S/PV.7453 Security Council

I wish to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, ministers and other representatives present in the Security Council Chamber. Their participation is an affirmation of the importance of the subject matter under discussion. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite His Excellency Mr. Jürgen Stock, Secretary General of INTERPOL, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2015/324, which contains the text of a letter dated 8 May 2015 from the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. I also wish to draw the Council’s attention to document S/2015/338, which contains the text of a letter dated 13 May 2015 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, addressed to the President of the Security Council; as well as to document S/2015/358, which contains the text of a letter dated 19 May 2015 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, addressed to the President of the Security Council. I now give the floor to His Excellency Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon.

I thank those present for their participation in spite of their very busy schedules. I would also like to welcome Mr. Jürgen Stock, Secretary General of INTERPOL, and to thank him for his participation. I also recognize the leadership and contributions of the Chairs of the Securty Council Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), and resolution 1373 (2001), the Ambassadors of and Lithuania and New Zealand, respectively. Since the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), the flow of foreign terrorist fighters that have joined the ranks of Daesh and other terrorist groups continues to grow. There has been an estimated 70 per cent increase in foreign terrorist fighters worldwide between the middle of 2014 and March 2015. This trend means more foreign terrorist fighters on the front lines, a bigger pool of expertise available to terrorists and a menace to their countries of origin once they return. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established pursuant to resolution 1526 (2004) estimates that over 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters from over 100 Member States have travelled to Syria and Iraq, as well as Afghanistan, Yemen and Libya. No country can tackle this challenge alone. Member States must enhance their cooperation and exchange information, develop effective border controls and strengthen their criminal justice systems, in accordance with the rule of law and human rights standards. Full compliance with international law is central to success. That includes, in particular, international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law. When counter-terrorism efforts ignore the rule of law and violate fundamental rights, they not only betray the values they seek to uphold, but can also end up further fuelling violent extremism. To ensure consistency with human rights principles, measures to implement resolution 2178 (2014) must be clear and precise, as required by the principle of legality. Exceptional and lawful restrictions imposed on rights must be specific, necessary and proportionate. The United Nations stands ready to assist Member States in implementing those standards. Ultimately, we have to address the conditions conducive to young men and women being lured by violent extremism. Radicalization is the essential precursor to individuals becoming foreign terrorist fighters. Building effective, accountable and inclusive governance and institutions is an important element of preventive efforts. Youth today are the group most prone to radicalization, violent extremism and recruitment as foreign terrorist fighters. Most foreign terrorist fighters are young males between 15 and 35 years of age motivated by extremist ideologies. However, we should also address the conditions and factors leading women and girls to join the ranks of Daesh and other terrorist groups. I welcome this growing emphasis on addressing the underlying drivers of violent extremism at the global, regional, national and local levels to prevent radicalization. I intend to present a plan of action to prevent violent extremism to the General Assembly at its seventieth session later this year. I also welcome other Council initiatives, including the upcoming special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee on stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, which will be held in Madrid on 27 and 28 July. In support of the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014), I have instructed the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force in the Department of Political Affairs to establish an inter-agency working group on foreign terrorist fighters to coordinate the work of all relevant United Nations entities. The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre’s project on enhancing the understanding of the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters in Syria, which I announced at the Security Council high-level meeting held in September 2014 (see S/PV.7272), is aimed at understanding the underlying drivers of the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters with a view to assisting Member States in crafting a better policy response. I welcome the recent interest that many affected countries have expressed in that project. I remain concerned that recent events, particularly in Iraq and Syria, which have seen the advance of Daesh and other groups with the growing support of foreign terrorist fighters, demonstrate that this is an increasing threat to international peace and security that requires even more concerted action by the international community. The United Nations will continue to work actively with Member States to forge more comprehensive and creative approaches to address this multidimensional threat, emphasizing the importance that we should attach to ensuring that they are fully anchored in the rule of law and human rights.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. I now give the floor to Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities.

Since Ambassador Gary Quinlan of Australia briefed the Council in November 2014 (see S/PV.7316), the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities has continued to devote special focus to the issue of foreign terrorist fighters, as mandated by paragraph 21 of resolution 2178 (2014). The threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters is serious and affects all States and societies. The response to this threat to international peace and security must be comprehensive and coordinated and employ a range of tools. The Al-Qaida regime’s targeted sanctions are an important part of the toolbox. The Security Council has established a framework through its resolution 2178 (2014) to address foreign terrorist fighters and their networks. That exists alongside Council resolutions on the threat to international peace and security posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Daesh, and the Al-Nusra Front. Resolution 2178 (2014) sets out a number of obligations and measures for Member States. Two of those obligations in particular intersect with the work of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. First, Member States are called upon to prevent the movement of foreign terrorist fighters across their borders. Secondly, Member States shall prevent the recruiting, facilitating or equipping of individuals who travel to a State other than their States of residence or nationality to carry out or prepare for terrorist acts or training and the financing of such activities. The measures imposed upon individuals and entities designated by the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee are threefold: an assets freeze, a travel ban and an arms embargo. In addition, any individual or entity that provides financial or material support to those designated, including arms or recruits, is eligible to be added to the Al-Qaida sanctions list. The Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee has approved several designations this year aimed at the foreign terrorist fighters threat. In January 2015, the Committee designated Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili and noted that he led approximately 1,000 foreign terrorist fighters for ISIL. In March 2015, the Committee designated the Hilal Ahmar Society Indonesia and three of its leaders based upon their recruiting, funding and facilitating travel of foreign terrorist fighters to the Syrian Arab Republic. In April, Ali ben Taher ben Faleh Ouni Harzi, a member of Ansar al Shari’a in Tunisia, was designated partly due to his efforts to recruit foreign terrorist fighters. Further ISIL-related designations are expected in the near future. As with all designations, INTERPOL-Security Council Special Notices have been issued. Cooperation between the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and INTERPOL is key to improving the implementation of the sanctions measures. That is particularly true for foreign terrorist fighters, given the need for timely information sharing about cross-border movement. On 26 May 2015, the report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1526 (2004), which supports the work of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, on foreign terrorist fighters (S/2015/358) was published pursuant to resolution 2178 (2014). The headline conclusion from that report is there are now more than 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters from over 100 countries. Many have travelled to fight for terrorist entities associated with Al-Qaida, especially ISIL, and the main movement has been into Syria and Iraq. The report addresses three main areas concerning foreign terrorist fighters: first, the analysis of the threat, including the scale, predictions for growth and ancillary risks; secondly, the trends, including demographics, recruitment and financing; and thirdly, the challenges, including information-sharing and border control. As directed in resolution 2178 (2014), the Monitoring Team made a number of detailed recommendations on the basis of which the Committee has now taken decisions, and will be following up and facilitating including with the Security Council and Member States. This will be reflected in a position paper from the Committee. The Monitoring Team concluded that there are three essential elements in the international response to foreign terrorist fighters. First, Member States should share actionable information on potential and known foreign terrorist fighters, such as advanced passenger information and material from national watch lists. Secondly, at the national level Member States should build capacity to disrupt foreign terrorist fighter networks. This capacity can be enhanced through legislative frameworks and national strategies that allow Governments to act quickly and nimbly. Thirdly, the Monitoring Team considers countering violent extremism at every stage of an individual’s involvement to be at the heart of any successful policy response. Member States need to develop strategies to counter violent extremism that aim to prevent, assess and reintegrate foreign terrorist fighters into society. In resolution 2178 (2014), the Security Council called on Member States to propose foreign terrorist fighters, and those who facilitate or finance their activities, for designation on the Al-Qaida sanctions list. Some progress has been made since September last year, but there is more work to be done. I take this opportunity to recall that any Member State may propose an individual or entity for inclusion on the list. The Monitoring Team can advise any Member State considering proposing designations, and the Team takes part in regular outreach and training. I encourage Member States considering designation proposals to make early contact with the Team and the Chair of the Committee. To encourage proposals for listings, on 24 April my predecessor as Chair of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Jim McLay, organized an open briefing for all Member States on the Committee’s work. This briefing provided an informal opportunity for interested Member States to interact with the Committee and its work through the Chair and the Monitoring Team coordinator. A variety of issues were discussed, including the procedure for adding names to the Al-Qaida sanctions list. I intend to continue to hold such open briefings periodically throughout my chairmanship. We need intelligently targeted and well-implemented sanctions as part of our toolbox to counter the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters and the harm they cause to Member States, their societies and peoples.

I thank Ambassador van Bohemen for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism.

On behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, allow me to give a brief overview of developments in the work of the Committee and its Executive Directorate, as requested in paragraph 26 of resolution 2178 (2014). The Committee, with the support of the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), has identified 67 States most affected by the threat of foreign terrorist fighters. They represent a wide range of countries in terms of size and capacity, drawn from all regions of the world. They include all four categories of States: origin, transit, destination and neighbouring. Using tools developed by the Committee to facilitate its dialogue with States on the implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), as well as new tools dedicated to analysing measures specific to resolution 2178 (2014), CTED, in support of the Committee, has analysed an initial batch of 21 States, looking at how they implement those resolutions, the gaps that they might individually or collectively need to address, and the good practices that they already deploy. The relevant report was submitted to the Council on 13 May. These evidence-based and risk-based conclusions will be further used to develop detailed, concrete recommendations for the facilitation of technical assistance in the coming months. More reports, to be delivered in July and September, will expand the scope of enquiry to all 67 affected States. Future reports will discuss ways to address recruitment, the challenges posed by terrorists’ use of Internet and communications technologies, the disruption of terrorist financing and support networks, and the special challenges associated with returning foreign terrorist fighters, including the monitoring of returnees, bringing returning foreign terrorist fighters to justice, the use and effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes, and how to manage their eventual reintegration into society. In the coming months, therefore, these reports will provide a detailed road map of concrete measures to assist in the building of capacity to resist the threat of foreign terrorist fighters. These reports will continue to draw on threat analysis provided in the course of CTED’s dialogue with its partners, including the Monitoring Team of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, INTERPOL, the Council of Europe, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Customs Organization. According to the first report, the comprehensive criminalization of various offences related to foreign terrorist fighters, as required by resolution 2178 (2014), remains a high priority. Only 5 of the 21 States reviewed had introduced legislation to criminalize preparatory or accessory acts conducted in a State with the aim of committing terrorist acts outside that State’s territory. Furthermore, many of the 21 States had not yet introduced criminal laws to allow the prosecution of individuals who travel or attempt to travel to a State other than their States of residence or nationality for the purpose of the perpetration, planning or preparation of or participation in terrorist acts, or the provision or receipt of terrorist training. Resolution 2178 (2014) also calls on all States to require airlines operating in their territories to provide advance passenger information as a means of detecting the travel of certain foreign terrorist fighters. Only 5 of the 21 States we surveyed in the report required advance passenger information or passenger name records. In fact, a dedicated report on advance passenger information that was submitted to the Council on 26 May shows that only 51 States globally currently utilize advance passenger information systems at varying levels of effectiveness. CTED and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force are requested to jointly develop initiatives with relevant international organizations, aimed at assisting with the implementation of advance passenger information systems, with a particular focus on States affected by the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. On measures to disrupt financing networks and to bring to justice those who finance and support facilitation networks, most of the 21 States can apply to foreign terrorist fighters the mechanisms that they already have in place to disrupt and prevent the provision of financial support to terrorists. There remain concerns about States’ capacity to freeze terrorist assets in accordance with resolution 1373 (2001). CTED is currently working closely with FATF to develop concrete tools to address these issues, including a set of red-flag indicators that can be used operationally by financial institutions and others to spot suspicious activity that may be linked to support for foreign terrorist fighters. Other priorities identified in the report of 21 affected States include the centralized and coordinated exchange of law enforcement information at the national level; the breaking-down of silo thinking among law enforcement agencies; and the urgent need for an operational 24/7 alert system that would enable users to share information immediately with front-line officers, including immigration officials and customs authorities. There is also good news, however. We are finding good practices already implemented by many of the affected States. Nearly all have taken steps to prohibit by law incitement to commit a terrorist act under their criminal laws, as called for in resolution 1624 (2005). These measures can contribute significantly to stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, who are often spurred to action by calls to terrorist violence made by others, whether in person or through the Internet or social media. The Committee is also providing guidance designed to assist in capacity-building on specific issues. On 18 February, the Committee submitted to the Council a report that analyses, in practical terms, the prosecutorial challenges States face in bringing Foreign terrorist fighters to justice. Meanwhile, the Committee has undertaken activities to reinforce its direct support to States threatened by terrorism. In my role as Chair of the Committee, I conducted, from 2 to 6 February, a high-level political mission to Mali and the Niger, together with CTED’s Executive Director. The Special Envoy of the Secretary- General for the Sahel and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union for Counter- Terrorism Cooperation also participated. This served to convey a single message that the international community is united in its determination to assist countries in their counter-terrorism efforts. Over the coming months, the Committee will continue to fulfil the mandates conferred by the Council, including through the preparation of a special meeting on stemming the flow of Foreign terrorist fighters, to be held in Madrid in July; continued Committee visits to States, particularly those affected by foreign terrorist fighters; and further interaction with civil society, the private sector and academic institutions, particularly in facilitating the use of new technologies in building the capacity of high-risk, low-capacity States to prevent terrorism in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law. The Committee and CTED will also continue to arrange open briefings on regional and thematic counter-terrorism issues for the wider United Nations membership, with a view to further enhancing transparency and strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

I thank Ambassador Murmokaitė for her statement. I now give the floor to Mr. Stock. Mr. Stock: It is a privilege to address the Security Council once again. Let me thank the Lithuanian presidency for having INTERPOL present as various senior security officials gather before this body for the first time in history. At the core of this meeting is a single goal: breaking the cycle from radicalization to return  — a cycle we saw tragically completed in the streets of Brussels. A single individual, carrying lethal skills refined through a year spent in Syria, was able to leave the conflict and travel freely throughout South-East Asia and to finally re-enter Europe to strike against innocents. At the time, no identifiers existed in INTERPOL databases about the suspect. Indeed, the incident illustrated how opportunities to disrupt terrorist mobility must be systematically forged and promptly seized. Such was the case last year, when a suspect was apprehended on his way to Syria, thanks to Belgium’s decision to issue an international alert through INTERPOL and thanks to the actions taken by Lebanese officials on the ground, based on that intelligence. In another instance, a routine fingerprint check against INTERPOL databases made it possible to identify an undocumented migrant off the coast of Greece as a subject wanted for terrorist activity in Chechnya. Those are just two examples of the many interdictions achieved by our member countries. No matter where they occurred, they all embodied the same two elements of success: first, the secure sharing of information on foreign fighters across national and regional borders, through INTERPOL; second, prompt access to that information at the front lines, by the right officer, at the right moment. Those two dimensions also define INTERPOL’s support to its member States in the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014). Terrorism-related operational information has unique features. Understandably, restriction of its circulation is the default position of any sovereign national authority. Therefore, we have actively engaged member States to forge the trust needed for data to flow internationally. I have had the honour to personally open a dialogue on that issue with ministers across our membership, such as in summits held in Riga, Washington, D.C., and St. Pölten, Austria. In parallel, our counter-terrorism experts regularly hold restricted operational meetings. There, national agencies can determine how to best combine the potential of INTERPOL’s tools with their country’s legal, tactical and human rights requirements. Today, I am glad to confirm that remarkable progress has been achieved. At the time of the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), fewer than 900 foreign terrorist fighters had been identified through INTERPOL channels. Today, identifiers of more than 4,000 are available in our databases. No doubt, the call issued by the Security Council represented a watershed. Countries are increasingly realizing that not sharing ultimately represents a risk, while doing so through INTERPOL offers them an invaluable opportunity. Whenever information enters INTERPOL’s systems, the source country retains full control over it. Every single member country shall remain in our databases and can take a free and sovereign decision as to how long the data shall remain in the INTERPOL databases and how its visibility should be managed. Member States can therefore use INTERPOL channels even to communicate bilaterally. The same freedom applies to the type of information countries choose to exchange. That can include basic identifiers such as names, aliases, dates of birth and photos; fingerprints and DNA profiles retrieved from crime scenes; and information on valid or revoked travel documents potentially at the disposal of suspects. INTERPOL diffusions, which let States hand- pick foreign counterparts accessing their information, remain the primary channel for sharing information on foreign terrorist fighters. Their great flexibility has been proven in the field. In one case, two countries had issued diffusions to flag the same foreign terrorist fighter, each of them choosing different geographical restrictions for access to their records. The information was thus linked to the same individual within the database, yet INTERPOL applied a tailored approach to the visibility of every single piece of data, depending on the source and its instructions. That model explains why countries increasingly trust INTERPOL with their data. In addition, we are working to turn that information into added value for member States. Our analysts are working side by side with seconded national experts, thanks to the generous support of Belgium, France, Kuwait, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. All data received is cross-checked to establish links, which are communicated to relevant agencies as allowed by data owners. Routes and transit hubs, as well as tactics, techniques and procedures used by terrorists, are the object of dedicated analytical products. As a result, we are monitoring the threat as it evolves. We assess that the pressure to restrict foreign terrorist fighters’ mobility is already producing changes in tactics. In the medium term, we project so-called broken travel to become a more frequent feature and facilitation networks to become more prominent relative to self-organization. That underlines the importance of implementation of targeted United Nations sanctions on individuals and entities involved in such activities, including through the issuance of INTERPOL Special Notices. Other patterns include a growing share of recruits with criminal records, especially from Europe, and the active role played domestically by some suspects who had been prevented from travelling abroad. Furthermore, a growing number of groups  — from northern and sub-Saharan Africa to South-East Asia  — are shifting their allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Greater risks exist for cross-pollination among conflict zones beyond Syria and Iraq and for access to resources for more sophisticated attacks abroad. That landscape leads to a single conclusion, and my first recommendation today. We must share even more information and share it even better. Intelligence is crossing borders, but at a much slower pace than foreign terrorist fighters. Groups active in Syria and Iraq can rely on recruits from 190 countries. That is well above the number of States currently populating INTERPOL’s foreign terrorist fighters database, which explains why a gap still exists between the number of foreign terrorist fighters we have identified and those estimated to have reached that conflict zone. Let me also highlight two other imperatives: first, ensuring that information flows domestically between national intelligence agencies and law enforcement; and secondly, sharing data across regional borders. Several encouraging initiatives are fostering information collection regionally. I believe the next, natural step is for INTERPOL to bring them together as a single, global platform. That will avoid duplication of efforts and new missed opportunities. Withholding information within any region simply puts the rest of the world at risk. The same applies to any intelligence made available by member States, but unable to reach the front lines. As highlighted by the Hague-Marrakech Memorandum on Good Practices for a More Effective Response to the Foreign Terrorist Fighter Phenomenon of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, making INTERPOL tools directly accessible at international borders is a valuable step in screening travelers and turning knowledge into action in the field. We are therefore pursuing the extension of INTERPOL’s I-24/7 network to border posts as an utmost priority in our support to member States. Compared with the same period in 2014, in 2015 80 million additional searches were performed globally against our screening tools, such as INTERPOL’s nominal database; the travel documents associated with the INTERPOL notices system; and the stolen and lost travel documents database. Over the past year, more than 20 countries have shown encouraging increases in the use of these systems. However, to date systematic checks at borders are a reality only in select member States. Underlying this is first and foremost national capacity. In many cases, domestic authorities show a willingness to establish protocols and inter-agency cooperation to extend access. Yet infrastructural gaps still provide challenges, particularly in high-priority locations. This leads to INTERPOL’s second recommendation to this forum. The call for capacity-building made in resolution 2178 (2014) finds a natural target in strengthening international borders. Today we have the opportunity to set a clear-cut, ambitious objective aimed at filling this urgent gap. Leaving the most exposed member States alone in their response would mean undermining both their immediate security and our chances of success in the long term. INTERPOL asserts that, with the Council’s leadership and support and by mobilizing member States’ resources, within a reasonable time frame all major border posts surrounding this conflict zone will be able to achieve systematic screening capacity. INTERPOL stands ready to act to turn that vision into reality, together with our partners. Among them, of course, are the United Nations counter-terrorism entities. We remain committed to working closely with the United Nations and its Member States to fully implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We will continue our close cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, particularly as the Chair of the working group on the protection of critical infrastructure and co-Chair of the working group on border management and law enforcement relating to counter-terrorism. The same applies to our support to the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, including the provision of INTERPOL experts to assessment missions and to our ongoing efforts with the 1267 Monitoring Team to strengthen the implementation of sanctions against individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaida. Finally, we are working to expand our support by becoming a global, neutral platform to exchange experience, challenges and solutions across countries and sectors, acting as a bridge to private industry in countering terrorist use of the Internet; as a hub for law- enforcement discussion on issues such as radicalization and de-radicalization; and as a forum linking police and the military, including peacekeepers, in understanding shared threats such as the spreading of improvised explosive devices. In closing, let me express how privileged I feel at the trust that the Security Council has bestowed on INTERPOL. I would like to place once again the full array of our expertise, tools and services at the complete disposal of the international community. As Member States find themselves once again united in protecting peace, they will find INTERPOL at their side, helping them turn their borders into vehicles for justice and barriers to terror.

The Council has before it the text of a statement by the President on behalf of the Council on the subject of today’s meeting. I thank Council members for their valuable contributions to this statement. In accordance with the understanding reached among the members of the Council, I shall take it that the members of the Security Council agree to the statement, which will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2015/11. It is so decided. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. Let me start by paying tribute to all of our peacekeepers. Today is the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, and last year alone 126 peacekeepers were killed; that is a very large number. Let us remember them all and pay tribute to them. I thank the Secretary-General and the briefers for their contributions. I am pleased that this briefing on foreign terrorist fighters has drawn so many high-level officials in charge of counter-terrorism actions. This clearly demonstrates the importance and urgency of the matter we are discussing today. Today’s briefing is taking place eight months after the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014) at the Security Council summit meeting chaired by President Obama (see S/PV.7272) and six months after the high-level Australian debate (see S/PV.7316). This allows us to take stock of the progress made in implementing resolution 2178 (2014) and address existing gaps in tackling the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. Countering foreign terrorist fighters is only a part of broader counter-terrorism efforts, but it is a significant one, for a number of reasons. It is an increasingly global threat. As noted earlier, there are now more than 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters originating from over 100 countries. Most of them end up in Syria or in Iraq, where they carry out crimes of exceptional barbarity and brutality. Their eventual return to their countries of origin would pose enormous new problems and challenges to local law and order as well as to counter-terrorist bodies. It is a complex, mutating, and shifting threat. The age, gender and social background of foreign terrorist fighters; where they come from and why; how they travel to conflict zones; how they get recruited; and how they organize, train, arm and finance themselves varies from case to case. No typical profiles or patterns can be drawn, and standard solutions to the problem are hard to apply. It is a threat that puts existing counter-terrorism measures to an unprecedented test. While certain frameworks exist to tackle the phenomenon, significant implementation gaps persist, including lack of capacity, resources and even awareness of the problem at hand. Our responses to this threat need to be constantly adjusted and modified if not to outpace, then at least to match the level of adaptability and dynamics of foreign terrorist fighters themselves. The phenomenon must be tackled in a systematic and coherent way, involving the countries of origin, transit and destination, as well as neighbouring States, all of which have a specific role to play. Let me refer briefly to some of the priority actions that need to be taken with all due urgency. These include the review and update of national criminal laws in the light of resolution 2178 (2014); strengthening border protection and border security; improving national judicial and prosecutorial capacities; increasing traveller information collection, analysis and sharing; greater regional and international cooperation; and the more robust use of tools and services provided by Interpol, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Financial Action Task Force and other relevant bodies. The World Customs Organization and the World Tourism Organization, too, have important roles to play, the latter in particular, as terrorist recruits are devising new ways of avoiding being detected and tracked down by using tourism to disguise their travel to conflict zones, including ever more complex broken itineraries. At the national level, too, more effective inter-agency cooperation and coordination among all relevant authorities — ministries of foreign affairs, home affairs and justice and law-and-order institutions, transport and communications bodies, financial crime investigation service, intelligence, counterterrorism, and prosecutor general’s offices — are truly essential. On the other hand, a more coherent and comprehensive response by the United Nations system in support of national and regional efforts is needed, including closer and more coherent coordination among the various United Nations bodies tasked with counter-terrorism mandates, inter alia, to reinforce one another’s efforts and build on one another’s strengths. No country can consider itself immune to the threat of foreign terrorist fighters. Waiting until it strikes would be the worst possible choice. We all must take very seriously our obligations under resolution 2178 (2014) as well as other relevant counter-terrorism resolutions and international instruments. The Lithuanian criminal code, for instance, establishes as criminal offences various foreign terrorist fighter-related activities. Those who commit acts forbidden by international agreements, including terrorist acts, can be held responsible under Lithuanian law irrespective of their citizenship, their place of residence, the place of the commission of the crime, or whether the act is punishable under the laws of the locality where it was committed. Lithuania relies on some well-established measures to prevent the travel of terrorists across its borders as well as to disrupt facilitation of their travel. They include effective border control, which is also part of the Schengen system, and the routine use of various INTERPOL databases. Lithuania also employs a variety of measures to prevent money-laundering and terrorist financing, in compliance with Financial Action Task Force and European Union (EU) standards. We also stress the importance of providing a determined response at EU level and within the Schengen space. Let me also stress that in the fight against terrorism, it is crucial to address not only the consequences but also the underlying factors of radicalization. Our efforts to prevent foreign terrorist fighters will only have a limited effect if the phenomenon itself continues to grow. In that regard, we need a comprehensive cross-sectoral approach guaranteeing the involvement of all policies relevant to counter radicalization and violent extremism, including through upholding human rights for all, promoting inclusiveness and tolerance and adequate education, social, development and regional policies. Creating effective counter-narratives, including on social media, is also very important. Respect for fundamental rights is crucial in the fight against terrorism. Our common work must be based on a proper balance between security and fundamental rights. As we seek to curb and contain that dangerous phenomenon, we must do so in full respect of human rights, fundamental freedoms, pluralism, rule of law and democratic governance. Finally, let me express my thanks to the United States delegation for the initiative of today’s presidential statement S/PRST/2015/11, and to Council members for their active engagement in negotiating the text which lays down clear guidelines about what needs to be done by all of us to combat the foreign-terrorist-fighter phenomenon. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I shall now give the floor to the other members of the Security Council.

It is an honour to address this distinguished group of leaders. This is an unprecedented event — a meeting of the Security Council convening key interior ministries. I express my appreciation to Lithuania for its leadership is convening this event, as the President of the Council, and its efforts as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism. It is an important and timely gathering to review our progress against foreign terrorist fighters. Our Ministries are responsible for domestic action to address the foreign terrorist fighter issue and we know the importance of working together across our Governments and across borders. It has been eight months since the adoption of Council resolution 2178 (2014). The resolution creates a new legal and policy framework for international action against an emerging threat to the security of our homelands. In making the case for resolution 2178 (2014), my country’s President Obama, said, “we must come together as nations and an international community to confront the real and growing threat of foreign terrorist fighters” (S/PV.7272, p. 3). Our task, today, is to assess how we are coming together and building the capacity to confront this phenomenon and to make sure that when we reach the one-year mark we have achieved substantial progress on the actions called for in resolution 2178 (2014). Recent events in Libya, Denmark, Tunisia, Yemen, France, Belgium and elsewhere reveal the way in which this global terrorist threat has evolved. Terrorists of today have considerable resources and use sophisticated communications technologies. They are increasingly mobile, adaptable and brutal. Terrorist organizations include foreign terrorist fighters travelling to participate in other people’s conflicts. The threat increasingly includes people carrying out attacks where they live, after returning home. Much more work needs to be done. We must fulfil the provisions of resolution 2178 (2014) in five general respects. First, we must criminalize the travel and attempted travel of foreign terrorist fighters and certain forms of support; secondly, adopt effective border controls and issue secure travel documents, as well as the corollary need to exchange operational information concerning terrorists; thirdly, expand criminal investigations and prosecutions; fourthly, counter violent extremism; fifthly, encourage a greater role on the part of the United Nations and its counter-terrorism bodies such as the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. In recent years, however, we have witnessed an unprecedented flow of foreign terrorist fighters to conflict zones, including Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, Yemen, Libya, Syria and Iraq. That new challenge requires a new response and our response must include stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters and their facilitators and identifying and helping those that are disillusioned before they succumb to violent extremism ideologies. More than 22,000 foreign terrorist fighters from over 100 nations have travelled to Syria since the beginning of the conflict there, including at least 4,000 from the West. Over 180 Americans have travelled, or attempted to travel to Syria. Governments all over the world are mobilizing to deal with this new threat and the United States is eager to work closely with all of our partners in doing so. President Obama has directed all elements of the American Government to focus on the problem. We are therefore focused on improving border and aviation security, bolstering legal and prosecutorial capacity, improving information-sharing and addressing the underlying conditions conducive to terrorism, thereby preventing the problem by countering violent extremism. It is encouraging to see that many countries have taken steps to respond to threats from foreign terrorist fighters. The threat is truly global and involves crossing borders. At the United States Department of Homeland Security, we are expanding the security of our visa-waiver programme to bolster the screening of citizens from even our closest partners and friends and supporting the expansion of pre-clearance processes that screen travelers en route to the United States. That will protect travelers of all nations on flights to the United States. Other countries have taken their own national measures. Our safety and security is inextricably tied up with theirs. Therefore, my Government regularly consults with other partners concerning foreign terrorist fighters in an ongoing effort to prioritize the threat, assess vulnerabilities and adapt measures to prevent and interdict. We are also encouraging greater law enforcement cooperation through INTERPOL’s notice advisory system and foreign terrorist fighter database. As the world’s largest international police organization, INTERPOL has a vital role to play in foreign terrorist fighter interdiction. Through INTERPOL, United States authorities are sharing information in real time. During the past year, the United States has shared a dramatically increased number of terrorist identities via mechanisms offered by INTERPOL. Two United States personnel will soon be assigned to the INTERPOL foreign terrorist fighter fusion cell in Lyon, France, as part of a programme funded by the United States Department of State. I urge all of our partners to consider actively exchanging information with the foreign terrorist fighter fusion cell and to provide financial or in-kind contributions to the cell. The United States Government has also established over 80 bilateral arrangements with 45 partner countries to share information on known and suspected foreign terrorist fighters for use by law enforcement, border authorities and security services. It includes important information on those we believe to be radicalized to violence by terrorist groups operating in Syria and Iraq. We also continue to share information on a case-by-case basis with partners with whom we have had longstanding relationships. Our Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to aggressively pursue counter- terrorism investigations in the United States. United States Departments of Treasury and State are working closely with foreign partners to disrupt access by foreign terrorist fighters and their support networks to the United States and international financial systems to finance travel. United States designations trigger asset freezing against those providing supports to terrorist networks. The international community must continue to develop and update countermeasures to deprive our enemies of resources. We are eager to assist our international partners in their own efforts. Alongside our State Department, justice personnel are providing technical assistance and expertise to our partners in reviewing their investigative tools and their law enforcement and prosecution legislation for compliance with resolution 2178 (2014). More than 30 countries have updated their laws since the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014). Others are reviewing them. More needs to done to strengthen legal systems where needed, particularly in order to criminalize the intent to travel as foreign terrorist fighters to commit terrorist acts, as well as to counter acts such as training and facilitating terrorism activities. And we must do that as expeditiously as possible. Terrorists are always looking for ways to circumvent border security and security at airports. At the Department of Homeland Security we are continuously evaluating, modifying and enhancing our security measures in order to stop them, working in cooperation with our foreign partners. Last summer, example, the department required enhanced screening at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States of America. The United Kingdom and other countries followed suit in order to further enhance the security of global aviation. It is essential for countries to cooperate more in that area. As outlined in resolution 2178 (2014), the collection and analysis of travel data is an important instrument for border control and aviation security. It provides the basis for countries to work together to counter the movement of foreign terrorist fighters, or their supporters and financiers. Yet according to the CTED report, only 51 States employ this vital tool. I encourage additional countries to use travel information like advanced passenger information and passenger name record data to identify both known and previously unknown foreign terrorist fighters. We recognize that the use of such information may be new to some of our partners, and some may looking for ways to facilitate the adoption of those interdiction mechanisms. My department is committed to helping our partners better use traveller screening information. Within the next twelve months, the Department of Homeland Security, through our customs and border protection component, will be developing a new passenger data screening and analysis system. That global travel assessment system will be made available at no cost to the international community, for both commercial and Government organizations, to use maintain, customize and enhance as needed. In order to maximize the adoption and accessibility of that system, it will be developed on free and open-source platform technology and optimized to operate on low- cost community hardware or cloud infrastructure. Once the initial software is released to the international open-source software community, Member States will be able to make software enhancements and contribute software code to the project. More broadly, all Member States need to work more closely to take steps that will increase security, particularly with respect to border controls. The development of the global travel assessment system is one such step, but we encourage other Governments and the United Nations to take action. For instance, it is important that the United Nations system and donors move expeditiously to provide capacity building and technical assistance to the most affected States in order to fill critical gaps in countering the flow of foreign terrorist fighters. Close work between CTED and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office can contribute to this effort. July’s high-level special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, to be hosted by Spain, as well as CTED’s technical sessions leading up to it, provide another opportunity. Ministries of the Interior and security services need to lead efforts to address this evolving and unprecedented threat. I encourage all of us to continue to invest in addressing the conditions that lead to violent extremism. The Department of Homeland Security is building partnerships with State and local law enforcement agencies, community leaders and private institutions that are in a position to deter those who may turn to violence. As part of that effort, I have personally met with community leaders in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and here in New York. Last February, my Government hosted at the White House a summit on countering violent extremism. Many of the countries represented here today attended. Groups like Daesh use the Internet to radicalize people to violence, but the Internet does not belong to them. The Internet is a tool that we can use to help parents, friends and religious leaders to save people from turning to terrorism and violence. We need to engage and challenge extremist ideas online and in our communities in order to counter the ability of terrorists to recruit foreign terrorist fighters. It is imperative that we, as ministers of the interior, regularly and systematically track our efforts to fulfil our obligations under resolution 2178 (2014). I urge those present today to participate in the United Nations Counter- Terrorism Committee’s special meeting in Spain in late July. That event will bring together experts — on border management, countering recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters, prevention, criminalization and prosecution — from all around the world. Challenging the threat of foreign terrorist fighters remains a daunting task. Progress has been made, but we still have much to learn from each other. I remain optimistic and encouraged by the cooperation of United Nations States Members to detect and defeat today’s enemies of peace, security and decency. Since the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), we have increasingly shared our vision for countering this threat, and the tools to do so. The time to take action is now. I look forward to hearing from those around the table about their efforts in this shared task.

I first wish to congratulate you, Mr. President, and your delegation for so ably steering the proceedings and work of the Security Council over the course of the past month. I am pleased to be here with you, Sir, and with the other colleagues around the table. I believe we had an important and useful discussion earlier this morning, graciously hosted by Secretary Johnson and Ambassador Power of the United States of America. We welcome Lithuania’s initiative in convening this meeting of the Council, which for the first time ever includes ministers responsible for internal and homeland security, aimed at, among other objectives, assessing the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014), regarding the issue of foreign terrorist fighters. I also wish to thank His Excellency Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, the Chairs of the Council’s Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and resolution 1373 (2001), and the Secretary General of 1NTERPOL for their comprehensive and insightful briefings. Last September, the Council took an historic and decisive step with the unanimous adoption of resolution 2178 (2014). In our view, that resolution helped pave the way for the international community to respond to and address the growing threat posed by the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters at the national, regional and international levels. Malaysia reiterates its strong and unequivocal condemnation of all acts of terrorism whenever and by whomsoever committed — regardless of the motivation. We remain committed to implementing all the relevant Council resolutions aimed at combating terrorism. We welcome the opportunity afforded to us today to take stock of efforts to that end. In that regard, I am pleased to announce that, since the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), Malaysia has taken a number of concrete measures aimed at addressing the threat of terrorism within and outside Malaysia and in ensuring the safety and security of our people. Among others measures, the Malaysian Parliament earlier this year voted to enact a new law aimed at preventing terrorism, entitled the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which is currently awaiting royal assent before being passed into law. In essence, the Act aims to prevent the commission of or support for terrorist acts involving listed terrorist organizations in a foreign country. I would stress that in drafting the Act, the Government took into account the need to respect Malaysia’s obligations under the relevant human rights instruments it is party to. One key feature of the Act that I wish to share with the Council concerns its provision on rehabilitation and deradicalization. The assumption underlying this provision is rooted in the belief that the fight against terrorists cannot be won through force or punitive measures alone. The inclusion of a rehabilitation and deradicalization component in the Prevention of Terrorism Act was based on the success of a similar model provided in the now-repealed Internal Security Act in Malaysia. In essence, the model comprises multiple components geared towards changing the world view and mind-sets of radicalized or extremist individuals through approaches such as small group or individual counselling. This component also involves a humanitarian aspect where assistance is provided when such individuals are ready to reintegrate into society. We believe that such measures are important to preventing relapse or the return to militant or terrorist activities. Alongside the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the Government is in the early stages of promulgating legislation that would have extraterritorial application, among other features, and allow for measures to be taken against persons found to be committing or supporting terrorist acts involving listed terrorist organizations in a foreign country. This legislation is provisionally entitled “The Special Measures against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Bill 2015”. With regard to successes in preventing the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, I am pleased to share with the Council that, since February 2013 to date, a total of 107 persons, including 87 men, 20 women and 16 foreign nationals with suspected connections to or involvement with Daesh, have been arrested. We are actively monitoring the activities of 63 Malaysians who are known to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to engage in fighting in those countries. Out of this number, 11 are confirmed to have been killed. With regard to improving information and intelligence sharing, particularly through the advanced passenger information system, I wish to inform the Council that Malaysia is in the process of acquiring an advanced passenger screening system, which is expected to be fully operational by November 2015. It will go a long way towards providing early warning on the possible arrival of high-risk travellers, including potential foreign terrorist fighters. With regard to border control measures, Malaysia is currently developing a comprehensive national immigration control system for effective filtering or screening on entry and exit of travellers through air, sea or land checkpoints. With regard to efforts at the regional level, I am pleased to inform the Council that Malaysia, in its capacity as Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and incoming Chair of the tenth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime, will be hosting a ASEAN Special Ministerial Meeting on Radicalism and Violent Extremism in Kuala Lumpur on 2 October. We believe that the proposed meeting will provide an important platform for ASEAN countries to share their experiences in countering the rise of radicalism and violent extremism in the region and also to exchange views on concrete measures that could be taken to prevent the spread. In conclusion, Malaysia is convinced that the international community needs to address the incentives and motivations that lead people to leave their homes and loved ones to fight in far-flung regions of the world, including, inter alia, prolonged and grievous injustice, unequal access to resources and opportunities, gross violations of human rights, foreign occupation and systematic discrimination. At the domestic level, our study of the foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon has shed some light on such fighters’ motivations and the huge gap in terms of the international community’s response. Malaysia is convinced that unless we deal effectively with the root causes of terrorism, we will not be able to curtail the soft power of the terrorists, particularly their efforts to enlist and entice new recruits, much of which happens through social media. That said, we are conscious that even if the so-called root causes of terrorism could be addressed, the scourge of violent extremism will not be resolved overnight. However, we believe that doing so would go a long way towards removing the motive factor so cleverly manipulated by the terrorists in gaining sympathy for their dubious cause and ends. We must all remain fully seized of and committed to combatting the twin scourges of terrorism and violent extremism for the simple reason that their primary target is our youth. These young people, who hold infinite promise and potential for a brighter future, are in danger of being led down a path of death and destruction. This, God willing, must not be allowed to happen.

New Zealand commends the continuing Security Council leadership on addressing the threat of foreign terrorist fighters. It is a complex and multifaceted challenge, and the Council’s role in providing strategic direction and coordination, marshalling United Nations resources and outlining concrete measures is essential. In particular, the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014) was a milestone in our collective efforts to combat foreign terrorist fighters. We welcome today’s presidential statement S/PRST/2015/11 as a means of further focusing Member States’ efforts to implement this important resolution. New Zealand agrees wholeheartedly with the report on foreign terrorist fighters prepared by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, when it states that “[t]he most effective policy against foreign terrorist fighters is to prevent their radicalization, recruitment and travel” (S/2015/358, para. 46). The most successful responses will contain measures that address all three of these challenges. And yet, it is important to recognize that there can be no one-size-fits- all response. States will need to use a diverse range of approaches to ensure the appropriate balance is struck, depending on their context, including whether they are source, transit or destination countries. In New Zealand, as a source country with a small, but evident foreign terrorist fighter issue, we have strengthened our national framework in response to resolution 2178 (2014). We ensure that our law penalizes recruitment and that our enforcement agencies have the power, either on their own or in cooperation with other States, to prevent would-be foreign terrorist fighters from travelling. However, the focus of our efforts is on preventing radicalization in the first place. We agree that, in preventing radicalization, education and countering extremist messages are essential. We note the significant role of the Internet in radicalization and the need for education in cybersafety to protect young and vulnerable individuals. But more than that, New Zealand’s experience is that the most effective outcomes derive from working closely with and alongside our communities. For New Zealand, tackling the foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon is much more than a security issue. Our national approach to countering violent extremism is built on supporting individuals and communities, continuing to have a positive stake in our society and rejecting ideologies that promote violence. The key is to be inclusive, not exclusive — to integrate, not marginalize. We have worked to develop leadership programmes, provide counselling support and develop safety nets for those at risk — in short, to address the specific drivers of radicalization for individuals and communities. We accept, however, that countering violent extremism cannot be the whole story. We have to tackle the threat of foreign terrorist fighters, including those in transit or about to travel, through more robust means. We need access to better real-time information, especially at our borders, as is made clear in the reports of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (S/2015/338, annex) and the Al-Qaida Monitoring Team (S/2015/358, annex). That can be achieved only through States’ efforts to improve intra- and inter-State cooperation, and by utilizing the tools and platforms provided by INTERPOL and other organizations working on the issue of foreign terrorist fighters. For States with small populations, foreign fighters may also have a disproportionate impact on their society, but so too will modest and well-managed technical assistance. In the Asia-Pacific region, my country is working hard to share its best practices relevant to the foreign-fighter threat. We have assisted many States, particularly on the issues of border control, money-laundering and community engagement and policing. We welcome the United Nations counter-terrorism committees’ continuing work on risk assessment and capacity-building and support the vision outlined in today’s presidential statement on how those bodies can better coordinate their work. The Council should also bear in mind the very real and understandable constraints that small developing countries face in implementing foreign terrorist fighter frameworks. Capacity-building is essential, but in some cases there may be inherent limits on what is appropriate and reasonable to expect of very small States. In conclusion, resolution 2178 (2014) is the start of a long, collective journey working steadily, cooperatively and successfully against this threat. Today’s briefing is a timely opportunity to take stock of the work done so far and to re-focus and re-energize our efforts to implement resolution 2178 (2014).

I would like to congratulate Lithuania on its presidency of the Council this month and to thank you, Mr. President, for the initiative taken to hold today’s meeting on the follow-up to the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014) on foreign terrorist fighters. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing, and the Chairs of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning Counter-Terrorism, as well as the Secretary General of INTERPOL, for their statements. The threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters in areas of conflict, particularly Iraq and Syria, has worsened during the past few years. We are deeply concerned by the threat’s expansion to various neighbours of Chad, especially Libya. In that regard, the report (S/2015/358, annex) of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) is edifying. The adoption in September of resolution 2178 (2014) on the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters embodies the international community’s commitment and determination to conduct a merciless campaign against the problem. In that regard, Chad continues to affirm, at both the national and regional levels, its determination to prevent and combat the scourge of terrorism in all its forms. At the national level, we have taken steps designed to secure our borders and strengthen controls within the country, while emphasizing prevention by raising awareness of the dangers that violent extremism and terrorism present. Despite Chad’s enormous size and modest means, we have strengthened our controls on the movement of people and goods in various key areas in our territory. Our border controls and systematic collection of all information relating to religious extremism have spared our country the effects of violent extremism and enabled us to suppress the few incidents that have occurred. Similarly, we have taken steps to break up various associations that have shown extremist tendencies and to suspend the dealings of religious groups of that nature. Community and religious leaders are taking part in awareness-raising campaigns promoting a culture of peace, peaceful co-existence and inter-religious dialogue. We have decreed 21 November to be a day of peace celebrated annually by every religion and confession. We are currently drafting other administrative and legislative measures related to the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014) in order to further strengthen ways of preventing and combating terrorism in general and the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters in particular. In 2006, we established the Chadian-Sudanese joint forces, which have shown themselves to be effective in monitoring and controlling Chad’s more than 1,300 kilometre-long eastern border with the Sudan. We have also taken measures designed to strengthen our defence and security forces’ presence on the Libyan border, where the terrorist threat, including that posed by foreign fighters, is growing. The fact is that the fall of the Muammar Al-Qadhafi regime, in 2011, has created a situation of unprecedented chaos and institutional instability in Libya. The southern part of the country, which borders on Chad, is a genuine no-man’s-land, in the grip of every brand of terrorist and criminal group, enabling the conduct of all kinds of illegal activities, including trafficking in arms, drugs and human beings, and representing a serious threat to peace in the subregion. Beyond its national borders, Chad continues to intervene militarily in several theatres, particularly in Mali and some neighbouring countries, in order to prevent various terrorist groups associated with Al-Qaida or the Islamic State from establishing themselves and creating sanctuaries in the Sahel. In January 2013, Chad intervened in Mali with more than 2,000 men in an effort to halt the worrying advance of several terrorist groups towards the southern part of the country. That intervention facilitated the neutralization of notorious terrorists on the sanctions list maintained by the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), and enabled the arrest of a large number of terrorists, including foreign fighters. Since January, Chad has been taking military action against the Boko Haram terrorist group, especially in the north-east of Nigeria. Chad’s intervention alongside forces from Cameroon, the Niger and Nigeria made it possible to retake 11 localities under Boko Haram control, including Fotocol, Gamboru, Dikwa, Malam Fatori and Damasak. It also helped to significantly undermine the disruptive capabilities of those terrorist groups, which unfortunately continue to wage asymmetrical warfare. On 20 May, in line with the Constitution, the National Assembly of Chad voted to extend the mandate of our defence and security forces deployed in the three aforementioned countries. Despite Chad’s limited resources and significant financial challenges caused by falling oil prices, Chad has decided to pursue its commitment against Boko Haram so long as that group continues to operate. At the same time, while welcoming the efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States to mobilize 100 billion Central African Francs — equivalent to $80 million — to assist Chad and Cameroon, it should be noted that the costs of the participation of the 5,000 Chadian soldiers with all the necessary materiel and equipment, including air support, far outstrip the financial capacity of the countries concerned. The same applies to relevant action to be taken in addition to military operations, particularly as regards the rehabilitation of affected communities and areas, the return of refugees and displaced persons, quick impact projects and peacebuilding initiatives. Consequently, while hailing the invaluable support in terms of equipment and expertise provided by our partners, particularly France and the United States of America, we call on all bilateral and multilateral partners to continue to provide material and financial support to affected countries, including in the areas of training, equipment and technology. In conclusion, I should like to reiterate my country’s commitment to continuing its counter- terrorism efforts. If we are to vanquish terrorism, we need determination and multifaceted action, with the participation and support of all States and regional, subregional and international bodies. I thank the United Nations entities  — in particular the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011)  — as well as States for their efforts and support. It dare to believe that international solidarity will allow us to overcome the difficulties facing many States, in particular with regard to capacity in terms of equipment and technology, with a view to combating terrorism effectively.

It is an honour to address the Security Council. I thank the Lithuanian presidency for organizing this meeting and I believe that it is very judicious to incorporate the perspectives of Ministries of the Interior, given the clear responsibility they shoulder in the fight against the threat of terrorism. This is a very positive initiative that highlights something that we have also observed in the European Union — the very close relationship between domestic security and foreign policy. This meeting therefore represents both an obligation and opportunity to reaffirm our political commitment against terrorism and to pursue our efforts to implement resolution 2178 (2014), which was adopted in September last year. Spain’s experience reveals that, with considerable effort and sacrifice on the part of society, it is possible to defeat terrorism and radicalization, but it requires a firm political and social commitment and decisive and ongoing law enforcement and judicial action. By adopting such a comprehensive view, and while upholding the rule of law, Spain has been able to defeat the terrorism perpetrated by Euskadi Ta Askatasuna and other local terrorist groups. Spain also experienced the scourge of international terrorism in a very painful manner with the attack of 11 March 2004, which made us the European country with the highest number of deaths caused by terrorism. On the basis of our experience in the fight against terrorism, we have come to a number of conclusions. First, a comprehensive response from all State authorities is needed, as is robust and well-constructed international cooperation. Secondly, the fight against terrorism requires the utmost political and social legitimacy. That is why Spain recently adopted a State agreement to strengthen unity in defence of liberty and in the fight against terrorism, thereby guaranteeing optimum consensus and united political action. Thirdly, the fight against terror should not focus solely on repression; there is also a need to rely on intensive preventive action and a counter-narrative that rejects the language of radicalization. That must always be undertaken in the presence of and with proactive testimony and input of victims of terrorism. We are facing terrorism with very new aspects, necessitating a flexible and effective political response. First of all, there must be a law enforcement response. Since 2004, the year of the brutal attack in Spain, we have carried out 124 operations to combat international terrorism, resulting in a total of 568 arrests. Since late 2011, the Government I represent has carried out 38 operations in Spain and made 104 arrests. We all know, however, that a law enforcement response is insufficient. We are at a decisive moment in building trust, sharing information and enhancing our cooperation capabilities. That is why we in Spain have stressed the need to work with the international community to identify those displaced terrorist fighters who return or will return to any of our countries more radicalized, trained for combat and often with very clear instructions to carry out attacks. We must make a resolute political commitment in the light of that common threat. That is why, last autumn, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior took a very strategic decision, in line with resolution 2178 (2014), to merge its coordination and criminal intelligence capabilities with the establishment of a new intelligence centre against terrorism and organized crime in order to combine our capacities to combat those two criminal phenomena. In only a few months, we have identified 200 links among different areas, demonstrating that there is a relationship between international terrorism and organized crime. As we know, that fact is key to efforts to combat their financing methods effectively. Similarly, earlier this year, the Spanish Government approved its national strategic plan to combat violent radicalization. It is a multidisciplinary tool for detecting outbreaks of violent radicalization and for taking timely action against them from different perspectives — the social, educational and communication — including producing counter-narratives that serve as an effective response against terrorist propaganda. We have also been proactive with regard to resolution 2178 (2014), which includes, among the best practices identified by the Global Countererrorism Forum, action within penal facilities. Last year, we launched a new programme to prevent radicalization in such facilities, with a view to preventing inmates from taking advantage of their time in prison to recruit new followers, increase their own radicalization and that of those around them or to interact with other cells of terrorist groups or common criminals. Moreover, on 2 February, the Prime Minister and the leader of the main opposition party signed a State pact to combat international terrorism, which they invited the entire political spectrum to join. The pact has already borne preliminary fruit, by way of a thorough reform of the penal code, passed with broad parliamentary support, that criminalizes new behaviors as crimes of terrorism, as requiresd by resolutionn 2178 (2014). Among other things, it also delinks the crime of terrorism from membership in a given terrorist organization, so as to effectively prosecute lone wolves. It also addresses indoctrination and military training, specifically including passive indoctrination and training, with special mention of such via the Internet. We also explicitely criminalize the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. And the criminal code now also covers recruitment and training, encitement to terrorist acts, defending terrorism, and victim humiliation. At the moment, we are modifying our criminal procedure act in order to ensure greater certainty with regard to technological research. Specifically to that end, we will update provisions concerning undercover agents with respect to future activities under assumed identity in the context of closed communication networks in order to allow the recording of images and conversations when necessary. On another front, in urder to comply with the requirement in resolution 2178 (2014) to prevent terrorists from crossing borders by ensuring effective border controls, we are aware of the fact that we should strengthen the security of our land, sea and air borders. As part of that effort to improve security at our borders and prevent the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, Spain actively advocates for the adoption of the European Union policy on such fighters coming from our continent. That is our responsibility as a State, which has suffered a great deal as has always remained at the forefront of the fight against terrorism in all its manifestations. That is also the message that we uphold in international forums that serve as our point of reference, such as the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as in regional forums where we see international cooperation as a vital and irreplaceable tool. To cite the most recent meetings in that regard, I would mention those held by the group of five Sahelian States and by the conference of 10 countries of the Western Mediterranean. I should like to reiterate my gratitude to the presidency of the Council for affording ministers of the interior this opportunity to share their views. The capacity for political commitment is the measure of our strength to face the threat of foreign terrorist fighters. I am therefore convinced that this political momentum will imbue the spirit of the meeting we will hold in Madrid next July, which will be devoted to counteracting the flow of foreign terrorist fighters. It will be an honour to welcome participants to Spain.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important debate today. I also thank the Secretary-General, Committee Chairs and the Secretary General of INTERPOL for their briefings. As a diplomat now running an interior ministry, I particularly welcome this initiative to use the convening power of the United Nations to address vital issues of domestic as well as international security. At September’s summit on foreign terrorist fighters (see S/PV.7272), my Prime Minister highlighted the mortal threat that we face from the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which has killed hundreds of civilians, most of them Muslim, who have refused to take an oath of allegiance to its extremist worldview. They have recruited people from across the world, not only to become foreign terrorist fighters but to become citizens of their so-called caliphate. As we heard in Ambassador Van Bohemen’s briefing, there are now 25,000 foreign fighters, from over half the Members of the United Nations — and as many, who have not travelled, have also been radicalized and inspired to commit acts of terrorism within their own countries. This is a serious threat that affects all of us all. As you reminded us in your national statement, Mr. President, we must ensure that our response is collective, comprehensive and consistent, at home and abroad. In national security there is no longer a distinction between the domestic and the international. Secretary Johnson highlighted how together we should take concrete acctions to deal with foreign terrorist fighters. The United Kingdom agrees. We are implementing resolution 2178 (2014) and offering our experience to any partners who wish to benefit from it. Let me set out some of that. We have strengthened border security. We prosecute individuals for recruiting, financing, and travelling for terrorist-related purposes. We can control and prevent travel by cancelling passports, revoking nationality, seizing travel documents at ports and operating a no-fly scheme. Our national border-targeting centre uses advanced passanger information and passanger name records. We hope that our European partners will follow suit and agree on effective implementation of the former within, as as well as into, the European Union. We have linked to the Schengen Information System to exchange data on foreign fighters. And we provide details on stolen and lost travel documents to INTERPOL in order to aid partners around the world. Furthermore, we aim not only to tackle the symptoms but also the root causes of terrorism. Therefore, 2 million public servants in thousands of public authorities in the United Kingdom now have a legal duty to seek to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and extremism. And we will introduce additional legislation later this year. We all need to do more on this. We should inspire young people to make choices based on reality, not ISIL’s gangster fantasies. In today’s world, this reality has to extend into the virtual territory of the Internet, as our Malaysian colleague said in his remarks. The Internet and social media empower people throughout the world through new technology — breaking down barriers between people and peoples, empowering the individual citizen and strengthening the democratic process. Socially responsible companies should not wait for Governments to regulate and re-regulate as new technologies develop. Just as we expect banks to ensure that their facilities are not used to for money laundering, Internet compaines must ensure their services are not used by criminals and terrorists to exchange videos of children being abused, to launder money through virtual currencies, to buy or build weapons, to plan attacks or to radicalzse the vulnerable. In the United Kingdom our own Counterterrorism Internet Referrals Unit, working with many of those companies to remove offensive or extremist material that breaches their terms and conditions, not just the criminal law. We welcome the new Europol Internet Referrals Unit, to be in place in July; and we encourage other Member States to develop their own such capabilities. As several colleagues have said, we must also counter the ISIL narrative — wherever it is — with courage, conviction and a renewed energy, while promoting our core universal values, the values of the United Nations, to people from across the globe who abhor the terrorists’ barbarism towards Sunni and Shia Muslims, Yazidis, Christians, minority communities and women and girls of all faiths. We must counter their false claims of success, statehood, moral supremacy and religious authority and reach those vulnerable to terrorist and extremist propaganda. We must give a voice to those best placed to expose their myths and to the victims, whose pain reveals their real agenda. We must confront not just violent extremism but extremism of all kinds in which violence breeds. The United Kingdom welcomes the role the United Nations has played in providing a global analysis of this threat and of Member States’ responses and in coordinating those responses. We call on all Member States to implement resolution 2178 (2014) and, as I have said, offer our experience to those who would find it useful. Like us, Member States must ensure that any measure taken to counter terrorism complies with all their obligations under international law. The United Kingdom also supports the efforts of the United Nations  — and especially the Secretary- General — to achieve political settlements in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya and elsewhere. We urge the development community to redouble its efforts to tackle not just conflict itself, but the drivers of conflict from which terrorism, extremism, sectarianism, violence, crime and abuse spills out. We must re-energize and refocus these efforts as we finalize the sustainable development goals later this year. Let us remind ourselves of the overall picture. Al-Qaida, the Islamic State in Iraq and Sham, ISIL, Daesh or whatever the next mutation turns out to be are not Islamic, and they are not a State. They are a death cult devoted to mayhem and destruction. So from today’s session and the work that follows, they must hear a united message from these United Nations. We will not tolerate their intolerance. We will not compromise our values. We will contain them, challenge them and disrupt them. We will stand united, and united we will defeat them.

My delegation thanks you, Mr. President, for organizing this important briefing. We also thank the briefers  — the Secretary-General, the Chair of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Secretary General of INTERPOL — for their briefings. The adoption of resolution 2178 (2014) last September was a clear demonstration of the Security Council’s determination to address the problem of foreign terrorist fighters. The resolution obliges States to deter and disrupt the movements that will bring terrorists to theatres of conflict. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1526 (2004) contends that there are currently 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters from more than half of the countries of the world. The demographics of this phenomenon show that a large number of foreign terrorist fighters are from comfortable middle-class homes. Many are university students or graduates, and a significant number are women. Foreign terrorists are lured through the internet and social media by other foreign fighters as well as specialized recruitment centres outside Iraq and Syria. While much of the world’s attention is focused on the Middle East, it should be noted that Africa has not been spared the effect of the foreign terrorist fighters phenomenon. The increase in violence and extremism in the area of operations of foreign terrorist fighters has emboldened African insurgent groups to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Sham (ISIS) and other terrorist groups. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIS in March 2015. That development coincided with the defeat of Boko Haram in key towns in north-eastern Nigeria. The Nigerian Government views that move by Boko Haram as a sign of weakening operational capability. It amounts to an indirect invitation for foreign terrorist fighters aligned with ISIS to join Boko Haram. Whatever the reason for the declaration of allegiance, one thing remains certain — Boko Haram has signalled its intention to be part of a global jihad while it continues to pursue its locally driven agenda. The change has led not only to a shift in strategy in terms of copying foreign terrorist fighters’ model of terror, but also to a change in terms of ideology, recruitment and propaganda methods. Recourse to mass executions and public beheadings were also embraced by the group as a terror tactic. Growing radicalism in sub-Saharan Africa is aggravating local conflicts. Terrorist groups are capitalizing on ethnic tension and violence in the Sahel and North Africa to advance recruitment campaigns and expansion, especially within the Touareg communities in the Sahel. That calls for greater vigilance on the part of the international community in general and African States in particular. My delegation notes with satisfaction the efforts by the United Nations counter-terrorism entities, in particular the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), to contain the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. We also note the challenges they face, as reflected in the CTED report on the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014) by a State affected by foreign terrorist fighters. We see the need to shrink the operating space of foreign terrorist fighters rather than just deter and disrupt their movements across borders. Foreign terrorist fighters can only function if a theatre of operation exists. Likewise, terrorists can only incite, recruit and lure would-be fighters if there is a war to be fought. We believe that no effort should be spared, including the use of applicable international instruments at the disposal of regional and subregional groupings, to keep domestic malcontent local in order to shrink the operating space for all external parties, including foreign terrorist fighters. Member States should earnestly address local socioeconomic grievances through formulating policies that ensure broad-based transformation through job creation without discrimination, the equalization of opportunities and expansion of access to social services. Respect for human rights, strong accountability and institutions, an equitable delivery of services and political inclusion are also essential in fostering harmony and giving a sense of belonging to all members of society. For our part, the Government of Nigeria has established a presidential initiative for the north- east within the framework of our soft approach to countering violent extremism. The initiative seeks to promote the sustained socioeconomic transformation of north-eastern Nigeria into a region of safety, security and prosperity. In so doing, the Government aims to address the root causes of radicalism. The problem of foreign terrorist fighters requires the international community to work together in the search for sustainable solutions. Nigeria stands ready to engage with all Member States, relevant international organizations and other stakeholders to deal with this major threat to international peace and security.

China appreciates the initiative taken by Lithuania to convene this Security Council briefing on combatting foreign terrorist fighters. I welcome you, Mr. President, to New York to preside over this meeting. I would like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Ambassador Van Bohemen, Chair of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities; Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee; and Mr. Jürgen Stock, Secretary General of INTERPOL, for their briefings. Currently, the international counter-terrorism situation is grave. Regional conflicts have provided fertile soil for terrorist and extremist organizations. The organizational structure of terrorist forces has become more decentralized, with new forms and means of conducting terrorist activities. The phenomenon of the transnational flow of foreign terrorist fighters and the use by terrorist organizations of the Internet to conduct terrorist activities have become more serious. Many young people, incited by extreme ideology, have joined extremist and terrorist activities. Terrorism is the current enemy of humankind as a whole. The international community should closely cooperate and take effective action to combat that scourge. International counter-terrorism activities should give full play to the leading role of the United Nations and the Security Council, observe the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries so as to solidify the widest possible common understanding among Member States and take coordinated actions. International counter- terrorism activities should uphold uniform standards. Terrorism in whatever form, wherever, whenever and against whomever or whatsoever it is conducted, must be resolutely fought against. There must be no double standards, and still less should terrorism be linked to specific ethnic groups or religions. International counter-terrorism activities should address both the symptoms and the root causes of terrorism. On the one hand, we should strengthen information-exchange regarding the new forms, developments and trends of terrorism so as to establish and adopt appropriate responses in a timely manner. On the other hand, we should take integrated measures in the political, security, economic and ideological fields, especially to commit ourselves to eliminating the root causes and breeding grounds of terrorism. Recently, the notable increase in the number and movement of foreign terrorist fighters has caused increasing harm and become a new topic for and challenge to ongoing international counter-terrorism endeavours. The presence of foreign terrorist fighters has exacerbated the intensity of regional conflicts and made it more difficult to resolve them. It seriously threatens the stability and security of countries of origin, transit and destination, and poses an enormous potential threat of the spread of terrorism. China wishes to make four observations concerning our efforts to effectively curtail the transnational flow of foreign terrorist fighters. First, we should greatly strengthen international cooperation through multilateral and bilateral mechanisms. We should fully leverage the advantages of the United Nations and relevant international organizations and establish a counter-terrorism database as soon as possible so as to share intelligence resources. Various countries, in particular those bordering on conflict zones, should strengthen border control and law enforcement cooperation so as to cut off the flow of terrorists. Countries should strengthen their cooperation in financial regulation so as to block the channels of terrorist financing. Secondly, we should resolutely fight against the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. In recent years, terrorist organizations have consistently used the Internet and other new media to spread extremist ideologies and plot terrorist activities, causing serious harm. The international community should take effective measures to combat the use by terrorist organizations of the Internet to publish audio and video materials portraying terrorist violence, spread extremist ideologies, recruit fighters, raise funds and plan and conduct terrorist activities. Governments should effectively implement the relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and strengthen their regulation of the Internet. Internet companies and operators must exercise self-discipline. We need to formulate a global code of conduct for businesses in that area as soon as possible. Thirdly, we must remain highly vigilant against the backflow of terrorist fighters, which could pose a serious threat to the countries and regions concerned, and even to international peace and stability. The international community should give its full attention to that problem, strengthen coordination and effectively respond to the problem of the backflow of foreign terrorist fighters. Fourthly, countries should work together to punish those who spread extremist ideologies and close facilities used for that purpose, in accordance with the law. The United Nations and the international community should energetically advocate the spirit of intercivilizational dialogue characterized by mutual respect, openness and tolerance; create a social environment in which different ethnic groups, cultures and religions treat each other equally and co-exist harmoniously; and build a new kind of international relations with good will and cooperation at their core. Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed that China will push forward with parallel counter-terrorism efforts at the international and domestic levels. China will continue to strictly implement the relevanty Security Council resolutions, step up its efforts to fight terrorism in accordance with the law, and severely punish violent and terrorist crimes. China will continue to take an active part in and promote counter-terrorism cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels and, within the limits of its capacities, will provide developing countries with capacity-building and material assistance. China is ready to join with other members of the international community in responding to the threats and challenges posed by terrorism, and to work together to maintain international peace and stability.

On behalf of the Republic of Angola, I should like to welcome you, Sir, to New York to preside over this important debate. We express our appreciation to the Lithuanian presidency for organizing this debate on an issue that is a matter of great concern and deserves our full attention, with a view to finding the most appropriate ways to counter a dangerous trend in international life. The presence and participation in this debate of a significant number of eminent Ministers of the Interior are in themselves an indication of the commitment of our Council. We are grateful to the Secretary-General and to the Chairs of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities and the Counter- Terrorism Committee, respectively the Permanent Representatives of Lithuania and New Zealand, for their insightful briefings, as well as to the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr. Jürgen Stock. In recent years, we have witnessed a very disturbing development in international life, with growing numbers of individuals getting involved in various conflicts in different parts of the world, thereby creating a new kind of international terrorist movement. Thousands of individuals of over 100 nationalities have become foreign terrorist fighters, as the Security Council has labeled them, and constitute an increasing threat to international peace and security. Although this phenomenon is not new, the extent of the involvement of foreign terrorist fighters in conflicts and acts of terrorism is unprecedented. We have to recognize that something is deeply wrong in the world we are living in, and that the benefits of material affluence and cultural, scientific and technological development are being disgracefully turned away from serving the common good. Scores of young people have gone astray to take part in senseless bloodshed and acts of terrorism in which obscurantism prevails. The hatred of the other for being different, the denial of the value of human life, and contempt for humankind’s cultural heritage are taking the upper hand. The fundamental question we have to raise is: Why is this happening? What have we done wrong to push so many young people into committing of the most despicable crimes and becoming associated with the darkest forces of obscurantism and destruction? In our view, finding the answers to those and many other questions is crucial if we are to find the proper ways to counter such phenomena. Other than taking repressive legislative measures, we must wage a well-structured, imaginative and energetic ideological struggle against that trend and unveil the wrongdoings of the terrorists, their nihilistic concept of life and the world, and the nightmare that awaits these young people after the dream is over. Terrorist groups such as Al-Qaida, the Al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham, Boko Haram and others recruit fighters from all over the world, making their brand of terrorism a threat not only to the targeted countries but also to terrorists’ countries of origin and transit. The recent report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (S/2015/358) gives concrete evidence of the threat poses to the world, given that there are currently more than 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters of more than 100 different nationalities acting in Syria, Iraq and Libya. That is a warning to the entire international community of the need to identify the causes of the threat and use the best approaches to combat it. Today, eight months since the Council’s unanimous adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), sponsored by 120 Member States, the threat posed by those individuals is greater than ever. Today’s debate is a good opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved in the implementation of that resolution, as well as to identify shortcomings and obstacles. In that regard, we reiterate Angola’s full commitment to combating the threat posed by terrorist groups in general and by foreign terrorist fighters in particular. Due to the growing threat of international terrorist groups and the ever more sophisticated recruiting methods they use to attract young people, this year the Angolan Government created a national anti-terrorism observatory, coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior. The observatory enjoys the participation of a multisectoral expert group that includes, among others, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, and State security services, with the main objective of monitoring and combating any potential threat caused by terrorists. In line with our commitment, Angola has participated in seminars conducted by the Counter- Terrorism Committee and its Executive Director, aimed at formulating a counter-terrorism strategy for Central Africa. We hosted one such seminar in February, in our capital. We participated in the first counter-terrorism seminar for Southern Africa and will take part in a second one, to take place in Gaborone in June. The Heads of State and Government of the ninth Summit of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, held in Rwanda on 18 May, focused, among other issues, on the terrorist threat. They decided to strengthen the proactive sharing of intelligence among member States to improve early warning mechanisms, promote closer monitoring of border movements and strengthen existing mechanisms to fight the growing threat of terrorism in the region. Within the framework of the effective implementation of resolution 2178 (2014), Angola prohibits the recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters on its territory, in accordance with our pertinent national legislation. Angolan legislation also criminalizes, with imprisonment for 2 to 12 years, the actions of any person collaborating with a terrorist group by providing information or material resources  — including weapons, ammunition, shelter or meeting places — or by helping such groups recruit new members. Angolan law establishes mechanisms to verify the identify and history of persons suspected of committing terrorist acts before the granting of entry visas. An electronic mechanism has recently been set up consisting of a data base with the records of national and foreign citizens that catalogues their potential to commit offenses, including acts of terrorism. INTERPOL Angola, in collaboration with international INTERPOL and the international security services, are part of that mechanism. With regard to the exchange of information and administrative and legal cooperation for the prevention of terrorist acts, there are exchanges among the members of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, and with the members of countries of subregional organizations of which Angola is a member, specifically the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of Central African States. With respect to the collection and sharing of information inside SADC, the Regional Early Warning Centre was created to improve communication among the 14 members of that organization. Angola also maintains contacts and cooperation with the African Centre for Study and Research on Terrorism within the African Union mechanisms with headquarters in Algiers. International cooperation is pivotal to the response to that threat, and resolution 2178 (2014) provides a very crucial framework. In conclusion, we reiterate our strong belief that the root causes of the phenomenon must be identified and and resolutely and properly addressed. Otherwise, we risk making the mistake of limiting our action to targeting the consequences of such a disturbing phenomenon while ignoring its real or root causes. We are convinced that together we can and shall prevail over the challenge.

At the outset allow me, Sir, to express our sincere thanks to you for presiding over this important debate. I also commend the role of the Mission of the United States of America for taking the initiative to introduce presidential statement PRST/2015/11, which we have just adopted. We welcome that document. Jordan is deeply concerned by the threat posed by the increasing number of foreign terrorist fighters. According to the report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (S/2015/358), there are some 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters from 100 countries, which is more than half the number of States Members of the United Nations. This diversity amplifies the impact of terrorism on those nations. Resolution 2178 (2014) established the main pillars for combating the phenomenon and charted a road map for addressing the challenge. Unfortunately, however, we are seeing increased numbers of fighters. Despite the best efforts of nations and international organizations, that requires us all to take a firm stance and to reevaluate our gaps and weaknesses. In that regard, we wish to stress the importance of national legislative frameworks that define the legal aspects of addressing the phenomenon. Here let me note that Jordan has adopted a package of national laws that will decisively confront this phenomenon. It criminalizes the recruitment of or attempts to recruit persons to join, or attempt to join, any armed group or terrorist organization inside or outside the Kingdom, in keeping with the terrorism- prevention law. Jordan reiterates that combating this phenomenon at the national level alone is not enough. A deepening and strengthening of regional cooperation will be required. It is also very important that intelligence services in the nations most affected share information so as to foster sustained cooperation. Here Jordan commends the efforts of INTERPOL, particularly regarding the development of a database that includes information on foreign terrorist fighters. We emphasize the importance of expanding the cooperation between States and INTERPOL through the provision by States to INTERPOL of the information that they have available on such fighters. Despite the importance of undertaking measures to address this phenomenon, it is also wise and prudent to tackle the root causes that drive fighters to join conflicts. Preventive measures are the cornerstone of our efforts to address this phenomenon. On that basis, Jordan emphasizes the importance of carefully studying the reasons for which terrorist organizations attract fighters in conflict zones. The most important of those reasons are violent extremist ideologies, foreign occupation, lack of awareness and education; and economic, social and political conditions, as well as the exploitation of information technology such as the Internet in the systematic recruitment and propagation of extremist ideologies through social networks. Young people remain the segment most targeted for recruitment by and the victims of terrorist organizations. According to the Monitoring Team’s report, most fighters are between the ages of 15 and 35. It is for that reason that Jordan, as part of its international efforts to combat this phenomenon, organized a meeting of the Security Council presided over by his Royal Highness Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II (see S/PV.7432). ordan emphasizes that facing the problem of youth extremism will be facilitated through collective efforts and a systematic and competent vision that includes military and security aspects in the short term, as well as the long-term aspects of renewing religious discourse and rectifying misconceptions, particularly among young people, spreading awareness among them, educating them and addressing the reasons for which they fall victim to such organizations. His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein emphasized, during the summit meeting held last September over which United States President Obama presided (see S/PV.7272), the importance of transparency in our efforts to fight this phenomenon. These organizations rely for their survival on deals, agreements and international support. Accordingly, we must apply a policy of zero tolerance towards any country or organization or individual who facilitates, supports or finances terrorist organizations, supplies them with arms or promotes them, whether through the media, through the exploitation of religious figures for incitement, or by assisting in the recruitment of fighters for such organizations. We must have complete compliance and cannot allow a situation in which a country complies in one aspect while wreaking havoc in another. Facing this phenomenon requires a unified effort with significant resources. Many of the States that want to face this phenomenon still lack the capacity to do so. Here we emphasize the importance of giving greater attention to the issues of facilitating assistance, closing gaps and building the capacities of States. We greatly appreciate the assistance provided by donor nations and organizations to other countries, and we urge them to continue these efforts to achieve common benefits, whose fruits would benefit both the recipients and donors. It may be correct to call this mutual assistance, considering the scope of the danger and the collective threat that it represents. In the same context, I should like to stress the important role of United Nations entities, which have made great efforts so far but need to do more in order to achieve synchronicity among them. Also important is the launching of projects and programmes aimed at capacity-building with tangible impacts on the ground, and that we move from awareness to supplying equipment and capacities. In addition to the role of these fighters in fuelling conflict wherever they go and the danger that their countries of origin face once they return, we must highlight the threat that nations neighbouring conflict zones face. This was made clear in the report of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, which clearly stated that countries neighbouring conflict zones, which include my own country, Jordan, suffer security burdens, and that this requires us to allocate greater resources to help them face the negative impact of the presence of such terrorist fighters in neighbouring countries. Here we emphasize that Jordan is one of the States most affected by this phenomenon because of our geographical proximity. We are also at the forefront of confronting this phenomenon by all means  — ideological, military and security- related — which has led to attempts by some of these fighters to infiltrate Jordanian territory so as to carry out terrorist attacks with sophisticated technologies, particularly given that they have acquired paramilitary skills. In closing, Jordan stresses the importance of giving due attention to border control. This will be key to halting the flow of fighters. Here Jordan is making tremendous efforts in terms of border control. This is an extra burden for Jordan because of the presence of terrorist organizations and extremist organizations in neighbouring countries. Jordan reiterates its call on international partners to provide the assistance necessary to support Jordan in facing this danger and shouldering the border-control burden, which has cost us immensely to date. We hope that there will be an international call to support countries such as Jordan that are on the front lines of the fight against terrorism.

The fight against terrorism is a matter of principle in which collective action is essential. That is why we are especially grateful to Lithuania for having convened this meeting on foreign terrorist fighters, thereby providing an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices on the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014). We also thank the United States delegation for its work on presidential statement S/PRST/2015/11. The position of our country on the subject has remained unchanged, as demonstrated by the participation of President Michelle Bachelet Jeria in the open debate leading to the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014) (see S/PV.7272), which has called us together today. The phenomenon of foreign fighters is a collective threat against which the international community has a responsibility and duty to act through political action. That is why Chile co-sponsored resolution 2178 (2014) and is committed to its full and effective implementation at the global, regional and national levels. Resolution 2178 (2014) provides a comprehensive framework to adequately respond to the threat of foreign terrorist fighters by strengthening the Council’s collective action to prevent the recruitment and travel of young people from other regions. Today, we must focus our efforts on its effective implementation to address the phenomenon, favouring priority actions in the short term, as well as long-term preventive measures to counter violent extremism. In turn, the role of regional organizations in implementation must be strengthened. They can provide necessary technical and financial assistance to countries that so require and play a key role in information-exchange at various levels so as to strengthen border-control capacities. My country participates in various international and regional cooperative bodies in addressing security matters, including INTERPOL, the Latin American and Caribbean Community of Police Intelligence and the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Southern Common Market permanent working group on terrorism. On the domestic front, national security institutions have assumed their responsibilities by assuming new commitments and taking necessary measures to adress the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters, taking into account the measures suggested and resolutions adopted by the Council. Thus, existing immigration control mechanisms and the entry and exit of persons are regularly updated by comparing the names and lists provided by other countries and international organizations. Furthermore, our authorities are willing to share and exchange information with the specialized organizations and agencies of other States, given the value of international cooperation in countering the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. The Council has repeatedly expressed its concern about the importance of analysing the underlying causes of the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters, in particular the relationship between the marginalization to which young alienated people are subject and the persuasive recruitment mechanisms employed by entities, including Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. As another way to implement resolution 2178 (2014), we believe it is essential to promote strengthened democracy aimed at eliminating inequality, promoting the greater inclusion of young people in political and economic processes, and providing opportunities to older youths. Chile considers the promotion of inclusive development to be an ethical imperative and an effective tool for overcoming various manifestations of extremism, as well as a prerequisite of political stability and peace. In conclusion, Chile reiterates its commitment to further strengthening the principles and values necessary for improved understanding, tolerance and understanding among cultures and civilizations. Political will is critical to united, collective efforts to minimizing the capacities of those that seek to use societal differences to destroy the dignity and rights of individuals and communities. We are confident that the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014) can help to generate early warning and preventive measures that will ultimately lead to the stability and social harmony that form the foundation of international peace and security.

At the outset, we would like to express our gratitude to the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr. Stock, and to the Chairs of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, and of the Counter-Terrorism Committee for their instructive briefings today. The activities of these subsidiary bodies contribute substantially to strengthening the central coordinating role of the United Nations and the Council in international counter-terrorism activities. The Council is not considering the issue of foreign terrorist fighters for the first time today. The number of such fighters is growing, despite measures undertaken internationally, regionally and nationally. This worrisome trend has been corroborated by the reports presented today on the part of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. According to reports, Iraq and Syria remains the epicentre of terrorism, where extremists from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Jabhat al-Nusra operate. A detailed analysis of these extremist groups has concluded that they now pose a threat to those States. Furthermore, the situation in other regions is also of serious concern. ISIL is attempting to gain a foothold in Libya and on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. According to the Monitoring Team, of the more than 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters, 6,500 are located in Afghanistan. Unless we scale up international cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts guided by the United Nations and the Security Council, it will prove impossible to address the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters. Furthermore, we must take pre-emptive action, avoiding politicization and double standards, to stop those recruited into international terrorism from travelling into areas of armed conflict. We need a systemic approach that include information exchange, border control and joint measures to establish a database of evidence regarding the participation of jihadists in terrorist actions. The use of the INTERPOL database and the World Bank data on counter- terrorism and other information-exchange formats could be useful in addressing potential terrorists. It is important to bolster bilateral cooperation channels through special agencies and law enforcement bodies and customs, border and immigration entities. It would also be advisable to strengthen cooperation among State financial bodies, mindful of the fact that, without financing, terrorists would have trouble achieving their purpose. It will be of the utmost importance in the long term to curtail the process of radicalization, which is the root cause promoting foreign terrorist fighters. The end game must be to establish an environment based on a categorical rejection of terrorism and extremism, howsoever cloaked in ideological, religious or nationalistic slogans. Greater effectiveness is necessary at all levels to counter radical ideologies and to create a reliable barrier to the infiltration of such ideologies into public consciousness. In that context, it is especially important to counter the use of modern information and communications technology  — including the Internet  — that is aimed at extremist goals. Agreed recommendations on such measures are contained in resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 2178 (2014) and presidential statement S/PRST/2014/23 of 19 November 2014 and today’s presidential statement S/PRST/2015/11. A sine qua non for effective decisions on the part of the Council is their unconditional implementation on the ground. We call upon States to maintain flexibility in adopting national legislation to counter new threats emanating from terrorist fighters. The Russian Federation has already undertaken legislative measures that provide for the prosecution of those responsible for perpetrating international terrorist acts. A federal law assigns criminal accountability for the training of terrorists and participation in terrorist activities, societies and organizations, including those in foreign States. Addressing new challenges, the penal code establishes accountability for so-called terrorist tourism. As we speak, a procedure for the application of such norms is being designed. Russia actively participates in combatting foreign terrorist fighters regionally and internationally with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Guided by our national experience, we actively participated in the drafting of the Optional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing Terrorism, which should foster regional implementation on Security Council resolution 2178 (2014). Guided by the need to establish additional conditions to halt the activities of foreign terrorist fighters, the Russian Federation has added the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and the Al-Nusra Front to its list of terrorist organizations. We hope that, as a result of today’s meeting, the added focus on practical measures for countering foreign terrorist fighters will help all States — particularly those in the most affected regions — to better counter this threat.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela thanks the Lithuanian delegation for convening this very important meeting. We also convey our respects to Minister for Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius of the Republic of Lithuania. We thank the Secretary-General, Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen, Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, and the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr. Jürgen Stock, for their briefings. We are also grateful for the presence of other ministers and authorities involved in the fight against terrorism. Venezuela pays special attention to all threats to peace and international security, particularly those caused by terrorist acts. In this respect, my country reiterates its categorical rejection of the commission of such acts in all their forms and manifestations, regardless of their motives and wherever and by whomever they are committed, because they constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law. We must stress that acts committed by terrorist groups undermine the territorial integrity and political unity of States, as well as the security and stability of regions and the international community as a whole, as evidenced by events unfolding throughout the world as we speak. There are no good terrorists and bad terrorists. There are no moderate terrorists. There can be no tolerance for terrorism. Today, the violent actions of terrorist groups and their associated entities are inflicting sectarian violence on various African and Middle Eastern countries, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Worse yet, by cloaking themselves in a sectarian interpretation of religion, they are practicing ethnic and religious cleansing in vast areas of Iraq, Syria and Libya, among other countries. We believe that the birth, growth and expansion of these criminal organizations have been amplified by the external financing, logistical help and military equipment that they receive from third countries, which use non-State actors to destabilize or overthrow sovereign Governments. Resolution 2178 (2014) is a milestone in addressing this phenomenon because it urges States Members of the United Nations to adopt a set of legal and political actions to stop the flow of foreign terrorist fighters. There are two approaches to addressing this problem. On the one hand, the legal approach is aimed at revising domestic legislation in order to punish and impose sentences consistent with the seriousness of the crime committed. On the other hand, the preventive approach is to adopt initiatives in the fight against violent extremism in order to prevent the radicalization, recruitment and mobilization of foreign terrorist fighters and the inappropriate use of information and communication technologies. Regrettably, sometimes both approaches are limited in their implementation by ongoing differences in vision and capacities among countries. Given the complexity of the phenomenon, we believe that both approaches should be addressed simultaneously because they complement and strengthen one another. We should not favour one over the other. Moreover, it is of particular importance to address the deep-rooted causes underlying this phenomenon in order to develop effective strategies to combat social exclusion, poverty, violence and intolerant ideologies with a view to preventing radicalization, especially among young people. We must also favour political solutions to conflicts that promote the expansion of terrorism. Vulnerability to terrorist violence is global. The existence of more than 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters, including young people and women, from at least 100 countries in all regions of the world, reflects the gravity of the situation. We should ask ourselves how it this flow has reached conflict zones in Syria and Iraq. To what extent are the countries of transit truly committed or able to fight this phenomenon? The problem of foreign terrorist fighters exacerbates ongoing conflicts and threatens the countries of origin, transit and destination, as well as those neighbouring conflict zones. Another element that we must closely follow is the financing and logistical and military equipping of terrorist groups. These groups have achieved a very high level of military capability that allows them to occupy territories, despite the efforts of international coalitions and the fight carried out by Governments in the region. In this regard, we regret that resolution 2220 (2015), adopted by the Security Council on Friday, 22 May, did not explicitly provide for the specific ban of light weapons to non-State actors. Another key element in the strengthening and expansion of terrorist groups is linked to the collapse of States and institutions resulting from invasions of and interventions in countries. Such was the case in Iraq and Libya. The collapse of States opens the way to the chaos, violence and intolerance characteristic of terrorist groups, while the States of the region have no capacity for containment. Venezuela is convinced that the fight against terrorism must be waged within the framework of international cooperation, in accordance with existing international and regional instruments and the norms of international law, with full respect for the sovereignty of States, human rights and fundamental freedoms. Failing to do so would contribute to the radicalization of these individuals. It is crucial to create technical capabilities to develop infrastructure, mechanisms and processes relevant to the fight against terrorism, including the mobilization of necessary resources. Furthermore, the role of specialized agencies such as UNESCO and the United Nations Development Programme will be particularly important in promoting a culture of peace and tolerance in order to achieve the economic and social development of peoples, thereby preventing terrorist and extremist groups from taking advantage of the lack of robust institutions in countries in conflict. Finally, we consider the problem of foreign terrorist fighters to have reached such shocking levels that the international community must continue to work on the design, implementation and strengthening of strategies to neutralize the rise of non-State actors. In this regard, it is important that States openly combat this phenomenon through compliance with the provisions of international instruments and resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly that prohibit arms transfers and the financing, training and sheltering of terrorists. Otherwise, we will be encouraging by act or omission the expansion of this deplorable phenomenon.

I thank the Secretary-General, the Chairs of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, and the Secretary General of INTERPOL for their briefings. The picture is clear. The threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters remains particularly worrying. We also want to thank the delegation of Lithuania for organizing this debate, which allows the Council to take action on a serious threat to international security. I thank the Secretary for Homeland Security of the United States of America and the United States delegation for having successfully led the negotiations on the presidential statement that we have just adopted (S/PRST/2015/11). The Security Council summit held in September 2014 (S/PV.7272), which led to the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), was an essential step in the international fight against terrorism, and in particular against the foreign terrorist fighters. It enabled the growing awareness worldwide of this phenomenon and asks Member States to take the necessary measures to contain it. The resolution 2178 (2014) also helped to establish a robust legal framework to fight against foreign terrorists fighters, a framework that shows its operational nature every day. Unfortunately, despite an increasingly mobilized international community, the number of foreign terrorist fighters continues to grow, as was rightly pointed out by the Chair of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. This phenomenon is a challenge of unprecedented scale, not only for my country but also for many of our partners. Nearly 1,700 French citizens or residents of France are implicated in the Iraqi-Syrian track, and 470 of them are currently in Syria and Iraq. Among them are many young people; some are women. Some have committed suicide attacks. Faced with this challenge, France took the necessary measures to counter this phenomenon early and without waiting for the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014). The answer is naturally a legal one, but it is also essential to act as early as possible and prevent the phenomena of indoctrination. That is why we have chosen to act as soon as possible, staying close to families that are often helpless in the face of the radicalization of their relatives, working with civil society and associations and operating under a logic of proximity. For over a year, France has been implementing a systematic plan against radicalization. The telephone platform dedicated to the prevention of radicalization set up by the Ministry of Interior a little more than a year ago has received more than 2,000 reports of radicalized individuals, nearly 25 per cent of whom are minors. We also act in schools, making our children understand the importance of defending democracy and the diversity of our societies. Furthermore, at the legislative level, France has adopted new tools in order to adapt to the evolving terrorist threat and while respecting its international commitments to protecting human rights. The Law of 13 November 2014 established a procedure for preventing individuals suspected of wanting to travel abroad to join a terrorist organization from leaving the country. The Law also allows us to ask Internet providers to block or delist websites advocating terrorism. Blocking is targeted so as not to undermine freedom of expression. Prime Minister Manuel Valls recently announced the establishment of specialized teams to counter the jihadist rhetoric on the Internet and analyse the evolution of propaganda speech to better combat it. We have also strengthened the capacity of our security services to dismantle terrorist networks. It is also essential to create support mechanisms for people returning from conflict zones. A structure will soon be created in France to this end to help those who wish to regain a place in society, as long as they are not being prosecuted for their actions. The response cannot be limited to the national level, of course. An intensification of international community action is essential to face this threat, which goes beyond our borders. It is imperative to strengthen the legal instruments to stem the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters and violent extremism. In this regard, we welcome the recent adoption on 19 May by the Ministers of the Council of Europe of an additional protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism. This text will in particular allow for better operational cooperation between States in the fight against foreign terrorists fighters. We also work with our European Union partners to strengthen our inspection arrangements at external borders. France is calling for the rapid creation of a European passenger name record. These measures will be consistent with the protection of personal data and fundamental rights of citizens. The presidential statement that we have adopted today is another step in the fight against the scourge of terrorism. This text will allow us to go further in the implementation of provisions of resolution 2178 (2014) adopted last September, which is more than ever our shared compass. The United Nations has an essential role to play in supporting the work of the States. It is important that the relevant United Nations bodies, particularly the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, with the support of Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, ensure that the States fulfil their international obligations. On the basis of evaluations, capacity-building programmes should be implemented when necessary with the help of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. France welcomes and encourages the ongoing strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and INTERPOL. We are now facing a major threat to our societies. If they are to be effective and sustainable, national responses should be enriched by dynamic international cooperation and fall within in the framework of international law, including respect for human rights. It is under these two conditions that together we can defeat the scourge of foreign terrorist fighters while remaining true to our values; indeed, one cannot be separated from the other.

There are no more names on the list of speakers. I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the delegation of Lithuania to the members of the Council and their respective staff and to the Secretariat of the Council for all the support they have given us during our presidency. Indeed, it has been a busy month, one in which the Council rallied to consensus on important issues within its purview. I thank all delegations for their hard work, support and positive contributions. I know I speak on behalf of the Council when I wish the delegation of Malaysia good luck in the month of June.