S/PV.7463 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At the outset, Ambassador Román Oyarzun Marchesi will make a joint statement on behalf of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities; the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter- terrorism; and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Following that joint statement, the Council will hear briefings by the Chairs of those three Committees. I now give the floor to Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi.

On behalf of the Chairs of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities; the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism; and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), concerning the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, I have the honour to inform the Security Council of the continued cooperation among those three committees and their respective Groups of Experts, in accordance with the Council’s request under its resolutions 2083 (2012), 1963 (2010), 1977 (2011) and prior resolutions. Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and the risk of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction on the part of non-State actors continue to pose a grave threat to international peace and security. In order to address that grave threat, the Security Council has stressed the importance of close and effective coordination among the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, the Anti-Terrorism Committee and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Since the last time the Council received updated information, the three Committees have continued to cooperate on dissemination carried out within the frameworks of their respective mandates; have strengthened their cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations; and have conducted joint visits, increased their exchange of information, coordinated their activities with respect to travel and planning, and established a common focal point. I would like to provide more detailed information on the areas of increased cooperation. Dissemination activities and country visits are important tools that enable the three Committees to fulfil their respective mandates. Since November 2014, the three Groups of Experts have been represented in more than a dozen workshops and other activities of dissemination; at least two of those Groups participated in additional meetings. Since the previous briefing (see S/PV.7331), the three Groups of Experts have continued to cooperate within the context of official visits to Member States. For example, in April, the Monitoring Team and the Group of Experts of the 1540 Committee joined the follow-up visit to Uzbekistan by the Executive Directorate of the Anti-Terrorism Committee on behalf of that Committee. In May, the Group of Experts of the 1540 Committee accompanied the Executive Directorate of the Anti-Terrorism Committee on a specific visit to Italy that took place on behalf of the Anti-Terrorism Committee. Joint participation in country visits continues to contribute to improving cooperation and exchange of information among the three Expert Groups and ensures that the Groups transmit a single message and present a unified position to Member States. As a means for strengthening cooperation, the Groups of Experts continued to coordinate their country visits and dissemination activities. The Executive Directorate of the Anti-Terrorism Committee and the Expert Group of the 1540 Committee share a focal point in the Caribbean that works with Member States in the region to strengthen dialogue with both Committees and to increase awareness and understanding of the provisions of resolutions 1373 (2001), 1540 (2004), 1624 (2005) and 2178 (2014). At the institutional level, that also encourages inter-agency support for national implementation initiatives, coordinates the delivery of technical assistance based on States’ specific needs and acts as an early-warning mechanism. The focal point submitted a progress report to the Counter-Terrorism Committee on 18 December 2014. In February 2015, the Security Council adopted resolution 2199 (2015) to stem the financing of terrorists through the illicit oil trade. The resolution has made a major contribution to consolidating international efforts to counter the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) and Al-Nusra Front. However, the level of reporting has thus far been insufficient. Therefore, the 1267 Committee urges Member States to submit, as soon as possible, reports in conformity with paragraph 29 of the resolution and to continue to report in conformity with paragraph 2. With regard to cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations, the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the 1267 Committee Monitoring Team continued their close cooperation in countering money laundering and the of financing of terrorism, in particular by freezing terrorist assets. It should be highlighted that the Monitoring Team represented the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate at the twenty-first plenary meeting of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Task Force held in Oman in April. As a recurring practice, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Monitoring Team provide joint comments on draft legislation relating to the finance-related provisions of resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001), upon requests by Member States. In that context, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Monitoring Team provided joint comments to Tanzania and Uganda concerning their respective draft laws on the implementation of the two resolutions’ asset freezing requirements and the implementation of financial measures. The three Expert Groups are all counter-terrorism implementation task force entities. In that regard, the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force continues to provide a platform for enhanced cooperation by the three Expert Groups, not only among themselves but also among over 30 United Nations organizations, agencies and programmes concerned with various aspects of counter-terrorism. The Monitoring Team and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate have also continued their leading roles in their respective Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force working groups. The 1540 Committee Group of Experts participated in the Working Group on Border Management Relating to Counter-Terrorism and the Working Group on Preventing and Responding to Weapons of Mass Destruction Attacks. The three Committees have close cooperation on issues related to border management. As Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Working Group on Border Management Relating to Counter-Terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate presided over the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Experts Meeting on Coordinated Border Management held in Lyon in May 2015. The experts from the Monitoring Team and 1540 Committee Group of Experts attended the meeting and contributed to the discussion of the templates developed by the Team in cooperation with the Stimson Center on coordination of border management. Discussions among the three Expert Groups included future participation and cooperation of the Working Groups on border management in order to better coordinate a comprehensive manner to help national border management agencies carry out their duties more effectively. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate also worked closely with the Monitoring Team in providing comments and suggestions to the Working Group on tackling the financing of terrorism, regarding its capacity-building initiative on asset freezing, pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001). This month, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Monitoring Team will deliver a joint presentation on the financing of foreign terrorist fighters to the Financial Action Task Force plenary meeting. Exchange of information among the Expert Groups continues to be carried out on a regular basis. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate regularly shares with the other two groups the monthly reports submitted by its Executive Director to the Counter-Terrorism Committee, including information on its recent missions, country visits and technical assistance activities. As a new initiative, the three Expert Groups have shared their respective working calendars of events and discussed ways of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of country visits and capacity-building potential, with a view to improving cost efficiency. The experts of the 1540 Committee prepare informative notes on the Committee’s outreach events and post them on its website for the sake of transparency and sharing of information. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Monitoring Team routinely rely on and reference each others’ reports and analyses. For example, on 18 February 2015, the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate’s report on the prosecutorial challenges associated with bringing terrorists to justice, adopted by the Security Council, was quoted in the Monitoring Team’s report on foreign terrorist fighters, while the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate referenced the Monitoring Team’s work in its report on foreign terrorist fighters. The Security Council’s presidential statement of 19 November 2014 (S/PRST/2014/23) requested that the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate prepare within 180 days an analysis of the gaps in Member States’ use of advance passenger information and make recommendations to expand its use. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate closely consulted with the Monitoring Team in preparing that report. In April 2015, the Monitoring Team attended an expert briefing organized by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate on the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. The three Expert Groups continue to hold joint meetings when appropriate  — whether involving the heads of each team or the Expert Teams  — in order to prepare for relevant outreach activities and exchange information on themes specific to countries or regions. The work of the three Committees, when taken as a whole, presents opportunities for additional synergies, which, once fully realized, would have a multiplier effect on achieving outcomes. It should be possible to achieve such improved results while also respecting the independence of the respective Expert Groups and their mandates. On the basis of current coordination and joint cooperation, each of the three Committee’s staff and Expert Groups are committed to advancing cooperation in a number of areas. As previously mentioned, those include but are not limited to the holding of meetings among the three Committees at the committee level and/or among chairing countries; increasing engagement in on-site visits to States, at their request, in order to facilitate the implementation of each of the resolutions; coordinating a common regional approach to engage with Member States with geographical and political similarities; and coordinating on key thematic areas of interest to all Committees in order to benefit from sharing of information, experience and effective practices. They also include improving coordination in implementing projects within the framework of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, particularly through the various thematic working groups; coordinating approaches to donor States and assistance providers, and the joint evaluation of outcomes; considering the possibility of developing joint assistance packages for States at their request and where necessary; enhancing joint interaction, particularly with non-reporting States, in their fulfilment of their reporting obligations under the relevant resolutions; cooperating on input into the 1540 Committee’s 2016 comprehensive implementation review, as required under resolution 1977 (2011); and, in cooperation with other United Nations counter- terrorism entities, enhancing the work between the Al-Qaida Monitoring Team and Executive Directorate on measures that can improve the implementation of resolution 2199 (2015). I would like to thank you, Mr. President, and the members of the Council, for the opportunity to make this joint statement on behalf of the three Committees.

I thank Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Van Bohemen.

At our joint Council briefing in May 2014 (see S/PV.7184), Ambassador Gary Quinlan — the then Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities — raised the issue of the evolving nature of the threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates, including the group’s localization and globalization and its new generation of leadership. Since then we have seen that threat develop dramatically through the rapid territorial gains and brutal tactics of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Daesh, as well as, to a lesser extent, of the Al-Nusra Front. That has been further intensified by the presence of foreign terrorist fighters and the growing influence of Al-Qaida associates in Libya. In today’s briefing I will outline how the threat from Al-Qaida and its affiliates has evolved over the past year, as well as describing the Committee’s response, the ways in which Member States can engage with it, and its upcoming work. Over the past year we have witnessed a marked increase in ISIL’s use of digital media to promote its messages, in order both to shock and intimidate and to recruit others to its cause. Despite the role that digital media has played, direct social contact has also remained a key factor in recruitment. The human cost of Al-Qaida and ISIL-related attacks is immense and tragic, not only in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, but also in parts of Nigeria, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia and further afield. Many attacks are on innocent civilians and even on places of religious worship, such as those that resulted recently in the deaths of 25 people at Friday prayers in a mosque in Saudi Arabia. While the peoples of Syria and Iraq are most at risk, no State is immune to the threat of terrorism. In response to the evolving threat from Al-Qaida and its affiliates, the Council has adopted various resolutions expanding the work of the Committee and its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, for example, in relation to oil and financing. In addition to its regular reporting, the Monitoring Team has submitted reports to the Committee on ISIL and the Al-Nusra Front (S/2014/815) and on foreign terrorist fighters (S/2015/358). It is also due to submit a report to the Committee by 12 July on the implementation of resolution 2199 (2015), regarding ISIL and oil interdictions, and to report on the threat in Libya by 27 September. The Monitoring Team’s workload continues to increase, presenting challenges for its resources, and we want to commend it for its dedication and the quality of its work. The growing terror threat has led to an increase in designations of individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaida. Between June 2013 and May 2014, six individuals and entities were designated, while between June 2014 and May 2015, that number rose to 41. More than half of the listings were related to the issue of foreign terrorist fighters. There has also been an increase in Member States’ use of the assets- freeze exemptions, with five granted between June 2014 and May 2015, as opposed to one in the previous period. We welcome further designations by Member States. I would like to emphasize that listings should be strategic, targeted and implementable. We want the sanctions to have a practical effect, and to focus on targeting individuals and entities that can be disrupted. The Monitoring Team can assist Member States in preparing listing and exemption requests. The sanctions list is a living document that must be kept up-to-date, relevant, fair and transparent. There are three ways the Committee does that. The first is through its triennial review, which considers whether listings, especially those that have not been reviewed for three years, are still relevant and implementable. The Committee is in the process of finalizing the 2014 triennial review, and I would like to thank the Member States that have provided information for the review, since obtaining responses from all the Member States that have designated individuals and entities has been a challenge. We urge all Member States to engage with the Committee on the 2015 triennial review, which we will be undertaking shortly. The second way is through the delisting requests submitted to the independent Office of the Ombudsperson by designated individuals and entities. The Ombudsperson plays an integral role in ensuring that the Committee’s procedures are fair and transparent and that the list dynamically reflects the threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates. The Ombudsperson continues to have a significant caseload and role. Since the Committee’s last briefing to the Council, six individuals and entities have been delisted and three retained, following the Committee’s consideration of reports submitted by the Ombudsperson. There are currently 10 petitions received through the Ombudsperson that are under various stages of consideration. Thirdly, the Monitoring Team regularly updates the list based on information provided by Member States, and we encourage them to keep the Monitoring Team informed. For sanctions to be effective they must be clear, targeted and implementable. Several initiatives have been taken in that regard. Earlier this year, the Chair produced a procedural note clarifying the reporting requirements of resolution 2199 (2015), adopted in February with the aim of stemming the financing of terrorists through the illicit oil trade. While the resolution has made a major contribution to consolidating international efforts to counter the threat posed by ISIL and the Al-Nusra Front, the level of reporting has so far been insufficient. The Committee therefore urges Member States to submit their reports required under paragraph 29 of the resolution as soon as possible, and to continuously submit those reports required under paragraph 12. We also look forward to the Monitoring Team’s assessment, in cooperation with other United Nations counter-terrorism bodies, of the impact of the measures, and to proposals for improving their implementation. In February, the Monitoring Team also produced three explanation-of-terms papers on the sanctions measures, which are available on the Committee’s website. Work is also being done to standardize the format of all United Nations sanctions lists and to update the Committee’s website to make it more user-friendly. The Committee is mandated, with the Monitoring Team’s assistance, to consider issues of possible non-compliance with sanctions measures, and has received complaints from Member States. On 24 April the Chair held an open briefing for interested Member States that included discussion of the implementation issues. I encourage Member States to share any queries and concerns with the Committee and the Monitoring Team. We stand ready to assist. As for the Committee’s future activities, the Monitoring Team will be presenting reports on Libya and the impact of resolution 2199 (2015). The Committee is currently discussing the recommendations of the Monitoring Team’s seventeenth report, and we hope to have those agreed on shortly. I also plan to continue to hold regular open briefings on the work of the Committee for all interested Member States. I would like to take this opportunity today to note there will be a changing of the guard in the roles of the Ombudsperson and Monitoring Team, and especially the Coordinator. Both are crucial to the Committee’s work and the ability of the regime to respond effectively, fairly and transparently to the evolving threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliates. I would like to thank the Ombudsperson, Kimberly Prost, and the Monitoring Team, including its Coordinator, Alexander Evans, for their tireless efforts, and to wish them the very best in their future endeavours. To conclude, I want to re-emphasize that the 1267 Sanctions Committee relies on cooperation from Member States so that Al-Qaida and its affiliates are designated, sanctions are implemented and the tragic toll of terrorism is prevented.

I thank Ambassador Van Bohemen for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Murmokaitė.

Allow me to make a brief statement on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee to provide an overview of the developments in the work of the Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). As I reported on 29 May (see S/PV.7453), the Committee, with the support of CTED ande as mandated by paragraph 24 of resolution 2178 (2014), has undertaken a wide range of actions to address the threat of foreign terrorist fighters and is in the process of producing a series of new tools designed to facilitate its dialogue with Member States on the implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), as well as aimed at analysing measures specific to resolution 2178 (2014). The Committee has dedicated much of its efforts in 2015 to identifying principal gaps and good practices that stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters. It submitted to the Council three relevant reports: on challenges in prosecutions related to foreign terrorist fighters (S/2015/123), on the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014) by some Member States affected by foreign terrorist fighters (5/2015/338) and on the use of advance passenger information (S/2015/377). I would like to inform the Council today on the ways in which in recent months the Committee has more broadly revitalized the way it works in order to maximize the speed and effectiveness of its responses to new and urgent challenges. In the 13 years of its existence, the Committee and CTED have accumulated a vast database of information and analysis about the implementation of counter-terrorism measures in all Member States. Since 2005, the Committee has visited more than half the membership, and many Member States more than once. That has enabled the Committee to track the progress of implementation over time. In its recent visits, particularly since September 2014, the Committee was able to address measures related to the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014) in order to gain a better understanding of the practical measures undertaken by Member States to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters. Those on-site assessments, especially in the most affected regions, have proved to be of great value to the Committee in carrying out its mandate. The Committee’s goal this year has been to adopt measures by which this unique store of evidence can be swiftly and responsively leveraged and utilized to facilitate useful and sustainable technical assistance where and when it is needed. It aims to produce not an assessment or critique of the shortfalls of Member States, but rather a detailed road map of concrete measures to be taken by Member States and close partners to help them build their capacities to resist the threat of terrorism. The Committee needs to take such measures not in the least because of the tasks that the Council has assigned to it in its presidential statement of 29 May (S/PRST/2015/11). To that end, the Committee has for the first time adopted a risk-based approach, where appropriate, aimed at facilitating capacity-building tailored to each Member State’s needs. The huge diversity of Member States, in terms of their size and population, the nature of the various threats posed by terrorists to particular Member States, as well as the Member States’ relative capacities and vulnerabilities to address those threats, makes a one-size-fits-all approach impractical. Member States should develop a response to the threat of terrorism based on their own particular national security concerns, rather than on a fixed template that might have little relevance to their situation. In the same context, the Committee has been reinforcing its direct outreach to Member States. For instance, on 4 June, as Chair of the Committee, together with the Vice-Chairs and CTED, I held a meeting here in New York with the representatives of five Central Asian countries, which was also attended by the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force and the Department of Political Affairs. Earlier this year, from 2 to 6 February, I conducted a high-level political mission to Mali and the Niger, together with CTED and the participation of the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General for the Sahel and the Special Representative of the Chair of the African Union for Counter-Terrorism Cooperation. Throughout its engagement, the Committee has consistently recalled the position of the Council that all measures taken by Member States to combat terrorism must comply with all their obligations under international law and that Member States should adopt such measures in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. The Committee is also taking steps to communicate more effectively to the wider membership the outcomes of its dialogue with Member States, international and regional organizations and various other stakeholders. It has therefore increased the number of open briefings, with three scheduled in this month alone — on Thursday, 18 June, on the use of advance passenger information, in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Air Transport Association; this morning, on crisis management in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, with speakers from NATO, INTERPOL and the World Health Organization; and on Friday, 19 June, on the adoption of the new Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism. The Committee’s close relationships with various stakeholders have always been one of its great strengths. Aiming to convene with them to lead the formulation of integrated and coordinated responses on important issues, this year, the Committee is working on preparations for two special meetings — one on stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, to be held in Madrid next month, the first meeting outside New York since 2011, and a second on preventing terrorists from exploiting the Internet and social media to recruit terrorists and incite terrorist acts, to be held in November. Earlier this year, on 19 February, the Committee launched a global research network developed by CTED with a view to enhancing its analytical capacity and engagement with leading think tanks and research institutions. The Committee recognizes that its effectiveness rests not just on what is done but when it is done. To that end, it has been implementing measures to act more rapidly in its dialogue with Member States, and thus improve its responsiveness to their needs without sacrificing the quality of that dialogue or the opportunity for the States to consider carefully their responses to the Committee’s outreach. One example is the Committee’s request that CTED present an overview immediately on return from its follow-up visits. In the course of 2015, CTED has reported pro tempore to the Committee on visits to Oman, Tunisia, Turkey and Uzbekistan, while the Committee looks forward to the productive dialogue it continues to have with each of those Member States. The Committee will continue to take the necessary measures to ensure a practical, responsive and dynamic approach to its dialogue with all Member States, with a view to ensuring the effective implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 2178 (2014).

I thank Ambassador Murmokaitė for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to the members of the Security Council.

Allow me to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this briefing on the work of the Committees established uprsuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004). We welcome the briefings of Ambassador Gerard Van Bohemen, Raimonda Murmokaité and Mr. Román Oyarzun Marchesi as the respective Chairs of those subsidiary bodies. We wish to thank them for their work and leadership. We are also grateful to Ambassador Román Oyarzun Marchesi for the joint briefing. We also welcome the coordination of effort among the three various teams. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is convinced that the fight against terrorism must be conducted within the framework of international cooperation and 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. Acts of extreme violence perpetrated by terrorist groups in the countries of Africa and the Middle East have intensified. Terrorism continues to be a serious threat to international peace and security. It is therefore necessary to implement measures prohibiting the funding, transfer of weapons and training of terrorist groups and non-State actors, pursuant to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. Venezuela reiterates its emphatic rejection of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, which constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights. My country wishes to reiterate its concern about the nature and actions of non-State actors. They are a constant threat and source of violence, and in most cases they become terrorist groups. The Security Council must take strong measures to prevent the training, financing and supplying of weapons to non-State actors. Also, we regret that resolution 2220 (2015) does not include an explicit prohibition of the transfer of weapons to non-State actors. We urge the Council to rectify that matter. In the fight against terrorism, we must act with a deep political sense. Beyond the combat operations against these elements, the international community must overcome the root causes of the crisis we are experiencing today. The humanitarian tragedy in Syria, Yemen and Libya, among other places, and the actions of Boko Haram, Al-Qaida and the Al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and its associated groups call for the international community to provide preventive, systematic and strong responses to counteract the phenomenon. We believe that the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, is an important tool in the fight against terrorism. We wish to reiterate the concern expressed by the Committee with regard to the military power and capacity of armed groups in their advance in Syria, Libya, Iraq and Yemen. We also express our concern about the unilateral action taken by some countries, which, on the grounds of combating terrorism, conduct illegal actions of targeted killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and bombings, which often lead to civilian casualties and are outside of international law. Terrorism should be fought from the perspective of multilateralism and in cooperation with the States concerned. We also believe that it is particularly important to strengthen the role of the Ombudsperson in facilitating due process. We believe that this mechanism should be strengthened so as to have greater transparency. We thank Ms. Kimberley Prost for the independence and professionalism with which she has carried out her work throughout her mandate. We hope that her successor will soon be appointed. In recent months, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, has focused, with the assistance of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), on ensuring the implementation of the provisions set out in resolution 2178 (2014), concerning foreign terrorist fighters, and on identifying best practices and the gaps that Member States face in combating this problem. Foreign terrorist fighters now number 25,000 individuals, including women and young people, and come from at least 100 countries. A demonstration of this is the important reports issued by the Committee on the challenges of prosecuting foreign terrorist fighters and on ensuring effective border control in countries in conflict areas. The special meeting that the Committee will hold in Madrid on 27 and 28 July, on how to stop the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, is a positive initiative that contributes to a comprehensive approach to this global problem, and we fully support it. Resolution 2178 (2014) marks a milestone in addressing the phenomenon of terrorism, and we call for its effective implementation. It encourages Member States to adopt a series of legal and political actions, in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, to stop the flow of foreign terrorist fighters. We also deem it necessary to fully implement other relevant resolutions on the subject, such as resolution 1373 (2001), prohibiting the financing of terrorism, and 1624 (2005), prohibiting incitement to join terrorist groups. There should be an assessment of the progress achieved this year, which marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1624 (2005) and the establishment of CTED. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), on measures to prevent the acquisition of weapons by terrorist groups, Venezuela would like to draw attention to the process of the ongoing comprehensive review, which aims to assess the work done by this subsidiary body since 2011 and which should conclude in November 2016. We wish to make the following comments and recommendations in that regard. The intergovernmental conference to be held in June 2016 with the participation of Member States of the General Assembly should be understood as a key component and its results should be part of the review. Looking forward towards the review process and as a general practice, the Committee should expand its outreach activities throughout the headquarters of the bodies responsible for disarmament at the United Nations, namely, New York, Geneva and Vienna. As part of the review process, we should consider in particular the Committee’s work in the area of international assistance and technology transfer. Ways to optimize the matching of donor and recipient countries should be considered. The priorities of the countries requesting assistance should be the basis for cooperation. In that regard, Venezuela recalls that in previous years there was discussion of the possibility of holding an international conference to promote international assistance and technology transfer in the scope of the 1540 Committee. We fully support that initiative and would like to know if it is still being considered. Finally, in recognizing the importance of resolution 1540 (2004) in the efforts to prevent the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by terrorist groups, Venezuela believes that eliminating and controlling these weapon systems, in particular nuclear weapons, is the best guarantee to prevent non-State actors from obtaining those weapons of destruction. We regret that the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons held in May was unable to adopt a final document, owing to the negative attitude of some countries with regard to realizing the commitment agreed upon in 1995 on the convening of the conference on a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction.

I shall now speak in my capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Instead of reading out the long and detailed report being circulated in the Chamber now, I will give a brief summary highlighting its main ideas. I do not need to explain to anyone the proliferation risks we face today. Now more than ever, non-State actors and terrorist groups are prepared to use chemical and biological weapons and even nuclear weapons and extreme violence. The global threat affects us all, and all States must comply with resolution 1540 (2004). All States are threatened. I have not been Chair of the 1540 Committee for very long — only since 1 January. However, I assure the Council that my Mission’s team, in cooperation with all Security Council members, has tried to do its best. I will highlight five relevant aspects of the 1540 Committee since the last report was presented (see S/PV.7319). First is the system of reporting. At present, 174 States have submitted their reports. In other words, 90 per cent of Member States have submitted the basic reports on their structures for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. However, despite the importance of the basic reports, it is crucial that States also submit the so-called additional reports, which are voluntary and make it possible for us to get a more detailed and more realistic idea of what is happening in the area of non-proliferation. It is also very important that States carry out the so-called national action plans, which are completely voluntary, but nonetheless very useful. Secondly, I would like to underscore the national focal points, which resolution 1540 (2004) provides for. They are absolutely fundamental to our work. A training course for national focal points has been provided so that they may better carry out their functions. Thirdly, we are trying to improve the system of assistance to strengthen the national capacity of States that request assistance to raise the levels of compliance with resolution 1540 (2004). We are working with regional and international organizations to that end. Fourthly, with regard to outreach, it is important that the 1540 Committee maintain direct contact with Member States. We are working as well to encourage the participation of the 19 States that have not yet presented their regular reports. We have stepped up contacts with regional and international organizations to that end. One good example is the recent visit I made as Chair of the 1540 Committee to Vienna, where I met senior officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, among other agencies. Lastly, with regard to transparency, transparency and outreach are vital for the effective implementation of the resolution. The Committee is therefore looking for better ways of using social networks, social media and other means of communication. For example, we now issue quarterly Chair messages to the entire network related to the 1540 Committee. I should now like to touch upon the comprehensive review of the status of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). I reiterate that the full text of my statement that has been distributed contains a much more detailed explanation. First, as Chair of the 1540 Committee, I have taken good note of the interesting comments and observations made by the delegation of Venezuela. In the opinion of the Committee, the comprehensive review should be retrospective. Above all, however, it also should look towards the future. It should be based on an analysis of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) on the basis of the review carried out in 2009. The aim should be to improve effectiveness and implementation on the part of Member States. It is important to note that, on 28 April, the Committee agreed on a modalities document — which is available on the website — that details the comprehensive review process. Let me highlight a few highlights of the process. First, the Committee will analyse the data included in the reports presented by States and provide an overview on the status of the implementation of the resolution and the major implementation trends since 2009. That analysis will make it possible for us to introduce improvements. Secondly, the Committee will look into its role in matchmaking and requests and offers assistance, while considering ways to ensure that such assistance is provided promptly. Thirdly, as part of the comprehensive review process, we will seek ways of improving the Committee’s cooperation with international organizations related to the scope of the 1540 Committee’s work. When it comes to regional organizations, we should identify better ways to support them in order to set up networks of focal points for the 1540 Committee — as I mentioned earlier, for example, by instituting training courses. Lastly, the review should also focus on the work of outreach using publications and other means of communication in a timely fashion. We are preparing a work calendar for the review prior to December 2016, which will of course include opportunities to hear the views of all Member States, as well as for the holding of consultations with international organizations and civil society. I call on all Council Member States, as well as non-Member States, to contribute to this important process. In conclusion, I wish to thank all those who provided support to the Committee and made it possible to carry out its programme of work, either through voluntary and financial contributions  — such as by Andorra, Kazakhstan, Norway, the Republic of Korea and the United States of America — or by organizations such as the European Union and private foundations such as the Carnegie Corporation of New York. I also wish to give very special thanks to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs for its constant support.

I would like to the thank Ambassadors Gerard van Bohemen of New Zealand, Raimonda Murmokaitė of Lithuania and Román Oyarzun Marchesi of Spain — respectively as Chairs of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities; the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning Counter-Terrorism; and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), on non-proliferation — for their briefings. We welcome their leadership as Chairs of those Committees. While it is true that everybody is concerned about putting an end to terrorism, it is also true that the best way of achieving this is not to contribute to it. We think that, in order to eliminate terrorism it is important, among other things, to settle conflicts and to destroy terrorist safe havens and cut off their supplies, especially in terms of arms and ammunition. Chad, which yesterday experienced three deadly attacks in its capital, condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It calls upon the Security Council to take urgent measures against the illicit provision of arms and ammunition to non-State actors, and to terrorist groups in particular. With regard to the threat posed by Al-Qaida and its affiliated persons and entities, this is constantly growing. Organizations, such as the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Al-Nusra Front, Boko Haram and others are conquering whole swaths of territories. The flow of foreign terrorist fighters recruited through the Internet and social networks to go to Iraq, Syria, Libya and other countries it taking on a very worrying dimension, while the human cost of the attacks perpetrated by those groups is enormous. Several welcome actions have been taken into order to curb the terrorist threat. In that regard, I should like to welcome the adoption of resolutions 2161 (2014), 2170 (2014), 2178 (2014), 2195 (2014), 2199 (2015), 2214 (2015) and 2220 (2015). I also commend the fact that the relevant Committees have submitted reports on ISIL, the Al-Nusra Front and foreign terrorist fighters. We very much look forward to the next report of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, because we are particularly concerned by the presence of terrorists groups linked to Daesh in the south of the country, bordering Chad, and also by the terrorist threat in the whole of the Sahel region. It is also important to continue to list individuals and entities that fall under sanctions. The Committee must continue to update this list regularly. Nonetheless, we commend the Committee for its 2014 triennial review and we would encourage States to provide information for the 2015 triennial review. We welcome the important role of the Ombudsperson, Ms. Kimberley Prost, the Al-Qaida Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, as well as of the Coordinator, Mr. Alexander Evans. We thank them all for their reports. We hope that their successors will be selected and appointed taking into consideration a geographical representation as broad as possible, in line with article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, Chad welcomes the work done by the Committee in response to the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters. We take note of the three reports that the Committee to the Council during this year and we would recommend it to focus further on managing, controlling and securing borders. We also note that since 2005 the Committee has visited more than half of the Member States. Such visits are crucial to following up the implementation of anti-terrorist measures, in particular resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 2178 (2014). They help to facilitate technical assistance and to reinforce the capacity of States to counter the terrorist threat. That is why we encourage the Committee to continue to undertake country visits. Nonetheless, we would suggest recruiting experts at the national or regional levels, over and beyond those recruited in New York, so as to avoid very costly trips for them. We welcome the fact that the Committee has adopted an approach based on risk that aims to strengthen and build capacity based on the abilities of each State. We agree with the Chair of the Committee to recommend that each State should design its anti-terrorist strategies based on its own security problems. In addition to country visits, we also encourage high- level visits. In that regard, we welcome the trip made by the Chair of the Committee to Mali and the Niger, along with the Executive Director of the Committee, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to the Sahel and the African Union Special Representative for Counter-Terrorism Cooperation. In future, it would be desirable if those Committee members who so request could participate in such missions in their respective geographical areas. We encourage the holding of special meetings away from New York, following the example of the one to be held in Madrid in July 2015, and we propose the organization of another such meeting in Africa in coordination with the African Union. With regard to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), concerning the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, we take note of the progress in the implementation of that resolution since November 2014 and of the submission by the Committee to the Council of its review of such implementation for 2014 and its programme of work for 2015. We welcome the efforts of Member States to implement the resolution and note that 174 countries, or 90 per cent of States, have presented reports to the Committee on steps they have taken in that regard. In addition, a large number of States have submitted voluntary national action plans for such implementation. Much, however, remains to be done for the universal implementation of the resolution, and we therefore encourage the Committee to enhance the role of the national focal points and to improve its system for the facilitation of assistance to States. We also encourage the organization of country visits and workshops and cooperation with international and regional organizations. We hope that the comprehensive review of the implementation of the resolution, expected at the end of 2016, will give impetus to such implementation, and note in that regard that the Committee has already agreed on four themes for the production of the review and that a work plan is under development. With regard to cooperation and coordination among the three Security Committees established to combat terrorism and their Expert Groups, it is essential to fight together against threats to international peace and security resulting from terrorist acts and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors. We note in particular the participation of the Expert Groups in various workshops, communication activities, country visits, cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations and exchanges of information since November 2014. We welcome the establishment by the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Group of Experts supporting the Committee established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of a shared focal point for the Caribbean, and the cooperation regarding terrorist financing and the freezing of terrorist assets between the Executive Directorate and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1526 (2004), concerning Al-Qaida. In that regard, we welcome the joint observations they made to Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania during the preparation of those countries’ laws on the implementation of resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001), particularly in relation to the freezing of assets and the implementation of financial measures. Lastly, Chad would like to thank Ambassadors Van Bohemen, Oyarzun Marchesi and Murmokaitė, and assures them of its cooperation with the Committees that they chair. We encourage the three Committees to enhance their cooperation and coordination. Chad calls upon all States to work in good faith to combat violent extremism and terrorism.

At the outset, on behalf of the Angolan delegation, I would like to commend the Malaysian presidency for the initiative of convening this meeting with the Chairs of the three Security Council subsidiary organs responsible for countering terrorism, whom we welcome. The holding of this meeting less than a month after the 29 May debate on the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters (see S/PV.7453) is a reflection of our collective commitment to combating the threat posed by terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Terrorism is a global threat. It affects all continents and peoples. Contemporary terrorism is the most evil and sinister product of globalization. We are aware that a global effort such as the one conducted by the United Nations in cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations is absolutely needed to counter terrorism more effectively. Specifically on our continent, Africa, terrorism is spreading extensively and dangerously: Boko Haram in Nigeria and in the Lake Chad Basin; Al-Qaida and affiliates in the Maghreb; Ansar Al-Sharia and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Libya; Al-Shabaab in Somalia; the myriad terrorist groups affecting the Sahel region; and terrorists in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mali. A disturbing situation has emerged in Africa, with terrorists threatening peace and stability all over the continent. As underlined in the briefing by the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, the human cost of Al-Qaida, ISIL and other terrorist- related attacks is immense and tragic, be it in the Middle East, in Africa, in Central Asia, in the Far East or in Europe. The Security Council has devised appropriate responses to this threat by expanding the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) and its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team through the reporting on oil and the financing of terrorism, ISIL, the Al-Nusra Front and foreign terrorist fighters. As terrorism grows, the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) has increased the number of individuals and entities it has designated as associated with Al-Qaida. The observation by the Chair of the Committee that listings should be strategic, targeted and implementable and should have a practical effect and focus on targeting individuals and entities that can be disrupted is appropriate for ensuring the sanctions’ effectiveness. Sanctions alone, however, are not enough to win the fight against terrorism. We must strengthen global, international, regional and subregional cooperation, reinforce national capabilities at all levels and devise creative ways of conducting an ideological struggle to fight extremism and youth radicalization, to denounce, isolate, degrade and successfully defeat the threat posed by terrorism. Still concerning the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), we share the concerns expressed by the Committee’s Chair regarding the end of the mandates of the Ombudsperson and the Monitoring Team Coordinator. We hope that the changing of the guard will take place in a smooth manner, in view of the crucial role of those mandates in enabling the Committee to respond effectively to the threat posed by Al-Qaida and affiliates. We recognize the role that the United Nations has assumed globally, its outstanding leadership in the effort to combat terrorism through the relevant resolutions of the Security Council on the issue, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) and Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate. The recent ministerial-level open debate on terrorism, and specifically on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014), adopted in September 2014, and the steps taken by Member States and the international community to prevent the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, was an important instance in Security Council action and international cooperation to counter this most undesirable development in international life. We encourage and support the Security Council’s efforts to foster closer cooperation and coordination among the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), their respective Expert Groups and the main specialized agencies on counter-terrorism, such as the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, the Monitoring Teams and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. To conclude, the risk of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors poses a serious threat to international peace and security. We encourage and support the Security Council’s efforts to strengthen cooperation and effective coordination between the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and the overall framework established to counter terrorism. We express our support for the press statement on the comprehensive review of the implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004).

I welcome this opportunity to review the Council’s subsidiary bodies on counter-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and the sanctions regime against Al-Qaida and its affiliates. I thank our briefers for the comprehensive overview they have just given and the hard work they do on our behalf alongside their day jobs representing their countries on the Council. As so many recent terrorist atrocities have shown, we now face threats to international peace and security that our predecessors would scarcely have imagined when writing the Charter of the United Nations, 70 years ago. Attacks like the one attempted against tourists in Egypt just last week showed that our citizens can now be targeted wherever they are in the world. Such threats destroy lives and fundamentally challenge our collective efforts to preserve stability and further development across the globe. The work of the three Committees forms a vital part of the global response. Together, we can stop dangerous individuals from travelling abroad to perpetrate those heinous acts. We can freeze their assets and halt their financing of terror, and we can help deny them access to an even more dangerous arsenal of dirty bombs and chemical weapons. The Committees and their United Nations experts are therefore a crucial tool and a resource for the Council. I reiterate the United Kingdom’s full support for their work. Let me now address each Committee in turn. First, with respect to the Counter-Terrorism Committee, chaired by Raimonda, we welcome the recent reporting by the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate on foreign terrorist fighters and other issues. Such analysis helps all Member States understand the global risk we face and builds our collective will for global action. As we heard in last month’s Council debate (see S/PV.7453), countering extremists’ narratives is a major challenge for us all. We welcome the Committee’s expanding focus on that issue and trust that countering violent extremism will remain a priority for the Committee in future. We look forward to the Committee’s adding to the plan of action to prevent violent extremism recently announced by the Secretary-General. We hope it will include clear metrics for success and quick-win capacity-building ideas. Secondly, with respect to the Committee that Gerard chairs, let me reiterate support for the work of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. That regime remains a key tool for the Security Council to disrupt the sickening activities of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Al-Qaida groups. But to do so, all States need to fulfil their obligations under the terms of the regime, and the list needs to remain agile to evolving threats. We therefore commend the work of the Al-Qaida Monitoring Team and the analysis it shared with the Council, including its most recent in-depth report on foreign terrorist fighters (S/2015/358). That report gave the Council a valuable understanding of the sheer scale of foreign terrorist flows: an estimated 25,000 fighters originating from over half the United Nations Members. Fair and clear procedures for the sanctions regime are also needed to keep the list effective and current. We join the Chair in thanking Kimberly Prost for her sterling service as Ombudsperson. Her work has helped to maintain the legitimacy and effectiveness of that important tool. Thirdly, let me turn to non-proliferation and resolution 1540 (2004), the Committee chaired by Román. The threat of non-State actors, particularly terrorists, acquiring weapons of mass destruction is a nightmare scenario for us all. Today’s complex conflicts and rapidly evolving technology make effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) an imperative if we are to reduce the chance of that ever happening. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 1540 Group of Experts and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs for their tireless work in helping States comply with the resolution. But more needs to be done. We urge all States to approach the Committee to offer or request support for national implementation. And to those 19 States that have yet to provide a national implementation report, let us be clear in our call to them to do so. We also look forward to starting work on the comprehensive work of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) under the leadership of Spain. We invite all United Nations States Members to consider how the Committee’s work can be strengthened, including through implementation, monitoring, assistance, matchmaking and outreach. I was pleased to hear today’s briefing on the growing cooperation among these three important subsidiary bodies. When resources are limited, joint activities such as country visits can save money and add value. We welcome further innovations such as those in future.

I thank Ambassadors Murmokaitė, Van Bohemen and Oyarzun Marchesi for their insightful briefings. Nigeria notes with appreciation the wide range of actions taken in the past six months by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, with the support of other United Nations counter-terrorism bodies, particularly the Executive Directorate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. Such efforts have bolstered international capability and capacity to fight the menace of terrorism. Indeed, the three reports rendered by the Committee this year will not only enhance ongoing efforts by Member States in the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014), but will also help combat the disturbing phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. Nigeria remains steadfastly committed to United Nations counter-terrorism efforts. That is why President Mohammedu Buhari, in his capacity as the Chair of the African Union Peace and Security Council, on 13 June underscored Nigeria’s commitment to comprehensively address the scourge of global terrorism. He also provided assurances that the campaign against the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency would be conducted in consonance with extant human rights and humanitarian law. We welcome the country visits undertaken by the Counter-Terrorism Committee, which have not only provided vital information but have also ensured effective gap assessments. Indeed, we expect that they will contribute immensely to the work of the Committee. We look forward to the Committee’s proposed follow- up visits in October. With regard to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, we reiterate the need for all States to continue to take resolute and effective measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in consonance with the essence of resolution 1540 (2004). In our collective quest for the maintenance of international peace and security, we must intensify our efforts to ensure that non-State actors, including terrorists, are prevented from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. We believe that the goal of non-proliferation will be incrementally attained when requests for assistance are matched by commensurate offers. The decision of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) to strengthen its cooperation with other Committees, as well as with international, regional and subregional organizations, will no doubt enhance the achievement of its mandate. A multidimensional approach, as exemplified in the collaboration with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, will serve as a viable means for achieving the objective of the resolution. In our view, reporting remains a vital element of the Committee’s work. As it commences its comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), we expect that concrete steps will be taken to achieve the goal of promoting the universality of the submission of first reports by States that have yet to do so. In addition, we want to encourage the Committee to explore other forms of assistance that would ensure reporting under the resolution. That would be accelerated by the continuing collaboration between its Group of Experts and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Through regional offices, it is possible to engage and assist Member States on the submission of their initial reports.

Allow me, at the outset, to thank the Ambassadors of Spain, New Zealand and Lithuania for their briefings and for the leadership of the Committees they respectively chair. Terrorism remains an extremely present threat, as we are reminded by the all too frequent attacks that are currently taking place. I am especially thinking about the terrible attacks in N’Djamena yesterday, which we condemn in no uncertain terms, and wish to assure our colleagues in Chad of our complete support in this challenge. As emphasized by the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, last year was characterized by the proliferation of crises linked to Al-Qaida and its affiliates, the emergence of Daesh, the ongoing actions of Boko Haram, the spread of radicalization, which the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters illustrates, and the situation in Libya. The Committee remains fully mobilized on those topics through the consideration of reports of the Monitoring Team requested by Security Council resolutions. While the threat remains at a very high level, it is crucial that the sanctions list continues to best reflect terrorist threats. We would therefore encourage all United Nations States Members to continue to submit listing requests to the Committee. Furthermore, we encourage the members of the Committee to take very seriously requests from Member States noting allegations of violations. Violations of the sanctions regime harm its effectiveness and clout. The Committee has a responsibility to implement the regime, and therefore cannot simply say it has received the information. It must act. France is determined to work for respect for the sanctions regime. For the list to be credible and to be up to date with regard to the threat, the delisting mechanism must be effective and must respect the fundamental rights of the persons listed. The establishment by resolution 1904 (2009) of the Office of the Ombudsperson in that mechanism was, in that connection, an unprecedented step by the Council to improve procedural guarantees. I would like to commend the exceptional work of the Ombudsperson of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, Ms. Kimberly Prost, who was able to give this function the stature that it requires. We deeply regret her departure and wish her much success in her future career. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism has a difficult task. Facing a multifaceted threat, it must be able to adapt its work in order to continue to best inform States of new threats. In that regard, we welcome the fact that the Committee closely monitors new threats linked to terrorism and regularly organizes public meetings in order to draw the attention of all Member States to those threats. With regard to combating foreign terrorists fighters, it is particularly useful to see the Committee working on the issue of travellers’ data, that is, the advance passenger information system. Moreover, it is important that the Committee continue its work in the fight against violent extremism and its prevention. In addition, the Committee has the responsibility to review the way in which States implement not only resolution 1373 (2001), but also many other resolutions— in particular resolutions 1624 (2005) and 2178 (2014). It is crucial for States to accept visits by the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate in order to audit their systems in the fight against terrorism. That is in fact in their own interests. France recently received a visit by the Executive Directorate. It enabled them not only to take stock of our national system in this area, but also to identify good practices. In the past few months, France adopted new legislation aimed at curbing the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. Based on those evaluations, technical assistance programmes need to be implemented by the United Nations for Member States. Therefore, we deem it crucial for the Executive Directorate to continue to work closely with other United Nations bodies responsible for combatting terrorism in order to ensure the realization of this type of project. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery vehicles, as well as the risk of these falling into the hands of terrorist groups, continues to present a real danger to international peace and security. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) plays a key role in combating that danger. The 1540 Committee is at a pivotal point with the commencement of the overall review of the Committee, which will have to be completed by the end of 2016. Next year will be doubly important for reinforcing the international non-proliferation architecture, with the holding of the Nuclear Security Summit, in anticipation of which France has already made proposals. Much progress has been made since the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004). An overwhelming majority of Member States have already translated the provisions of the resolution into their domestic legislation and have taken measures to decrease the risks of proliferation. We also commend the efforts made by the Committee and the Group of Experts to put States requiring technical assistance in contact with those able to provide that assistance — a matter that France considers particularly important. Much remains to be done. After more than 10 years of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), there are many lessons still to be learned in order to improve our collective work. We have confidence in the comprehensive review process that began a short while ago, and today we mark that with the issuance of a press statement. The goal is to make the work of the Committee more effective, and thus to intensify the crucial fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The United States would like to thank the Chairs of the three Committees, the Ambassadors of Spain, Lithuania and New Zealand, for their briefings. I would like to start with some observations on the Committee established pursuant to resolutionin 1540 (2004). We congratulate Spain for its active leadership role since assuming the Chair in January — particularly its focus on planning for the comprehensive review. The fact that 174 countries have submitted national reports since the resolution came into effect, in 2004, is a strong testament to the global effort to prevent non-State actors from acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction. We believe that the Committee’s efforts have prompted States to take measures that will lead to improved implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). The United States views monitoring the status of implementation as the most important task of the Committee, as it creates a solid foundation on which depend all the rest of the work of the Committee and our efforts to foster the full implementation of the resolution through effective assistance efforts. In that regard, we appreciate the work of the Committee and its Group of Experts to revise the matrices of all United Nations States Members, which is nearly complete. We welcome the response to the Committee’s efforts to increase its direct engagement with States, which we believe has produced an increase in submissions of new and additional 1540 national implementation reports, particularly in the form of national action plans and effective national practices. Since the last Council briefing on this topic (see S/PV.7331), the United States has continued to strengthen its efforts to combat proliferation. Notably, the United States has moved towards the ratification of four important international non-proliferation instruments, namely, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and two protocols to the Convention for the Suppression on Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation. We urge all Member States to cooperate with the 1540 Committee in supporting the review. With regard to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the United States remains unwavering in its support for the NPT and for achieving the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. The lack of a consensus final document at the latest Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty does not change that central fact or the role the Treaty will continue to play in promoting global security. Turning to counter-terrorism, I must stress that, despite the significant blows to Al-Qaida’s leadership, terrorist threats persist around the world. We are also deeply concerned about the evolution of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the emergence of groups that have pledged allegiance to ISIL in Libya, Egypt, Nigeria, Afghanistan and elsewhere, and the tens of thousands of foreign terrorist fighters who exacerbate conflicts and then return to pose a threat to their home countries. Against that backdrop, resolution 2178 (2014) has special importance, because it created a new legal and policy framework to counter foreign terrorist fighters. As part of our ongoing follow-up, we look forward to the special high-level meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) technical meetings that Spain will host in Madrid in late July. We expect the meetings to highlight effective ways to prevent recruitment; improve border controls and information sharing; criminalize, prosecute or rehabilitate foreign terrorist fighters; and boost momentum for providing technical assistance where it is needed. The United States welcomed the announcement that later this year the Secretary-General would present to the General Assembly a plan of action for preventing violent extremism, which we hope will establish the important role the United Nations can play in that area. For the United Nations to successfully counter such threats, the various parts of the Organization’s system have to be able to work well together. We also welcome the efforts of CTED, the close partner of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, to focus on its core mandate of providing analyses and assessments of counter-terrorism capacity-building gaps and serving as an essential facilitator for matching donors with recipients. In that context, we urge CTED and the Monitoring Team to work closely with the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force, which has a central role in coordinating efforts with the 34 United Nations counter-terrorism entities and INTERPOL in helping to build Member States’ counter-terrorism capacity. That leads me to the important role of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. Bolstering implementation must be the Committee’s first priority. We have to prevent ISIL and other terrorists from travelling internationally, acquiring weapons and raising money to fund acts of terrorism. As part of that, the Committee and its Monitoring Team must continue to explore ways to deal with non-compliance. We are therefore encouraged that they are continuing to engage with States in identifying situations where sanctions are not being implemented. When the issue of non-compliance involves a lack of capacity, we should support efforts to strengthen Member States’ legal and technical capacities. When the cause of non-compliance is a lack of political will, the Committee’s Chair can be helpful by engaging States — privately, if necessary — in order to educate them on the usefulness of that tool for their national and regional counter-terrorism strategies. In addition, we would also like to thank the outgoing Ombudsperson, Kimberly Prost, for her five years of dedicated, active and outstanding service, her integrity and her emphasis on due process. We are also grateful for the Monitoring Team’s important work and particularly appreciative of the many efforts of its outgoing Coordinator, Alexander Evans. The Team has done a superb job of documenting and analysing challenges from ISIL and foreign terrorist fighters, and has provided actionable recommendations for tackling them.

I would like to begin by thanking the Chairs of the three Committees for their briefings, which illustrated the very constructive role they play in the fight against the threat that terrorism poses to international peace and security. Despite all the international community’s efforts, including those of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, that threat is growing, and in recent years we have seen the emergence of groups affiliated with Al-Qaida, as well as of dissident organizations such as Daesh. They now control large expanses of territory and are a threat to international peace and security, putting in jeopardy all the efforts deployed by the international community and the United Nations. We must therefore be able to transparently assess the work being done in order to understand the course we should take in the future. Needless to say, that should in no way detract from the achievements of previous years, but we must be aware of the dangers coming from unconventional, non-traditional sources. We must make effective decisions that accord with the Charter of the United Nations and with international law in order to deal with this phenomenon. Concerning the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, we would like to emphasize its central role and that of the sanctions system. The Committee plays an important part in reducing the threat posed by Al-Qaida as well as in implementing the various relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1989 (2011), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004). In that regard, we stress the importance of including on the list all those meeting the criteria outlined in resolution 1989 (2011), ensuring countries’ full respect for the sanctions system and keeping the sanctions list properly updated and ensuring its fairness and transparency. That can be done by continually reviewing listed countries and the delisting requests submitted to the Ombudsperson. Besides that, there is the updating of the work of the Committee’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which depends on the cooperation of the various countries concerned. In that context, I would like to commend the role of the Monitoring Team and the Office of the Ombudsperson. Concerning the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), the military capacity of terrorist organizations, the increase in their financing sources and their control of large areas of territory all render their use of non-traditional weapons very real and possible, so it is crucial that countries fully comply with the provisions of resolution 1540 (2004). We welcome the fact that the resolution is scheduled for a comprehensive review. We have great expectations for the review and its examination of the gaps in the resolution’s implementation. It is vital that we make use of that analysis to strengthen the role of the Committee and to fill those gaps. Jordan considers the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) extremely important, particularly in the context of the current conditions in the Arab region. At the beginning of this month we hosted a workshop for 17 Arab countries and 11 representatives of regional and international organizations, as well as representatives of civil society, in a demonstration of my country’s willingness to ensure the review’s success and to help other Arab States to confront the challenge of terrorism and terrorist organizations’ ability to access weapons of mass destruction. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, and its Executive Directorate (CTED) plays a very important part in fighting terrorism. I would specifically like to highlight the work of CTED with regard to foreign terrorist fighters. In that context, the meeting to be held in Madrid at the end of July is very important. The Committee’s role should be to help assess countries’ ability to implement the resolution and to assist them in strengthening their counter-terrorism abilities. We call on CTED to adopt such a strategy and to report to the Committee on the assistance programme it administers. I would now like to share some thoughts on the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. The fight against terrorism calls for a joint effort. Many countries that wish to implement resolution 1373 (2001) are hampered by a lack of capacity. Providing assistance and filling the gaps for those countries should become a comprehensive part of the Committee’s work. Such work should be strengthened, and we should not forget the Committee’s role as a catalyst so that international and technical organizations are encouraged to provide assistance to the countries that require it. We reaffirm the importance of cooperation and coordination among the three Committees. We warmly welcome the provisions to improve coordination among them as described by the Chair of the 1540 Committee. While they have the necessary political support for their roles, they sometimes lack sufficient financial resources to provide the necessary assistance. It will be essential to bolster the capacity of the Committees and their executive prerogatives with the provision of financial resources. Fourthly, the Committees should maintain ongoing relationships and cooperate with the countries most seriously affected by terrorism by strengthening links with the permanent delegations, conducting visits and meeting with the authorities of those countries. Fifthly, we must respond in a comprehensive way to the challenges that terrorism poses. Terrorist groups may have different persuasions, but they share the same obscurantist way of thinking. Therefore, whether they intend to or not, they help each other. We must focus on all terrorist organizations for that very reason. Lastly, Jordan will continue playing its pioneering, central role in the fight against terrorism. We have responded to the phenomenon with all the means at our disposal, and we have strengthened our cooperation with the Security Council Committees and all the relevant United Nations bodies.

I wish to thank Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi, Ambassador Van Bohemen and Ambassador Murmokaité for their briefings. The Non-Proliferation Committee, the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and the Counter- Terrorism Committee have made positive efforts in carrying out their respective work under the leadership of the three Ambassadors, for whom China expresses its appreciation. Today, the world faces severe challenges in combating terrorism. Regional conflicts provide the breeding ground for terrorists and extremist organizations with new forms of terrorist tactics. Terrorism is the common enemy of all humankind. The international community should work closely together to crack down on it. Concerning what to do next, I would like to emphasize the following points. First, international counter-terrorism operations require that the United Nations and the Security Council fully play a leading role and adhere to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the relevant countries, make extensive efforts to develop consensus among Member States and carry out coordinated and consistent actions. Regardless of what form it takes, when or where it occurs and whom it targets, we should take a tough position on combating terrorism. There should be no double standards and nor should terrorism be seen as being linked to any specific ethnic group or religion. Secondly, today the international non-proliferation process faces new and complex situations. More non-State actors are engaging in proliferation activities. In terms of international non-proliferation efforts, we still have a long way to go. Faced with new challenges, the international community should tighten control on the source of the problem, eliminate the root causes of such proliferation and take a balanced approach to address security and development. Countries should be committed to implementing resolution 1540 (2004) in a comprehensive and balanced manner to prevent non-State actors, especially terrorists, from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, and countries should step up international security. China hopes that, through the review process, the Committee will further raise countries’ awareness to implement the resolution and promote a more important role for the Committee in international cooperation, assistance and other areas. Thirdly, China has noted that the number of foreign terrorist fighters has continued to increase in spite of the measures to stop them. They have been inflicting more and more harm, and their participation has intensified regional conflicts and made it more difficult to resolve problems. When foreign terrorist fighters return to their own countries, they constitute a serious threat to the security and stability of their home countries and regions. The United Nations and the relevant international organizations should establish a counter-terrorism database as soon as possible to share information resources so as to create conditions to effectively contain the transnational flow of foreign terrorist fighters. Fourthly, a new task and challenge in our fight against terrorism is the need to crack down on terrorists’ use of the Internet. The international community should take effective measures to respond to terrorist groups’ use of the Internet to post violent audio and video content, disseminate extremist ideas, recruit, finance, incite, plan and carry out terrorist activities. All countries should effectively implement the relevant resolutions of the Council and strengthen their regulation of the Internet. We welcome the Counter- Terrorism Committee’s plan to host a special meeting on the subject in November. We hope that the meeting can result in devising new ideas and measures. Fifthly, China has consistently asserted that the international fight against terrorism requires a comprehensive approach aimed at eliminating root causes  while addressing the symptoms, including in the political, security, economic, financial, information and ideological areas. The international community, while actively responding to new forms, developments and trends of terrorism, should also adopt effective measures to help regional countries advance their socioeconomic development, appropriately address regional conflicts and promote equal dialogue among diverse civilizations, religions and ethnic groups, so as to eliminate the recourses and breeding grounds for terrorism. China is against terrorism in any form, and it has actively participated in international counter- terrorism cooperation and strictly implemented the relevant Council resolutions. In November 2014, China held a symposium on strengthening international cooperation to prevent and counter terrorists’ use of the Internet. In the second half of 2015, China will host a training course for Asian countries with the focus on resolution 1540 (2004), and it is maintaining effective communication with the Non-Proliferation Committee on relevant arrangements. China stands ready to work with members of the international community and to make a positive effort to advance international counter- terrorism coooperation in the joint effort to maintain world peace and security.

We thank the Chairs of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Non-Proliferation Committee for their respective briefings. Since the last joint briefing (see S/PV.7184) of those Committees to the Council in May 2014, the emergence of the terrorist group calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the expansion of the Al-Nusra Front and the challenge posed by foreign terrorist fighters forced the Council to resolutely react to those threats. We welcome the Council meeting (see S/PV.7272) held on 24 September 2014, which led to the unanimous adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), which provides for the implementation of a series of measures to deal with foreign terrorist fighters. The success or failure of the international community against this scourge will depend on the efficient and effective cooperation of all stakeholders. In that regard, we fully support the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, and we are committed to the forthcoming high-level conference in Madrid to stop the recruitment and flow of foreign terrorist fighters. The effective fight against terrorism requires trust at all levels, which must be cultivated by sharing best practices and information to detect and dismantle terrorist-financing sources, such as the trafficking and illegal sale of oil and other natural resources, as well as the destruction and trafficking in cultural property, among others. In this task we should not lose sight of respect for human rights and the rule of law. We emphasize the role played by the Office of the Ombudsperson in incorporating due process in the sanctions regime of the Al-Qaida Committee, as well as the independence of the Ombudsperson’s work. Chile has reiterated that the post of the Ombudsperson should exist in all sanctions committees. We must continue to respond quickly to new challenges while maintaining what we have done well, for example, in the Non-Proliferation Committee with regard to non-State actors. The comprehensive review to be held next year on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) will be key to determine its progress. We see room for improvement in the dialogue with Member States. It is therefore important to identify deficiencies and areas requiring further attention. Before concluding, I will make a few comments. First, we are concerned about the excessive workload of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Al-Qaida Committee. As the product of different resolutions, the Team must invest enormous human resources and work hours to respond to an increased demand for documentation, diverting its attention from the task originally entrusted to it. Secondly, greater synergy in the work of these three Committees is required, as well as greater dialogue with Member States to facilitate cooperation and the necessary assistance to enhance national capacities. Moreover, we are also concerned about the possible effect of the widespread use of the term “terrorism” and the fact that some international actors label opponents or the political opposition as terrorists. Finally, terrorism and violence will not be defeated by military means alone. As noted by President Michelle Bachelet to the Security Council (see S/PV.7272), we must address its root causes. Undoubtedly, that is a long-term preventive task that we must undertake without delay.

The Russian Federation is grateful to the Chairs of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committees for their solid work during the reporting period. The reports issued by those bodies make an important contribution to strengthening international counter-terrorism cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations. That cooperation is particularly pertinent today, given the unprecedented growth of contemporary terrorist threats. The epicenter of terrorist activity is currently Iraq and Syria, where radicals from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Al-Nusra Front and other groups associated with Al-Qaida are operating. They are carrying out heinous acts of barbarism and are desecrating centuries-old cultural sites and undermining the very foundations of States. Attempts by ISIS to gain a foothold in Afghanistan and Libya, where it has already done terrible things to Egyptian Coptic Christians and Ethiopians, are also worrying. We welcome the efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Al-Qaida Commitee in the area of countering the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. Resolution 2178 (2014) focuses on the Security Council’s approach to combating that type of threat. We are convinced that the key to eradicating terrorism, including the foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon, may be found in combatting radicalization and the spread of extremist ideology. Particular attention should be paid to curbing the use by terrorists of modern information and telecommunication systems and technologies. We are in favour of expanding the work of the Counter- Terrorism Committee (CTC), as well as that of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), in that area in line with the above-mentioned resolutions. Curbing the financing of ISIS and Al-Nusra Front through the illegal trade in oil, precious metals and cultural artifacts in the area of Syria and Iraq is an important area of cooperation between United Nations counter-terrorism bodies. Resolution 2199 (2015) establishes a clear mechanism for ensuring accountability in implementing its provisions. However, the mechanism is not currently functioning at full capacity and, given the urgency of the problem, that is of serious concern. We strongly urge Member States to regularly report steps taken to implement resolution 2199 (2015) to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999). First and foremost, with regard to cases of illegal oil transactions, we trust that the forthcoming report of the Committee’s Monitoring Team on the implementation of the resolution will contain specific and realistic proposals to increase the effectiveness of the implementation of this important Security Council resolution. We urge the CTC to continue monitoring the implementation of the basic Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). Priority should be given to States that are most subject to terrorist threats, inter alia, when planning country visits. We must renew the comprehensive reviews of the implementation of these resolutions. The counter-terrorism capacity of States should be strengthened through targeted technical assistance. CTED’s experience and methods for coordinating technical assistance, as well as the trust it has earned from States, puts CTED in a unique position. We expect that the joint work of CTED, the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in the area of technical assistance, based on the provisions of the presidential statement (S/PRST/2013/11) of 29 May, will be effective. The sanctions list of the 1267 Committee is one of the most effective tools for combatting terrorism, and it should appropriately reflect the threats stemming from Al-Qaida. The responsibility of the Ombudsperson, enshrined in resolution 2161 (2014), should ensure the greatest level of transparency for the Committee’s work. We trust that the new expert who will assume that position will meet the advertised professional requirements as much as possible and will scrupulously assess the potential risks linked with delisting and carefully consider the opinions of interested and affected States. The 1540 Committee, headed by the Permanent Representative of Spain, plays a leading role in coordinating international efforts in the area of non-proliferation. In our view, the main aim of the Committee and its Panel of Experts is to continue to ensure a decrease in the number of countries that have not submitted their first national reports on the implementation of this important resolution. Another very important aspect of its work is to carry out a comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We agree that there is a need to analyse the Committee’s experience in the area of cooperation with all organizations involved in the process, as well as the outreach programme for States and civil society. The purpose of the review should be to evaluate the effectiveness of such activities. We should also focus attention on the advisability of having a differentiated approach to countries depending on the effectiveness of their implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). There is also a need to focus attention on those that need real assistance. Recommendations should be targeted so as to enable more efficient use of the by-no-means-unlimited resources of the 1540 Committee. We consider it important to further strengthen contacts between the subsidiary organs of the Security Council and specialized agencies and mechanisms, so as to expand the network of counter-terrorism cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations. To that end, we note the cooperation between the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267 and 1540 Committees with the international conference of heads of law-enforcement agencies and security services held by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. We also welcome the participation of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate in the World Bank meeting on the international database on combating terrorism. We would like to see a continuation of the practice of holding briefings among the heads of those conferences and representatives of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. The United Nations has developed a solid international legal framework in the area of counter- terrorism and has created a set of effective tools. However, successful implementation will be possible only though coordinated and voluntary inter-State cooperation, without politicization, double standards, opportunistic approaches or differentiating between “good” and “bad” terrorists. It is such cooperation that we in the Russian Federation insist upon.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Malaysia. I join earlier speakers in thanking the Chairs of the three subsidiary bodies for their respective presentations to the Council. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to and support for the work of the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council, including the important work undertaken by the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities; the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism; and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We wish also to place on record our appreciation of the important role played by the 1267/1989 Monitoring Team, the Group of Experts, the Ombudsperson, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and other actors for their important contributions to and support for the Committees. Malaysia’s location, which straddles global shipping routes, and our status as a trading nation requires a clearly defined approach to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In living up to its commitment, Malaysia has put in place the necessary legal and policy framework, anchored in the Strategic Trade Act 2010. In order to ensure effective implementation at the domestic level, the Government held nationwide outreach programmes, including with the private sector and enforcement agencies. This approach resulted in an increased awareness of the progressing non-proliferation obligations, as well as higher levels of compliance from the private sector. As such, we see the merit in similarly targeted outreach activities by the Security Council Committees related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Malaysia has also undertaken initiatives at the regional and subregional levels to complement and strengthen international non-proliferation mechanisms. As current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysia, together with Canada and New Zealand, hosted the 2015 ASEAN Regional Forum Intersessional Meeting on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. The two-day meeting, concluded in Kuala Lumpur earlier today, provided an opportunity for ASEAN and its partners to discuss, inter alia, the way forward following the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, international non-proliferation mechanisms and capacity-building in the area of WMD threat reduction. In that regard, I am encouraged by the fact that the Chairs of the three Committees have underlined their commitment to coordinating on common regional approaches by taking into consideration geographical and political similarities. Malaysia has officially offered assistance through the 1540 Committee to other Member States. We will consider such requests in the areas of legal and regulatory infrastructure, implementation and resources for fulfilling the provisions of the resolutions. In that connection, we will support efforts to streamline the matchmaking mechanism between donor States and assistance providers so as to ensure the effective delivery of such assistance. With regard to the work of the 1267/1989 Committee, my delegation joins others in thanking Mr. Alexander Evans, coordinator of the Monitoring Team, and the Team as a whole for bringing more energy and substantive focus to the Committee’s work. We wish Mr. Evans all the best and look forward to working with his successor. Like others, we, too, look forward to receiving the report on the implementation of resolution 2199 (2015). We note the increasing volume of listing and delisting requests addressed to the Ombudperson and the Focal Point for delisting. We hold the view that increased resort to those mechanisms indicates increased awareness and confidence in the sanctions mechanism. Given the Ombudsperson’s role in balancing security and human rights concerns, Malaysia continues to believe that there is scope to explore the possibility of extending such role and mandate for other sanctions Committees. On the Ombudsperson’s mandate, it is important that the Council agree on the way forward in appointing Ms. Prost’s successor. In noting the excellent support for and cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) by CTED, Malaysia commends the focus and concerted efforts initiated by the CTC geared towards the implementation of resolutions 2170 (2014), 2178 (2014) and 2199 (2015), on preventing the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, including the upcoming special meeting in Madrid to be hosted by Spain. We continue to believe that sharing information, to the extent possible, on the work of the sanctions Committees constitutes an important step towards building trust and confidence in the United Nations sanctions regime as a whole. In that regard, we remain supportive of the practice of open briefings by the Committee Chairs. I now resume my functions as President of the Council.