the Ombudsperson process. We would like to reiterate our full support for the work of the Ombudsperson, Ms. Kimberly Prost. She continues to fulfil her mandate with the required independence and impartiality, as well as with remarkable integrity and commitment. The Ombudsperson has made a substantial contribution to the fairness and effectiveness of the Al-Qaida sanctions regime. In particular, the Office of the Ombudsperson has enhanced listing and delisting procedures and improved the accuracy of the Al-Qaida sanctions list. The Ombudsperson process is a success story. Within a few years, it has envolved from a necessary initiative to a well-established safeguard for due process. Nonetheless, challenges persist on the way forward. First, the judgement of the European Court of Justice in the case of Commission, Council, United Kingdom v Yassin Abdullah Kadi of 18 July has made it evident that the existing listing and delisting procedures cannot be the end of the line. It is important to keep in mind that other regional and domestic courts have come to similar conclusions. All of those judgements show that the Security Council needs to explore additional measures in order to improve the quality of listings and, most importantly, to increase the available information on reasons for listings. In that regard, further avenues for increased exchange of information between Member States and the United Nations must be explored. We are convinced that the higher the quality of listings and the standard of review at the level of the United Nations, the less likely legal challenges will be at the regional and domestic levels. The group of like-minded States on targeted sanctions has made various proposals in recent years. In our view, it is crucial to encourage designating States to make all relevant information available. Since the Ombudsperson has in-depth knowledge and experience on sanctions matters, listed individuals and entities should be encouraged to petition the Office of the Ombudsperson before or at least while seeking legal remedies in regional or domestic courts. Generally speaking, the Ombudsperson procedure will provide much more expeditious review of listings than courts in most jurisdictions. Secondly, we would like to recall that the question of fair and clear procedures is not limited to the Al-Qaida sanctions regime; rather, due process standards and the rule of law apply in all situations in which the actions of the United Nations and its organs directly affect individual rights and fundamental freedoms. In this regard, we note yesterday’s judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Al-Dulimi and Montana Management Inc. v. Switzerland, which concerns sanctions against Iraq. In that judgement, the Court considered that as long as there is no efficient and independent judicial review within the United Nations system, national courts will need to review the measures taken in implementing the sanctions. We reiterate our insistence that every individual or entity included on a Security Council sanctions list should have the right to be informed of the reasons for listing, the right to be heard, and the right to an effective remedy. Security Council sanctions regimes that grant fair and clear review procedures will benefit from improved credibility and effectiveness. We once again put forward that the Ombudsperson process should, on a case-by-case basis, be gradually extended to other appropriate sanctions regimes, in particular those with broad criteria for listing. We are of course fully aware that each sanctions regime and its underlying political situation is unique, and that some sanctions regimes are more suitable for such extension than others. We have already identified the Somalia/Eritrea and the Liberia sanctions regimes as opportunities to make such progress. We would like to respectfully invite Council members to consider this step when they renew the Liberia sanctions in December. The group of like-minded States reiterates its standing offer to further discuss any of the steps identified, both in the interest of strengthening the rule of law and fair and clear procedures, and in the interest of effective sanctions implementation. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the Security Council in this regard.

The representative of the Syrian Arab Republic has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give him the floor.

In the statement I made earlier, I did not focus on certain technical aspects of some the Council’s counter- terrorism Sanctions Committees. Unfortunately, the representative of Israel raised the issue of terrorism in Syria in an attempt to cover up his country’s involvement in the crisis in my country and Israel’s support for terrorists operating there. As Council members and the Israeli representative know very well, we have much to stay about Israeli terrorism, but at this meeting I shall refrain from retelling the story of Israeli violations in order to keep the door open to action in response to our repeated requests for cooperation in the fight against the terrorism in my country.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The Security Council has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. As this is the last meeting of the Council for the month of November, I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the delegation of the China to the members of the Council, especially my colleagues the Permanent Representatives, their respective staffs and the secretariat of the Council for all the support they have given to us. It has indeed been a busy month, and one in which we rallied to consensus on several important issues within our purview. We could not have done it alone and without the hard work, support and positive contributions of every Mission and the representatives of the Secretariat, as well as the interpreters, translators, conference officers and sound engineers. As we end our presidency, I know I speak on behalf of the entire Council in wishing the delegation of France good luck in the month of December.