S/PV.9478 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At the outset, Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism will make a joint statement on behalf of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015); 1373 (2001); and 1540 (2004). Following the joint statement, the Council will hear briefings by the Chairs of those Committees. I now give the floor to Ambassador Nusseibeh. Mrs. Nusseibeh: On behalf of the Chairs of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), I have the honour to deliver a joint statement on cooperation between the three Committees. Over the past year, the three subsidiary bodies have coordinated their work to strengthen approaches to counter-terrorism and to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery by non-State actors. Today I will detail the form this work has taken. First, with respect to cooperation visits, in 2023 the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) visited Benin, Canada, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Jordan, the Republic of Korea and Spain on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC). These CTC visits enable the Security Council to monitor, promote and facilitate the implementation of relevant counter-terrorism resolutions by all Member States. They allow the CTC to evaluate the threat of terrorism at the national and subregional levels, as well as identify progress, strengths, gaps and good practices, including the delivery of technical assistance. An expert from the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team pursuant to Security Council resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) participated in the visits to Canada and Ecuador and provided advice to the delegations visiting Benin and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Monitoring Team’s participation in CTC assessment visits is invaluable in assisting the CTC to better evaluate the threats posed by terrorism and to identify gaps. The Monitoring Team’s advice also helps to inform the development of tailor-made capacity-building priorities for Member States, technical assistance providers and implementing partners. Secondly, an important aspect of the work over the past year has been information exchange. CTED, the Monitoring Team and the 1540 Group of Experts continued to exchange information on issues related to the mandates of the three Committees prior to and after country visits, including when experts of the Monitoring Team and 1540 Group of Experts were unable to join the respective assessment teams. It has become practice for the Monitoring Team and the 1540 Group of Experts to discuss threat assessments related to individuals and organizations listed under the 1267 and 1988 sanctions regimes, as well as those designated on national sanction lists in line with resolution 1373 (2001). The Executive Director of CTED met regularly in 2023 with the coordinators of the Monitoring Team and 1540 Group of Experts. CTED also shared its monthly activities reports and CTC monthly bulletin on its visit schedule with the Monitoring Team and Group of Experts, to keep them abreast of CTED outreach activities. CTED, the Monitoring Team and the 1540 Group of Experts continue to meet regularly at the working level to take stock of the latest developments in their respective mandates and to identify further possible areas of cooperation. This includes quarterly briefings during which the Monitoring Team Coordinator provides an update on the terrorism threat. Thirdly, collaboration has taken place on events. The Monitoring Team and CTED collaborated on two side events during the third Counter-Terrorism Week, in June. A Monitoring Team expert participated in the side event on “The nexus between organized crime and terrorism in the Americas”, co-organized by CTED, the Organization of American States, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and the Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations. Experts from the Monitoring Team and CTED also partnered in the side event organized by the Permanent Missions of Canada and Spain and Princeton University on “Tackling the multiplicity of security challenges in Taliban-run Afghanistan and neighbouring countries: terrorism, organized crime, human rights and humanitarian assistance”. Fourthly, experts have contributed to the reporting. In 2023, experts of CTED and the Monitoring Team cooperated closely in the drafting of the mandated sixteenth and seventeenth reports of the Secretary- General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat (S/2023/76 and S/2023/568). In the wake of the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s special meeting held in October 2022 in New Delhi, the Monitoring Team has continued to collaborate with CTED experts following the adoption of the Delhi Declaration. Monitoring Team experts have contributed to consultations held by CTED to facilitate the drafting of the non-binding guiding principles on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. CTED also consulted with the Monitoring Team as it prepared its thematic summary assessment of gaps in implementing key provisions of relevant Security Council resolutions on countering the financing of terrorism, prepared annually pursuant to resolution 2462 (2019), paragraph 35. CTED and the Monitoring Team participated in project teams, attended working group and plenary meetings of the Financial Action Task Force, and provided consolidated inputs on ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida financing. Fifthly, cooperation has taken place within the framework of the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact working groups, some of which are chaired by CTED. In their dialogue with Member States, Monitoring Team and CTED experts have partnered on seminars, workshops and expert briefings. This includes the Monitoring Team’s participation in the CTED-Naif Arab University for Security Sciences high-level seminar and their joint briefing of a delegation of jurists and academics from Bangladesh about the terrorism threat in South and South-East Asia, facilitated by the United States State Department. Since the last joint statement, experts of the Monitoring Team have attended CTC briefings. We will be circulating the list of them to all Council members. Sixthly, the Monitoring Team, CTED and the 1540 Group of Experts have been engaged in awareness- raising efforts on the growing threat of non-State actors developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, related materials and dual-use items for terrorist purposes. This includes raising awareness and assisting Member States to establish appropriate domestic controls to prevent the illicit trafficking of these items. The Monitoring Team also joined CTED to lead awareness-raising efforts with Member States regarding the enhanced implementation of travel ban measures. This includes the effective usage of the 1267 and 1988 sanctions lists, along with the INTERPOL Special Notices, advance passenger information and passenger name record systems and national watchlists. As such, the twentieth programme of work of the 1540 Committee, covering the period from 1 February 2023 to 31 January 2024, was submitted to the Security Council on 16 February 2023. The programme includes a comprehensive list of the Committee’s planned activities to support full implementation of the requirements of resolution 1540 (2004) by all Member States. The activities take place in the areas of outreach by the Committee, the Committee’s assistance mechanism, cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations, and transparency. The three Committees will continue to cooperate and coordinate their work under their respective mandates, including through joint visits at the invitation of Member States. This will ensure an effective and efficient approach to counter- terrorism and to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and related materials by non-State actors.

I thank Ambassador Nusseibeh for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Frazier. Mrs. Frazier: On behalf of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, I wish to give a brief overview of the developments in the work of the Committee over the past year. I will also outline the evolution of the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)/ Da’esh, Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities and the Committee’s response to this challenge with the support of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team presented its thirty-second biannual report in compliance with paragraph (a) of annex I to resolution 2610 (2021) in July. The findings from the report serve as the foundation for my current briefing. The briefing will also satisfy the requirement set out in resolution 2610 (2021) to report to the Security Council on the overall work of the Committee at least once a year. As reported by the Monitoring Team, the threat of terrorism remains high in conflict zones and relatively lower in other regions. The situation is fluid, and while the threat has diminished in some conflict zones, the resilience of terrorist groups implies a potential for resurgence in specific conditions. Both ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida have been forced to adapt organizationally and strategically by the pressure on their core leadership, as local branches have achieved greater independent operational capabilities. However, despite the indications that the central leadership’s direct oversight of regional branches is limited, there are still ongoing financial, propaganda and other linkages. Since the Monitoring Team’s most recent report, in early August, ISIL/Da’esh has announced the death of its most recent leader, Abu Al-Hassan Al-Hashemi Al-Qurashi, and named his successor as Abu Al-Husain Al-Husaini Al-Qurashi. ISIL/Da’esh has gone through four leaders in four years, of whom the last three were killed within 16 months, as a result of sustained counter- terrorism pressure in the territory under their control. Those leadership losses have led the group to change its strategy and adopt a flatter organizational structure, with the role of leader becoming less significant operationally. The group is also strategically reducing activities in order to limit losses after the weakening of its leadership, with the aim of rebuilding capabilities and restructuring its ranks. Simultaneously, it is engaged in recruitment in camps and detention centres in the north-eastern Syrian Arab Republic. The substantial population in the camps and detention centres in that area poses a potentially significant threat to the region and beyond. Within Afghanistan, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan remains a matter of concern. Member States have pointed to the group’s capacity to extend its threat beyond the country and have an impact in the wider region. The situation in Africa is growing increasingly complex, with violence intensifying in the Sahel and the Sudan. Several Member States have expressed concerns about the possibility that ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida could exploit the existing political and military instability to further their terrorist objectives. The ISIL/ Da’esh faction operating in the Sahel is trying to gain more independence and is intensifying its assaults in Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger. The clashes between that faction and Al-Qaida-linked groups in the area, combined with the uncertain political circumstances in the region, pose a multifaceted and intricate challenge to regional security. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Allied Democratic Forces continue to escalate their attacks on civilians, while further south, in Mozambique, the situation has improved significantly in Cabo Delgado. Overall, I would like to highlight that despite leadership losses and the effective counter-terrorism efforts of member States, ISIL/Da’esh, Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities continue to represent a serious threat to international peace and security. The situation requires the constant attention of Member States. For a more detailed analysis, I refer members to the periodic reports of the Monitoring Team published on the Committee’s website. As regards the general work of the Committee during the reporting period, our mandated activities continued smoothly. I would like to highlight the Committee members’ positive efforts in revising the Committee’s guidelines for the conduct of its work to ensure that they accord with resolution 2610 (2021). On 10 March, the Committee reached a consensus on the updates. Since the beginning of the year, the Committee has conducted 10 in-person meetings, including a joint briefing with the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011), for interested Member States. The Committee endorsed the addition of three individuals and one entity to the 1267 sanctions list, which is an increase over the previous year. The Committee is currently considering listing proposals for two entities and two individuals, while the Monitoring Team is concurrently reviewing several potential listing proposals in collaboration with the designating States. The Committee is also considering a proposal regarding the dissociation of religion and terrorism in relevant listings. Two individuals were removed from the list following recommendations by the Ombudsperson. The Office of the Ombudsperson is currently reviewing three delisting requests. Furthermore, the ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee approved amendments to the existing list entries and narrative summaries of 34 individuals and eight entities. The current ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida sanctions list consists of 256 individuals and 89 entities. The Committee received six requests for exemptions to the assets freeze determined to be necessary for basic expenses, pursuant to paragraphs 84 (a) and 86 (a) of resolution 2610 (2021). Five were from Member States and one came through the focal point mechanism. All the requests were approved. The Committee also approved one exemption to the assets freeze submitted by a Member State on behalf of one individual to cover extraordinary expenses. The 2022 annual review — conducted in accordance with paragraphs 90 and 91 of resolution 2610 (2021) and considering list entries lacking necessary identifiers as well as individuals reported as deceased and entities reported as defunct  — has been proceeding well up to now, and I would like to express my gratitude to the Member States that contributed responses. The forthcoming annual review is scheduled to start in 2024. As noted by the Monitoring Team, however, Member States continue to raise concerns about the lack of identifiers. Even the technical amendments to the list based on Member States’ information and approved by the Committee did little to substantively improve the quality of the list. The reluctance of certain Member States and other relevant international organizations to provide updated information about list entities and individuals remains an issue. In the light of the persistent global terrorist threat posed by ISIL/Da’esh, Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, along with evolving trends, I want to emphasize the importance of maintaining the 1267 sanctions regime as a top priority on the global counter-terrorism agenda. I strongly encourage Member States to participate actively in maintaining and updating the ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida sanctions list by proposing designations to the list and providing additional and updated information, along with supporting documentation, for the list entries and narrative summaries. It is also important to note that Member States’ reporting on the implementation of sanctions measures is still relatively limited. I urge them to sustain their active engagement with the Committee and the Monitoring Team, which is crucial to ensuring the accuracy of the sanctions list and the effective operation of the sanctions regime. As Chair, I conclude by expressing our gratitude to all Member States for their collaboration with the Committee, the Monitoring Team and the Office of the Ombudsperson.

I thank Ambassador Frazier for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Nusseibeh. Mrs. Nusseibeh: As Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, I have the honour to brief the Council on key aspects of the work of the Committee, supported by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). The past year has seen a continued evolution of threats and challenges posed by terrorist activities across the globe. The terrorist threat from Da’esh and Al-Qaida, respectively, remains concentrated in conflict zones, where fragilities are more easily exploited, even though counter-terrorism measures have effectively been mitigating their activities elsewhere. Their respective terrorist activities in the Middle East, Asia and Africa have become more decentralized and are often framed by local dynamics. As technologies have become cheaper and easier to access, terrorist groups have become increasingly adept at exploiting them, including by planning and conducting attacks with unmanned aircraft systems. Acts of terror, motivated by xenophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance, or in the name of religion or belief, are increasing in some Member States, often perpetrated by lone actors that are preemptively challenging detection and identification. With the support of CTED, the Committee has continued to engage with Member States, United Nations entities, international and regional organizations, academia and civil society organizations to assist Member States in addressing those threats and challenges in accordance with the relevant Council resolutions on terrorism. In doing so, the Committee has focused on three key areas of work. The first is the assessment of Member States’ implementation efforts. Acting on the Committee’s behalf, CTED has conducted eight visits this year, bringing the total number conducted since 2005 to precisely 200 and the total number of States visited to 117. The visits have continued to provide an effective mechanism for direct and constructive engagement and dialogue between the Committee, CTED and Member States, and remain a critical component of the Committee’s assessment process. The Committee also continued its stocktaking work with the enhanced assessment and stocktaking tool, the electronic detailed implementation survey and the revised overview of implementation assessment. These tools are designed to ensure continued thoroughness, consistency and transparency during desk reviews and stocktaking assessments. They also help produce quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform the relevant policy decisions of the Committee and the Council. In that regard, the Committee and the other Security Council subsidiary bodies have continued to work closely together in accordance with their respective mandates. The second area has been the facilitation of technical assistance to Member States. The Committee and CTED have maintained their close cooperation and coordination with the Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), together with a wide range of other United Nations entities and regional and bilateral stakeholders. The Committee regularly receives briefings from UNOCT and UNOCT observers and attends CTED’s briefings to the Committee on Member State assessment visits, while UNODC has participated in most of CTED’s visits to Member States. The high- priority technical-assistance needs identified during the Committee’s assessment visits, in addition to several visit reports, are posted on the Global Counter- Terrorism Coordination Compact portal for access by relevant United Nations implementing partners. In that regard, CTED has been working closely with UNOCT to update the database of recommendations and improve its functionality. CTED, serving as Chair, co-Chair or Vice-Chair of several working groups of the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, continues to work closely with UNOCT, UNODC and other relevant United Nations entities to ensure that their technical assistance achieves specific and measurable impact and results for the Member States they assist. The third key area has been the continued promotion of Member States’ implementation efforts. Since the Committee’s adoption of the Delhi Declaration on 29 October 2022, at a special meeting on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, it has undertaken the tasks set forth in the Declaration. They include the development of recommendations and non-binding guiding principles covering the three significant areas in which emerging technologies are experienced  — that is, in rapid development, in their growing use by Member States for security and counter-terrorism efforts and in the increased risk they present through exploitation by terrorists, specifically through information and communications technologies, new payment technologies for fundraising and unmanned aircraft systems. Over the past year, the Committee has held four open and closed briefings on regional and thematic topics to address the interests and concerns of Member States on counter-terrorism. They included an open briefing on countering terrorist narratives highlighting the latest trends, such as the impact of artificial intelligence, and emphasized preventive measures, as mandated by the Council. CTED’s analytic products, which are informed by its close cooperation with the member entities of its global research network, have helped raise the awareness of the Council, the Committee and Member States concerning emerging terrorism trends and threats. The Committee has also continued to address the human rights and gender aspects of counter-terrorism. We want to remind Member States that any measures taken to counter terrorism must comply with all their obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law. The Committee strengthened its engagement with parliamentarians, civil society organizations, the private sector and academia within the framework of its various activities and events. In its resolution 2617 (2021), the Council decided to conduct by 31 December an interim review of the mandate of CTED, a special political mission. The Committee will be assisting the Council in its review and will continue to provide policy guidance to CTED on enhancing its operation and functionality. In closing, I would like to express my thanks to the CTED Executive Director, Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman, for her leadership, as well as her team and the Committee secretariat for the support they have provided to the Chair and the Committee over the past year. I also want to convey my deep appreciation to the members of the Committee for their very constructive engagement.

I thank Ambassador Nusseibeh for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Montalvo Sosa.

On behalf of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), I am honoured to report on progress made since our last joint briefing, held on 23 November 2022 (see S/PV.9201). With regard to our mandate, we fully endorse the joint statement delivered on behalf of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, and the 1540 Committee. Resolution 1540 (2004) remains a vital component of the global non-proliferation architecture to prevent non-State actors from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction, including but not limited to those identified in the United Nations list established and maintained by the Committee pursuant to Security Council resolution 1267 (1999) and those to which resolution 1373 (2001) applies. The devastating and potentially catastrophic consequences that could result from the use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons by such actors remain a matter of grave concern to the international community. States have made significant progress towards the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), as the 1540 Committee has identified through the 2022 comprehensive review process. Nevertheless, more remains to be done, and the full and effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) remains a long-term task. Although the mandate of the 1540 Committee differs from that of the other two Committees, the 1540 Committee has continued to carry out its mandate in accordance with the provisions of resolution 2663 (2022), paragraph 22, namely through improved information-sharing and the consideration of opportunities to coordinate visits to States in accordance with the three Committees’ respective mandates. Accordingly, the 1540 Committee has also reported jointly to the Security Council with the other two Committees every year, as in today’s meeting. Following the renewal of the Committee’s mandate for 10 years, until 30 November 2032, through resolution 2663 (2022), the Committee continued to undertake activities to promote the full and effective implementation of the resolution and to assist States  — upon request  — in strengthening their national capacities. The Committee has participated in 34 outreach activities organized by States and international, regional and subregional organizations, as well as relevant civil society representatives. To date, 185 countries have submitted to the Committee their initial reports containing information on the measures taken, or planned to be taken, to implement resolution 1540 (2004). The effectiveness of the practical measures taken by States to implement the resolution is important, and one of the measures that States may consider in this connection is to develop voluntary national implementation action plans, as once again encouraged in resolution 2663 (2022). Those plans help to map out States’ priorities and their plans for implementing the key provisions of resolution 1540 (2004), including by identifying actions to be taken in relation to national regulatory and control frameworks, to foster inter-agency cooperation and identify areas in which assistance may be required. Since 2007, 38 States have submitted a total of 47 such plans to the Committee. The Committee plays an important role in facilitating assistance to Member States for fulfilling their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) by matching requests for assistance with offers of such assistance, whether from States or from international, regional or subregional organizations. In addition to facilitating requests for assistance, the Committee continued to work with States  — at their invitation  — to discuss national reporting, voluntary national implementation action plans, the Committee’s matrices and assistance with implementation measures. The Committee also continues to use its website as a means of public outreach. As requested by resolution 2663 (2022), the Committee has undertaken diverse activities under the 20th Programme of Work on Implementation, Assistance to Member States, Cooperation with IROs and Transparency & Outreach purviews. I would like to highlight that the 1540 Committee’s cooperative approach and dialogue with Member States remain the cornerstones of its work. In that context, in May, I addressed letters to Member States to emphasize the importance of full compliance by all States with resolution 1540 (2004) and to reaffirm that the Committee remains ready to provide assistance. In accordance with resolution 2663 (2022), paragraph 6, I wrote to States that had not yet submitted reports on the implementation of the resolution to encourage them to continue to undertake efforts to submit a report on their implementation of the resolution to the 1540 Committee without delay. In conclusion, I wish to express that, in the work of the Committee, a cooperative approach and dialogue with Member States is being pursued continually. I thank the Council for the opportunity to present this briefing.

I thank Ambassador Montalvo Sosa for his briefing. I would also like to express my gratitude again to the three Ambassadors for the important work they have been doing as Chairs of their respective Committees. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

Brazil thanks Ambassadors Frazier, Nusseibeh and Montalvo Sosa for their briefings today and for their able leadership, respectively, of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings 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). The collaboration between the three subsidiary bodies is appropriate and timely when the threat of the proliferation of mass destruction concerns non-State actors designated by the Council as terrorist entities. State obligations on proliferation, however, should remain independent of Security Council designations. We need to preserve the balance between development and security needs in the 1540 regime. The core of prevention efforts under that regime should not hamper international cooperation on materials, equipment and technology for peaceful and legitimate purposes. We often think of non-proliferation in conceptual terms, but more often than not the real work lies in improving processes and making marginal practical improvements in implementation. We therefore welcome Ecuador’s efforts in leading a revision of the assistance mechanism in order to make requests simpler and clearer for Member States both seeking and providing assistance. We also highlight the need for a fully staffed Group of Experts to assist the 1540 Committee in its work. We therefore urge for a swift conclusion to the nomination process of six new experts, based on the shortlist drawn up in April by the Committee’s presidency. The terrorist threat posed by Al-Qaida and Da’esh would certainly be magnified were they to acquire weapons of mass destruction. However, while other groups could certainly pose a similar threat, according to resolution 2610 (2021) their designation depends on proof of association with Al-Qaida or Da’esh. We welcomed the communication in August by the 1267 Sanctions Committee emphasizing the need for Member States to submit their listing proposals along with their supporting evidence. It fulfils the expectation that all Committee members will exercise equal authority and responsibility with respect to listing decisions, in addition to being a safeguard against the politicization of listing requests. The lack of an internationally agreed-on definition of terrorism fuels criticisms of selectivity and double standards in the efforts to combat that deplorable phenomenon. The response to terrorist threats never happens in a legal vacuum. The rules of the Charter of the United Nations and international humanitarian law fix the boundaries within which the use of force can be exercised, even in the face of a terrorist threat. The implementation of all four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, in a balanced manner, embodies the necessary holistic approach advocated by the wider United Nations membership. That approach should include the facilitation of technical assistance and capacity- building adapted to local realities, tailored to the needs and priorities of the requesting States. The development of policies and principles to prevent and counter the terrorist threat should abide by the same principle of national ownership. We acknowledge the role played by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate in supporting the Counter- Terrorism Committee and Member States, including by conducting country assessment visits with the consent of the host Government. Brazil reaffirms its repudiation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We reiterate our commitment to preventing and combating terrorism through the means permitted by the law, with a particular emphasis on international cooperation and actions that tackle the root causes of that unjustifiable phenomenon.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing the traditional briefing of the Chairs of the three Security Council Committees with competence in the area of counter-terrorism. We would also like to thank the Chairs of the three Committees for the reports presented today on the work that has been done and note their personal contribution to the implementation of the objectives set by the Council in the areas of counter-terrorism and non-proliferation. We share the positive assessments voiced regarding the cooperation that has been established between the Committees, including in relation to the organization of joint meetings, monitoring missions and exchanges of information. The effective establishment of cooperation appears all the more significant in the light of the persistent relevance of the threat of terrorism. Terrorist organizations are adapting and adjusting their methods to present-day conditions. They are capitalizing on conflict situations, and they are exploiting new and emerging technologies for their criminal purposes. It is not enough for the relevant structures of the Council to simply keep up with those new trends — they must try to stay several steps ahead of the terrorists. It is important to focus the efforts of the Counter- Terrorism Committee (CTC) on monitoring States’ implementation of key Security Council resolutions. In addition, particular attention should be afforded to countries in regions with heightened terrorist activity. We urge the leadership of those States inscribed on the current list for assessment visits by the Committee not to delay the coordination of such visits with the leadership of the CTC and its Executive Directorate (CTED). The benefits of such visits are clear: they contribute to, among others, the identification of gaps in national legislation and law enforcement practices. Recommendations based on the results of such visits allow States to make informed decisions and to bridge such gaps on their own or by requesting technical assistance through the Office of Counter-Terrorism. We believe that, when planning and developing capacity-building programmes, first and foremost, the wishes of the recipient State — as well as the Committee’s expert assessments and recommendations  — must be taken into account. We note with satisfaction the high-quality, expert- level support provided by CTED to the Committee. We thank the CTED Executive Director, Ms. Natalia Gherman, for the efforts to enhance the implementation of CTED’s key objectives, namely conducting assessment visits and preparing reports on behalf of the Committee. At the same time, we would like to emphasize the importance of maintaining the balanced nature of assessment tools, and not getting carried away with issues of a secondary nature. We are convinced that the key criterion for the effectiveness of the fight against terrorism remains the ability of States to counter financial and ideological support for terrorists and to ensure the inevitability of punishment for the crimes perpetrated. The CTC’s plans for the current year include holding a number of briefings. At the same time, the topics for discussion in the Committee next year must begin to be determined. In our opinion, an extremely pressing issue is that of the repatriation of foreign terrorist fighters and their families from Syria and Iraq. Another priority is addressing the relationship between terrorism and transnational organized crime, whereby terrorists are supplied with weapons. Regarding the involvement of experts both in meetings on current counter-terrorism issues, including open and closed briefings by the Committee, and in the development of analytical materials, it is important to maintain a balance in the representation of regions and points of view. We would like to ask the Chair of the CTC and Executive Director Gherman to pay special attention to that aspect. We express our gratitude to the Maltese chairpersonship of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities for its leadership and willingness to adopt a constructive approach to resolving various issues. We value the work of that Committee, which we consider to be one of the most effective mechanisms of the Council in the area of counter-terrorism. We prioritize questions concerning the effective implementation of Security Council resolutions on the counter-terrorism sanctions regime against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Qaida. We are heartened by the fact that the key provisions thereof are reflected in the guiding principles for the work of the 1267 Committee. We are closely monitoring the dynamics of the development of modern terrorist threats around the world, including in the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq, in South and South-East Asia and on the African continent. Despite the efforts undertaken by the de facto authorities, the Afghan wing of ISIL remains one of the key factors in the destabilization of the situation in the country. That danger is compounded by its expanding ideological, propagandistic and recruitment activities, with the skilful use of information and communications technologies. We see the group’s continued presence in the country as a threat to Afghanistan’s neighbouring States in Central Asia. There is focus on terrorist activity in a number of African countries, which is largely due to the socioeconomic consequences of the colonial and neocolonial policies of Western countries, as well as on the efforts of leaders in the region to overcome terrorism-related challenges. We emphasize the need to continue to focus on the issue of foreign terrorist fighters who are inscribed on counter-terrorist sanctions lists in order to prevent and curb their criminal activity and address the matter of their possible repatriation. We support the effective work of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, the reports of which are a cornerstone of the work of the Committee. We call on all Member States to closely cooperate with those experts. At the same time, we expect that the reports of the Monitoring Team will be as objective as possible and rely only on verified sources of information. We consider country visits by the Monitoring Team to be an important factor in our work. We consistently underscore the need to prioritize Team visits to those countries engaged in armed resistance against international terrorists and States that are tackling terrorist manifestations head-on. We note the continued proactive work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and the efforts of its Chair, the Permanent Representative of Ecuador, Mr. Hernán Pérez Loose. Resolution 1540 (2004) remains relevant as a universal international document aimed at ensuring cooperation among and assistance to States in the establishment of effective barriers at the national level to prevent weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and related materials from falling into the hands of non-State actors. We consider the pursuit of work within the Committee in a spirit of cooperation to be fundamentally important to ensuring the comprehensive and effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by all States. We consistently stress that the key areas of work of the 1540 Committee should remain monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the resolution and coordinating global activities in the field of providing technical assistance in that process to States upon their request. It must be taken into account that the Committee should not forcibly impose any service on members of the international community. Its approaches, including in the provision of assistance to States, must be tactful and ensure sufficient levels of confidentiality. Turning to the scope of today’s briefing, I would like to highlight that the activities of the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council participating in meetings are clearly delineated. The 1540 Committee, as a preventive non-proliferation and monitoring body, has neither the mandate nor the technical capacity to carry out activities to identify terrorist threats or respond to them — those are vested in the specialized Security Council Committees. Shifting the focus of the 1540 Committee to counter-terrorism runs the risk of diluting the non-proliferation aspect of its activities and altering the nature of resolution 1540 (2004) itself by introducing elements that were not initially stipulated into the process of its implementation, including attribution and interference in the internal affairs of States. Against that background, we view attempts to find some kind of synergy and overlapping of competences among the 1540 Committee, the 1267, 1989, 2253 Committee and the 1373 Committees as unnecessary and counterproductive — first and foremost, from the point of view of achieving the objectives of resolution 1540 (2004) itself. We note that resolution 2663 (2022), adopted last year, underscores the difference in the mandates of the three Committees and reaffirms the maintenance of the previous frameworks for potential cooperation, information sharing and coordination on visits to States. We believe that the annual joint briefings of the three Committees are sufficient to achieve those goals. We should also bear in mind that the resolutions refer exclusively to cooperation among the Committees themselves. There is no mention of direct interaction between their Groups of Experts. Given the specific nature of the Committees’ mandates and, in the case of the 1540 Committee, the strict accountability of its Group of Experts, including in terms of external contacts, all possible proposals in that regard should be considered by the Committees on a case-by-case basis. Our country remains open to constructive cooperation for prompt and efficient resolution of both substantive and organizational challenges faced by the 1540 Committee.

I would like to thank Ambassador Frazier, Ambassador Montalvo Sosa and Ambassador Nusseibeh for their briefings as the Chairs of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism; the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities; and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), respectively. The United Arab Emirates has benefited a great deal from its time as Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, particularly with the current trajectory and evolution of the terrorism threat being a cause for deep concern for all of us. The figures in the Sahel reveal the scale of the threat: of the global total last year, terrorism-related deaths in the Sahel constituted 43 per cent. That is compared with just 1 per cent in 2007. Terrorist groups are able to take advantage of conflicts, deteriorating economic conditions and security vacuums in ungoverned spaces. Against that backdrop, I want to emphasize four brief points. First, we cannot overstate the importance of addressing the root causes that allow the proliferation of terrorism. Addressing them  — and by doing so preventing terrorism from taking hold in the first instance  — must be our number one priority. Good governance, sustainable development, securing basic services and the wholesale rejection of intolerance will contribute to countering the threat of terrorism. That is why the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom co-penned resolution 2686 (2023) on tolerance, peace and security, adopted unanimously this year, which recognized for the first time that the issues of hate speech, racism and extremism can contribute to the outbreak, escalation and recurrence of conflict. It calls on States and stakeholders to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence and encourages preventive, comprehensive and whole-of-society approaches to addressing hate speech and intolerance. Through the resolution, the United Nations has now been mandated to monitor and report on the implementation of its provisions across its system. We urge all relevant stakeholders to assist with the implementation of the resolution. Secondly, we must strengthen international cooperation. We do not need to reinvent the wheel; mechanisms already exist, but by further developing and enhancing coordination, we have the chance to strengthen the counter-terrorism framework. That includes the importance of Member States exchanging information on terrorist groups, such as Da’esh and Al-Qaida, and effectively sanctioning those who meet the listing criteria. That coordination should also encompass how we refer to terrorist groups. Words matter. And so we should avoid the use of self- prescribed names for terrorist groups that offer them the semblance of legitimacy, such “Islamic State” or “ISIL”. The United Arab Emirates uses “Da’esh” wherever possible because it avoids language that makes a connection between those who seek to spread terror and unaffiliated members of a religious community. As such, we have submitted a proposal to amend the current references to seven entities designated under the Da’esh/Al-Qaida sanctions regime. Thirdly, we cannot ignore the emerging trend of the exploitation of new technologies. While we benefit from the rapid technological advances in our everyday lives, terrorist groups also have access to new tools to radicalize and recruit others, to spur on violence and hate, and to use those new technologies to facilitate or commit acts of terrorism. We therefore welcome the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s focus on the exploitation of artificial intelligence and information communication technologies for terrorist purposes. Current negotiations on the first set of non-binding guiding principles for Member States on countering the use of unmanned aircraft systems for terrorist purposes are encouraging, and we look forward to their adoption by members of the Committee. Fourthly, there is a growing urgency to restore the 1540 Committee’s Group of Experts to its full strength, by appointing experts to fill the six vacancies. Ambassador Pérez Loose, the Chair of the Committee, has our full support to resolve that matter as swiftly as possible and to ensure the effective functioning of the 1540 Committee. We welcome the Committee’s efforts to improve the mechanism for assisting States to implement resolution 1540 (2004), including to update working procedures for responding to requests for assistance. The corrosive and unrelenting nature of terrorism in the world must be met with equal determination to prevent and counter it. The United Arab Emirates commends the collective efforts of the three Committees that contribute to countering terrorism. And we will continue to work closely with all who endeavour to do so.

I would like to thank the Chairs of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings 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) for their briefings and for their skilful stewardship of our work over the past year. The briefings demonstrate not only the complexity of the challenges we face, but also the interdependence of our efforts to respond effectively. Allow me to make a few remarks about the work of each Committee. The targeted sanctions of the 1267 Committee are an important tool of the Council to contain the capabilities of terrorist groups. However, their effectiveness depends on the transparency and fairness of our processes. Thanks to the Office of the Ombudsperson, the 1267 regime has fair and clear procedures, guaranteeing the rule of law and human rights in the implementation of sanctions. Moreover, the humanitarian exemption created by resolution 2664 (2022) is an essential milestone in facilitating the rapid distribution of humanitarian aid and meeting the basic needs of the population. Our initial observations confirm its relevance in the context of the sanctions regime. Continuity, effective implementation in national legislation and additional efforts, such as awareness- raising, are needed to promote its understanding by the actors concerned. The Committee also plays an important role in establishing a factual basis for global terrorist threats. In that respect, I would also like to thank the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team for its valuable work. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001)  — the Counter-Terrorism Committee — we would also like to thank the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate for its work. The Counter-Terrorism Committee’s country assessments are crucial to strengthening Member States’ ability to prevent and combat terrorism effectively and in compliance with international law. The contribution of civil society is essential in that context, and we welcome the efforts made to ensure that their voice is heard in the country assessments and in the work of the Committee. The collaboration is all the more important because counter-terrorism efforts can have negative effects on civic space. We must be attentive to the needs of those we seek to protect, maintain a constant dialogue and ensure that none of the measures we take serve as a pretext for human rights abuses or violations of international humanitarian law. That is why Switzerland has been advocating an inclusive and a gender-sensitive approach, in particular on the link between terrorism and sexual and gender- based violence. That perspective is essential to the development of targeted and effective responses. The 1540 Committee continues to be a cornerstone of the non-proliferation architecture. While it is a positive that the Committee was able to agree on a programme of work at the beginning of the year, we note that its substantive work, which had been diligently prepared and submitted by the Chair, has been blocked. The Committee has a duty to help minimize the risks of proliferation among non-State actors. In that regard, we believe that the Committee’s intention to clarify the role of the support mechanism and strengthen it, particularly the support provided by the Group of Experts, is important. If the Committee is to fully provide such assistance to States, it must be able to rely on a functional and fully staffed Group of Experts. We ask that the Committee agree without further delay on the appointment of the six proposed experts and thank the chairmanship for its efforts to that end. In short, this briefing attests to our collective commitment to the fight against terrorism and the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Those challenges require a coordinated response, based on the understanding that global security is inseparable from the protection of human rights and respect for international law.

We thank Ambassadors Frazier, Nusseibeh and Montalvo Sosa for their briefings on their respective Committees. We would also like to express our appreciation for the cooperation and harmonious coordination among the three Committees. Together they are all aligned in achieving the same objective, and they play crucial roles in countering terrorism and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We also acknowledge the Committees’ important role in facilitating assistance to Member States in fulfilling their obligations. Mozambique commends the Committees on the progress made during the reporting period. We reiterate that the Committees continue to be a vital component of the global counter-terrorism architecture. Terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and affects many Member States in various regions of the world, with a higher incidence in African and Asian countries, where Al-Qaida and Da’esh remain active. The sanctions regime of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities represents an important instrument of the Security Council for combating threats from affiliates of Al-Qaida and Da’esh, preventing the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons by freezing financial assets and imposing travel bans and arms embargoes on individuals and associated entities. In that context, Mozambique supports the full implementation of resolution 1267 (1999) by Member States and their continued cooperation with the Committee in providing relevant information to support the work of its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. We also support the obligatory periodic submission of national reports on the implementation of evaluation measures at the national level in order to enrich the Monitoring Team’s analyses. Terrorism is a complex, evolving and multifaceted threat that requires a comprehensive, inclusive, effective, multilateral and integrated response. In that connection, Mozambique considers the eighth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy to be a valuable instrument and encourages Member States to ensure its implementation. We call on the United Nations system and on international, regional and subregional organizations to continue promoting the Strategy and providing capacity-building and technical assistance to Member States requesting them. I would like to conclude by emphasizing that effective action against terrorism should be forthcoming through stronger cooperation and coordination among various stakeholders, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations.

I would first like to express Malta’s gratitude to Ambassador Nusseibeh, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, and Ambassador Pérez Loose, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for their excellent stewardship during 2023. The threat posed by terrorist groups to international peace and security remains high and dynamic across conflict zones. In Africa, Da’esh and Al-Qaida affiliates are expanding their activities in many parts of the continent. In Afghanistan, Da’esh-Khorasan continues to pose a serious threat within the country and the wider region. The Monitoring Team has further reported that the relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaida remains close. Moreover, Da’esh is maintaining its insurgency and ability to mount high-profile attacks in Syria and Iraq. As the terrorist threat evolves, so too must the Security Council’s response. We need to focus greater attention on addressing the root causes of violent extremism and protecting human rights while countering terrorism. We also need to enhance the inclusion of civil society within wider counter- terrorism decision-making. As we highlighted at our Arria Formula meeting in June, the Council must ensure that counter-terrorism responses are gender-responsive. That includes addressing sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated in terrorist contexts  — violence that disproportionately affects women and girls. United Nations sanctions are an indispensable component of the Security Council’s toolbox in countering terrorism. That applies in particular to the threat posed by Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates. I want to personally thank all members of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities for their constructive engagement, in my capacity as Chair, and I look forward to our continued cooperation in 2024. Malta was especially pleased that we were able to reach a consensus on updating the Committee’s guidelines earlier this year. In an increasingly precarious global security environment, the risk that non-State actors such as terrorists can acquire, develop, traffic or use weapons of mass destruction is deeply concerning. The risk is not imaginary. The investigations led by the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD) have uncovered evidence of the development and use by Da’esh of chemical and biological weapons in Iraq. UNITAD’s important work serves as one example of the interlinkages in the work of the three Committees and the importance of cooperation among them and their expert groups. That includes the participation of the 1267 Monitoring Team and 1540 Group of Experts in relevant country visits by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. The participation of the 1540 Group of Experts in country visits and outreach activities is a key aspect of the implementation of the Committee’s mandate. In that regard, we are gravely concerned about the fact that all the recent invitations have been blocked. We also deeply regret the current impasse in the Group of Expert selection process. We reaffirm our full support for the Chair’s proposal and reiterate our call for the Group of Experts to be fully staffed and working at full capacity, without further delay.

We thank each Ambassador for their briefings and leadership in drawing attention to the work of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities; the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism; and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), which play complementary roles in assessing and countering terrorist threats and support for terrorism. The three Committees should coordinate their counter-terrorism efforts in mutually reinforcing ways to facilitate the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and enhance global peace and security. The United States reminds all Member States of their obligations to criminalize terrorism, prevent its financing and deny safe havens to terrorists. As the world saw with Hamas’s brutal terrorist attacks in Israel, the Council’s work to counter terrorism is far from complete. Da’esh and Al-Qaida branches and affiliates continue to expand their influence across the globe. We are especially concerned about the growth of threats in Africa. As we look forward to the Africa Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja in April, we will work within the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities and with Member States in the region to prioritize efforts for the 1267 Committee to list key Da’esh affiliates in Africa, as well as Da’esh and Al-Qaida leaders and facilitators. Unfortunately, the 1267 Committee has designated only three individuals and one entity since the beginning of this year. Designations are one of the most important levers the Security Council has to deter terrorist activity. We look forward to the upcoming biannual report of the 1267 Committee’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which will help shed further light on the complicated terrorist and threat landscape the international community faces. The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism continues to serve as a key platform for discussion on current and emerging terrorist threats. The assessment of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate on Member States’ implementation of their counter-terrorism obligations are invaluable. We urge Member States and the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to use those assessments, to identify capacity gaps and highlight some of the good practices outlined in such assessments. We urge all Council members to recognize and respect the importance and technical nature of those reports. Noting the importance of increased transparency and partnerships in the Coordination Compact’s efforts, we iterate the importance of robust engagement with civil society at the Africa Counter- Terrorism Summit, in Abuja. The 1540 Committee remains a cornerstone of international efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) by and to non-State actors, including terrorist groups. The Committee and its Group of Experts play a key role in overseeing obligations to prevent non-State actors from benefiting from the transfer, manufacture or use of WMDs or related goods and know-how. That is why we have been so disappointed by the recent obstructionism in the Committee to block the Chair’s almost year-long efforts to fill the gaps in the Group of Experts. Even more concerning is how that gap is being used as justification to block the Group of Experts from carrying out its responsibilities, aligned with the Committee’s mandate. That obstructionism is, of course, part of a larger, disturbing downward trend in non-proliferation engagement that is making the world more dangerous and is unravelling decades of hard-won cooperation among the nations of the world to reduce the threat posed by WMDs. The vast majority of Committee members and non-Committee members rightfully continue to find the work of the 1540 Committee incredibly valuable. For that reason, we are grateful for Ecuador’s leadership, transparency and consultations and continue to urge all Committee members to engage constructively on this file. The Council has explicitly encouraged cooperation among the 1267, 1373 and 1540 Committees in order to advance broad counter- terrorism initiatives. In particular, resolutions 1810 (2008), 1977 (2011) and 2325 (2016) iterate the need to enhance cooperation between the 1540 Committee and other subsidiary bodies, including through information-sharing, coordination on visits to countries within their respective mandates, technical assistance and other issues of relevance to all three Committees. The 1540 regime is especially important in that regard since it requires Member States to adopt and enforce laws to prevent all non-State actors, including terrorists, private entities and individuals who might unwittingly or intentionally enable terrorist acquisition of WMD-related assets. In conclusion, greater cooperation, including through more regular meetings, more frequent joint visits and increased sharing of information regarding current and emerging non-State proliferation threats, will help all three Committees fulfil their mandates.

I will now make a statement in my national capacity. Ecuador expresses its appreciation to the Chairs of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism and the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, for their informative briefings. I acknowledge the dedicated work of Permanent Representatives Lana Nusseibeh and Vanessa Frazier and their teams in the fulfilment of their respective mandates. We commend the ongoing cooperation between the Committees, which play an important role in the wider United Nations counter- terrorism efforts. In that context, we are pleased to report that, within the framework of resolution 1373 (2001), the Counter- Terrorism Committee conducted an assessment visit to Ecuador from 23 to 27 October. We would like to express our appreciation to the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the panel of experts who participated in the visit for their work. The preliminary observations already received and the report to be prepared on the visit will constitute fundamental inputs for strengthening the national strategy to prevent and combat terrorism, as well as for identifying my country’s technical cooperation needs. My delegation regrets that, despite the efforts made by Permanent Representative Hernán Pérez Loose, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), and those of his team, it has not been possible to select candidates for the vacancies in the Group of Experts — even though more than six months ago a list was defined for that purpose on the basis of a participatory, transparent process that considered the selection criteria of experience, technical knowledge, education, geographic representation and gender equity. Six of the nine seats on the Group of Experts remain vacant. That limits the Committee’s ability to assist Member States in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and places a considerable burden on the current experts, who are now each carrying out functions that would normally be appropriate for two or more experts. That, in turn, has resulted in the Committee being forced to decline to participate in activities related to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), some of which are linked to cooperation among the three Committees that have delivered briefings today. I therefore urge the Council to show its commitment and to set aside unnecessary objections that are hindering the work of the 1540 Committee and reiterate the contents of the letter sent to the Chair of the 1540 Committee by the Permanent Representative of Brazil, on behalf of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, on the impasse in the selection of candidates, which requires an urgent solution. I do not wish to conclude without expressing, in my national capacity, my appreciation to the Group of Experts, the Committee secretariat and the Office for Disarmament Affairs for their work and compliance with the mandate of resolution 1540 (2004).

I wish to thank Malta for its commitment at the helm of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, the United Arab Emirates for their chairmanship of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism in 2023, and Ecuador for its chairmanship of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). I wish to focus briefly on the activities of each of those Committees and our related priorities. I turn first to the 1267 Committee, which fills a key role in our counter-terrorism efforts by seeing to the implementation and enforcement of sanctions against Al-Qaida and Da’esh. The terrorism perpetrated by Al-Qaida, Da’esh and their affiliates remains the most acute terrorist threat. That threat continues to evolve and to spread in Africa, specifically in the Sahel and in the Gulf of Guinea countries, as well as in the Levant, Afghanistan, Europe and South-East Asia. France has once again been targeted by Da’esh terrorism, as the tragic murder of a professor in Arras just a month ago demonstrated. France considers both the missions of the 1267 Committee and the impartial and independent work of the mediator very important. It is our duty as Council members to fully leverage the sanctions stipulated under the 1267 regime while preserving their integrity and effectiveness. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism plays a dual role in preserving the effectiveness and relevance of our collective action. It is the guarantor for the implementation of Security Council counter-terrorism resolutions. In that regard, we applaud the efforts of Ms. Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. The targeted recommendations formulated through the assessment visits enable States to enhance their efforts to counter the scourge of terrorism. The Counter- Terrorism Committee is also a laboratory for ideas on how to adapt our initiatives to the emerging challenges of a constantly changing terrorist threat. We support the work of implementing the Delhi Declaration being led by the United Arab Emirates, which complements efforts in other forums. With regard to countering the financing of terrorism, for example, France has joined the No Money for Terror initiative, which monitors every method of terrorism financing, including cryptocurrencies. Resolution 1540 (2004) is a pillar of our non-proliferation system. The risk of radiological, biological, chemical and nuclear material and their means of delivery falling into the hands of terrorists remains high and their proliferation channels continue to expand. We applaud the efforts of the Chair of the 1540 Committee to improve the way that requests for assistance are handled. We need to improve security for sensitive goods and materials, border controls and export-control mechanisms. France is concerned about the protracted vacancies for six posts that have continued within the 1540 Group of Experts after the Chair’s nomination of six candidates in April was blocked. France will continue to support the Chair’s efforts to address the situation. France encourages continued coordination among all of these groups, which complement one another. The terrorist threat persists and continues to horrify people all over the world. The terrorist attack in Israel of 7 October perpetrated by Hamas is further evidence of that. In the face of the barbarity of terrorism, we must continue to enhance our global counter- terrorism initiatives.

Let me begin by thanking the Chairs of the Security Council’s three counter-terrorism committees for their joint and individual statements. As today’s briefings confirm, the Committees continue to play an important role through their complementary delivery of the efforts needed to strengthen global actions in assessing and countering terrorism, especially in response to evolving threats and the risk of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups. We therefore continue to encourage the convergence of the Committees’ actions and their reinforcing effect on the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The evolving nature of terrorism and non-State actors’ use of new technologies demand that we pool resources and take collective action to stay ahead of such threats. We must work in a coherent manner in order to close the capability gaps of the most vulnerable countries, leverage rapid technological developments to stay proactive and utilize our collective expertise to mitigate the risks that terrorism poses. We would like to make three points in response to today’s briefings. First, regarding the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, we note the positive work being done by the Analytical Support and Monitoring Team and commend its support to the Committee in monitoring terrorist activity and providing crucial analyses, which have greatly contributed to countering the evolving threat posed by ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida. We note the Committee’s constructive engagement, which has resulted in a successful revision of the guidelines for the conduct of the Committee’s work in accordance with resolution 2610 (2021). The guidelines provide clarity, enabling the Committee to efficiently detect, target and help disrupt the activities of terrorists, individuals, groups and entities. The effectiveness of the 1267 Committee in fighting terrorism depends on Member States’ commitment to implementing sanctions, sharing information and cooperating internationally. However, we are concerned about a lack of identifiers and inadequate information from certain Member States and international organizations, as the briefings highlighted. That represents a significant risk, as it may enable some terrorists to evade accountability while innocent individuals could potentially face unjust or stringent sanctions. It is important in that regard that Member States and international organizations provide accurate and comprehensive information to support the Committee’s efforts in combating terrorism. Secondly, concerning the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism, we reaffirm its role as the key platform for dialogue on counter-terrorism matters within the framework of the Council. The continued engagement between the Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and other relevant actors remains critical to the Council’s efforts to undermine terrorist groups such as ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida that continue to adapt and maintain cross- border strategic, financial and propaganda linkages. Thirdly, in the current global security landscape, it is important that we enhance action within the global non-proliferation architecture to prevent non-State actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. In the light of the critical responsibilities placed on the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), we are concerned about the lack of progress regarding the selection of the Group of Experts established to assist the Committee in fulfilling its mandate as outlined in resolutions 1977 (2011) and 2055 (2012). We urge that the selection process be expedited to enable the Committee to benefit from the Group of Experts’ expertise and support. In the light of the evolving nature of the activities of non-State actors and advances in science and technology, we believe it is crucial that the Committee be able to proactively sustain and enhance its engagement with Member States through outreach events, initiatives that will play a vital role in continually raising awareness and encouraging both States and civil actors to fulfil their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004). In conclusion, Ghana reiterates that the global fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction demands unwavering commitment, collaboration and proactive measures. By sustaining engagement, fulfilling our obligations, leveraging technology and prioritizing international cooperation, we can effectively counter terrorism, safeguard global security and ensure the safety of our nations and peoples.

I thank the Chairs for their briefings and for their combined leadership of our counter-terrorism efforts. The Council has been lucky to have such effective and dynamic chairships from the United Arab Emirates, Malta and Ecuador through the course of the year. The United Kingdom is particularly grateful to the new Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for his drive since Ecuador took on the role at the start of the year. We commend the Chair for securing Committee agreement for a programme of work to take forward the actions agreed in resolution 2663 (2022), and we welcome the Chair’s intention that the Committee should develop voluntary guidelines. However, despite the Chair’s best intentions and a constructive approach on the part of a majority of Committee members, progress and the provision of support to States has once again been impeded. It is disappointing that two members have maintained their hold since April on the process to replace the 1540 Committee Group of Experts, and that a permanent member is now blocking the Committee’s external engagement activities. The situation severely undermines our ability to support States in implementing a resolution that is designed to prevent chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and related material from falling into the hands of non-State actors, including terrorists. It is hard to understand why any country, let alone a permanent member of the Council, would want to stymie those efforts. The United Kingdom very much appreciates the continued efforts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter- terrorism and its Chair to tackle the global scourge of terrorism and protect all of our citizens. The terrorist threat is evolving and remains with us. Terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida and Da’esh affiliates, continue to seek to spread hatred and fear around the world, using new technologies and taking advantage of regional instability. The work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee has to evolve to stay ahead of this. For our work to be effective, the perspectives of technical experts, civil society and the private sector are invaluable. We also commend the work of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, and its Chair. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team’s analysis of the evolving threat and of the effectiveness of sanctions remains a crucial resource for Member States, and we welcome work by the Chair, secretariat and Ombudsperson to uphold transparency and due process. These are critical to ensuring that the 1267 regime retains the broad support and legitimacy that it needs. Despite the distinct mandates for each of these Committees, they share a common purpose: to tackle the persistent and significant threat to international peace and security posed by terrorist groups and non-State actors. Only through the effective and coordinated implementation of the mandates of these Committees can we address the threat together. We must redouble these efforts.

I thank the Chairs of the Committees for their comprehensive briefings and their leadership of the Committees. While each of the Committees has a distinct mandate, their common purpose is to address the threat to international peace and security posed by terrorist groups and non-State actors. It is therefore of vital importance to ensure the effective and coordinated work of these Committees. First, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities continues to play an important role in countering terrorism. Japan commends the work of the Chair and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. We also commend the work of the Ombudsperson, which contributes to ensuring fair and clear procedures for the 1267 sanctions regime. In order to ensure the swift and robust implementation of sanctions measures, we stress the importance of continuous improvement of the ways by which notifications of updates to the list are transmitted. We thank the Secretariat for its efforts on that issue. Secondly, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) also continues to play a vital role in assisting the efforts of Member States to combat the threat to international peace and security. Japan welcomes its continued focus on new and emerging technologies. We continue to engage constructively in discussions on developing non-binding guiding principles, as expressed in the Delhi Declaration adopted last year. In that regard, Japan appreciates the efforts of the CTC Chair and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. We value the inclusive and consultative approach to elaborate discussions in this sphere with partners, including civil society and academia. Thirdly, resolution 1540 (2004) is a vital component of the global non-proliferation architecture. Japan highly values the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and its Group of Experts in assisting Member States to take concrete actions for the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In that context, Japan expresses serious concern about the current situation, in which the Committee has been unable to nominate new experts for more than six months. It is equally regrettable that the Committee failed to permit the current members of the Group to participate in recent outreach activities. Japan highly appreciates the tireless efforts of Ecuador, the Chair of the Committee, in seeking a consensus-based solution to this unfortunate situation. It is our sincere hope that the Committee will promptly resolve this issue without further delay. The Committee’s work cannot continue to be held hostage by the obstructionism of any specific member of the Committee. Lastly, once again, Japan reiterates its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In that regard, we stress the need for the robust implementation of Security Council sanctions measures. Japan will spare no effort to prevent and counter terrorism — a task that is integral to the realization of a peaceful and stable international community in which human dignity is respected.

I would like to thank the respective Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004), on terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Mrs. Frazier of Malta, Mrs. Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates and Mr. Pérez Loose of Ecuador, for their very useful briefings. This joint briefing demonstrates the importance of maintaining a holistic and concerted approach to the fight against these scourges. Gabon reaffirms its support for all the Security Council Committees established to combat terrorism and nuclear proliferation, and we appreciate the work undertaken throughout the year, from the meetings between the Monitoring Teams, stakeholders and Member States to the thematic briefings, which provide an essential framework for information exchange. My country recognizes their sustained commitment, which, given the particularly difficult context in which the world finds itself, is all the more relevant. These joint endeavours indeed demonstrate the importance of cooperation to strengthen our work to counter the serious threats of terrorism and nuclear proliferation. Gabon is pleased to have made modest contributions to those efforts, which must continue so as to allow us to achieve our goal of eradicating these scourges, which threaten our common peace and security. We welcome the remarkable work carried out by Malta as Chair of the 1267 Committee. Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates, including the support that they offer organizations or individuals responsible for terrorist acts, remain a serious threat to international peace and security. Today that threat lies not only in those groups’ adaptability and resilience, but also in their ability to raise funds and gain ground in the regions afflicted by violence and conflicts. In that regard, Gabon remains convinced that the sanctions regime established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), including the work of the relevant Committee, must remain an essential tool in the fight against terrorist groups affiliated with Da’esh and Al-Qaida and a vital component of the Council’s counter-terrorism agenda. My country also takes this opportunity to call for enhanced efforts by Member States in support of the valuable work done by the Monitoring Team and the Office of the Ombudsperson, who play a leading role in implementing the 1267 sanctions regime. With respect to the 1373 Committee, we support the efforts of its Chair and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate to establish the elements for a non-binding framework that will strengthen the normative framework related to the serious threats posed by the use of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, for terrorist purposes, in accordance with the follow-up to the Delhi Declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. The protection of vulnerable targets — in particular, civil infrastructure and civilian populations — is therefore a priority for the international community. Resolution 1540 (2004) remains an essential component of the global non-proliferation architecture for nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. Its full implementation is essential to substantially and sustainably reduce the risks related to the acquisition by non-State actors of weapons of mass destruction. In that regard, we welcome the awareness-raising campaigns undertaken by the Committee through cooperation with Member States. My country reiterates its interest in seeing the Committee prioritize the concerns of developing countries. In closing, I underscore that our collective action against terrorism and nuclear proliferation must be aligned with our commitments to respecting human rights, fighting poverty and especially to maintaining international peace and security.

I join others in expressing our gratitude to Ambassadors Frazier, Nusseibeh and Montalvo Sosa for their comprehensive briefings on the work of these important subsidiary bodies of the Security Council. We would like to express our appreciation and gratitude for their diligence and patience as they have continued to steer the work of the Committees throughout the year. The evolving nature of terrorism raises important questions regarding its trajectory, the factors influencing its evolution and the regions most likely to be affected. It is essential that Member States address those questions in order to develop proactive and effective strategies to combat terrorism while upholding international law, human rights law and international humanitarian law. Albania has worked closely with the Office of the Ombudsperson and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities in addressing challenges related to listing and delisting. We encourage the Member States affected to propose listings in compliance with the relevant resolutions and to implement the recommendations of the Ombudsperson. We welcome the Committee’s updated working guidelines and believe that they have added value in terms of the effective use of sanctions to target terrorists. We also commend the work of the Monitoring Team and have taken careful note of its assessment of the threat of terrorism, which remains high in conflict zones. Terrorist organizations have shown a propensity for exploiting existing conflicts and fragile States to expand their influence and carry out attacks. Albania welcomes the Committee’s flexible approach in adapting its activities to respond to the evolving threats posed by Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates. Albania appreciates and welcomes the close cooperation between the three Committees. We are encouraged that the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee participated in the on-site assessment visits of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and by the health consultations and information exchanges between the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Group of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We believe that represents a very good opportunity for finding shared solutions to the existing gaps. We also appreciate the work of the CTC’s open briefings with the engagement of civil society and the private sector  — a welcome step for the whole-of-society approach that is at the core of our common efforts to prevent and combat terrorism. While we recognize the great opportunities offered by new technologies, we must remain mindful of the fact that they could be used by malign individuals and entities. To that end, we encourage and support the work of the Committees in addressing the threat posed by terrorists’ use of new and emerging technologies, while ensuring full compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms. While we acknowledge the meaningful progress that has been made in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), we are equally aware that its full implementation remains a long-term task. The work of the 1540 Committee therefore continues to play a key role in achieving its main objective. We remain concerned about the prolonged delay in appointing the six new members of the Group of Experts, which is creating serious obstacles to the Committee’s proper functioning. It is urgent that the issue be resolved, and Albania reiterates its full support for the letter circulated by the 10 elected members of the Security Council in that regard. We call on all Council members to be flexible and to find a common approach. As this is Albania’s final joint meeting, I would like to reiterate that Albania will continue to support United Nations efforts to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. However, no matter how hard we try, our efforts will ultimately fail if we do not put human rights at the heart of our collective fight against terrorism. There can never be any excuse for violating international humanitarian law and international human rights law for the sake of greater effectiveness in the fight against terrorism. As we have said before, reacting to terrorism will never be enough. We need to invest in prevention, addressing the root causes of terrorism and undercutting the ability of terrorists to recruit new victims and exploit people’s legitimate grievances in order to pursue their terrorist agenda. To that end, as a country with a long history of peaceful cohabitation of people of different religions, Albania strongly supports promoting tolerance and interreligious and intercultural dialogue in order to strengthen societies’ resilience to extremism.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of China. China thanks Ambassador Nusseibeh for the briefing on behalf of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), and thanks the United Arab Emirates, Malta and Ecuador for their hard work as Chairs of the three Committees. The Committees have made notable progress in their work over the past year. As Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), the United Arab Emirates has given serious attention to communication and coordination, and in a pioneering spirit has actively promoted the Committee’s efforts to conduct country visits, closely track new developments and challenges in the field of counter-terrorism, strengthen exchanges and discussions on terrorists’ misuse of uncrewed aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence and assist in providing technical assistance to the countries concerned, thereby helping Member States respond to the new challenges of terrorism. As Chair of the 1267 Committee, Malta has promoted the Committee’s endeavours to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, update its rules of procedure, review the sanctions list and actively process requests for listing, delisting and exemptions. As Chair of the 1540 Committee, Ecuador has actively promoted the Committee’s implementation of Security Council resolutions and international cooperation on non-proliferation. As Ambassador Nusseibeh mentioned just now, the Committees have ventured into useful horizontal exchanges with good results, which China appreciates. During its presidency of the Security Council in 2005, China initiated the joint briefings by the three Committees, with a view to promoting exchanges and mutual learning among them and creating synergies in the fight against terrorism. The current global counter-terrorism landscape remains complex and worrisome, with terrorists and extremist forces fomenting trouble and colluding with each other across borders. Terrorist networks continue to spread and expand. We still have a long way to go in the fight against terrorism. The three Committees should stay true to their founding missions, uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, strengthen solidarity and cooperation and make new contributions to the cause of global counter-terrorism. First, the Committees should intensify their efforts to improve their own work. China supports the CTC in adapting to new situations, responding to new challenges and promoting the full implementation of the Council’s resolutions on counter-terrorism and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) should provide support and assistance to the CTC in its work. The 1267 Committee should continue to take an objective, impartial and professional approach to handling listing, delisting and exemptions, in accordance with the Council’s resolutions, in order to safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the sanctions regime. The new appointments to the 1540 Group of Experts have been pending for a long time. It is our hope that the Chair will play a coordinating role in facilitating an agreement among the parties on that issue as soon as possible. Secondly, the three Committees should maintain communication and interaction. Joint briefings help all the parties gain a comprehensive understanding of the global counter-terrorism situation and their respective work priorities, so that they can better learn from and complement each other’s work. We are pleased to see that CTED, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee and the 1540 Group of Experts have been conducting regular exchanges, assisting each other in drafting reports and participating in relevant counter-terrorism discussions. We hope that the three Committees, while continuing the aforementioned practices, will enhance their synergy in more diverse ways, including through joint field visits and joint briefings to Member States. Thirdly, the Committees should work together to assist the Member States in strengthening capacity-building. We hope that the CTC will optimize resource allocation and, in line with the needs of the countries concerned, help developing countries, especially African countries and countries at the forefront of countering terrorism, to strengthen their legislative, judicial and law-enforcement capacities. The 1267 Committee should help Member States to understand accurately and implement strictly the relevant sanctions of the Security Council. The 1540 Committee should encourage Member States to increase investment in technical assistance and international cooperation, properly handle the relationship between non-proliferation and peaceful uses, and safeguard the right of all countries, especially developing countries, to the peaceful use of science and technology. China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. We stand ready to work with the international community to actively advance international counter-terrorism cooperation, improve the international non-proliferation architecture and jointly safeguard world peace and security. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.