SPECIAL CTC MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS:  Thursday 6 March 2003

 

Provisional Agenda

 

0830 – 0915:   REGISTRATION

 

Participants are requested to arrive early to allow time for the necessary security measures

 

0930 – 1000:   INTRODUCTION

 

·        Outline of the work of the CTC by Chairman, Sir Jeremy Greenstock

·        Introduction by UN Secretary-General, HE Mr Kofi Annan.

 

1000 – 1115:  session i - Global Standards on Counter-Terrorism

 

Session I Objectives: 

 

·        Enhance understanding of the current framework of binding obligations and global standards in the area of counter-terrorism faced by States;

·        Share information on monitoring activity, including the CTC’s review of States’ implementation of resolution 1373;

·        Establish targets for action in 2003/4.

 

Presentations from International Organistions:

 

1.      Counter-Terrorism Committee (SCR 1373):  Mr Maurice Biggar, CTC Expert;

2.      International Monetary Fund (global standards for countering-terrorist financing):  Mr Barry Johnston, Monetary Exchange Rate Affairs Department;

3.      International Civil Aviation Organisation (codes and standards for aviation, airports and travel documentation):  Mr John Crayston, Acting Chief of Aviation Security and Facilitation Branch;

4.      International Maritime Organisation (codes and standards for shipping and ports):  Mr E Mitropoulos, Assistant Secretary-General/Director, Maritime Safety Division;

5.      World Customs Organisation (codes and standards for customs):  Mr Michel Danet, Secretary General (tbc).

 

It would be interesting if this session explored the following discussion questions:

 

-         What experiences do international organisations have of developing standards?

-         What experiences do international organisations have of promoting international standards among their members?

-         What problems do States face in meeting standards?  What would most help them improve their performance?

-         What action do international organisations take with Members who are not complying with international standards?  Do international organisations make a division between standards which are legally binding and those which are not?

-         Are there areas in which international organisations believe further work is required on the development of standards within their purview?

 

-         How can the CTC support international organisations in the development, promotion and monitoring of international standards?  How can contact be improved among international organisations and with the CTC in this area?  Is there scope for reducing duplication between the CTC and international organisations?

 

1115-1130:  COFFEE BREAK

 

1130 -1300:  SESSION II - Role of Regional and Sub-Regional Organisations in strengthening global counter-terrorism capacity

 

Session II Objectives: 

 

·        Clarify the potential role for regional and sub-regional organisations, and their interaction with international organisations (the standards setters) and States (responsible for implementing standards).

 

Presentations from: 

 

1.      Organisation of American States (Chair of the Inter American Committee on Counter-Terrorism):  Sra. Licda. Maria Eugenia Brizuela de Avila, Minister of Foreign Affairs for El Salvador (tbc); 

2.      Ambassador Curtis Ward (CTC Technical Assistance and Liaison Expert).

 

It would be interesting if this session explored the following discussion questions:

 

-         What role can regional and sub-regional organisations play in encouraging their Member States to meet (a) international standards (eg those set by the Security Council or the IMO) and (b) standards set at the regional level?

 

-         What role can regional and sub-regional organisations play in promoting practical regional cooperation on counter-terrorism (ie on borders, customs, early warning, exchange of information or judicial assistance)?

-         In that context, discussion of experiences and lessons learned so far.

-         What are the advantages in promoting discussion of counter-terrorism on a regional level? (Regional and sub-regional organisations might wish to comment on the following:  All States have a strong interest in seeing that their neighbours have in place the platform prescribed by resolution 1373 for countering active or passive support for terrorism. Lack of compliance by any State in a region subverts the efforts of all other countries in that region. States have been working together in practical ways to improve regional capacity against terrorism.  Each country recognises that it is not safe from terrorism if its neighbour is not.)

 

-         What structures are needed in regional and sub-regional organisations to promote an effective, practical discussion of counter-terrorism issues?

-         How can the CTC and other international organisations support the activities of regional and sub-regional organisations in this area?

 

 

1300 - 1400:  Lunchtime reception hosted by Sir Jeremy Greenstock, CTC Chairman

 

Buffet lunch in UN Private Dining Rooms 5 – 8 (4th floor UN building).

 

 

1430 – 1630:  SESSION III - Role of International and Regional organisations on Assistance

 

Session III Objectives: 

 

·        Explain how the CTC is trying to facilitate the provision of assistance, including by preparing a matrix of global requests which reflects the assistance needs identified through the CTC’s implementation monitoring process; 

·        Explore potential role for regional and sub-regional organisations in coordinating assistance needs of their members, and facilitating delivery of assistance;

·        Encourage establishment of dedicated Counter-Terrorism Office/Unit in Regional and Sub-Regional Organisations.

 

Presentations from:

 

1.      World Bank :(Co-ordinating terrorist-financing assistance):  Margery Waxman, Director, Financial Market Integrity;

2.      EU Commission: Mr F Valenzeula, Deputy Director General, External Relations (tbc);

3.      Ambassador Curtis Ward (CTC Technical Assistance and Liaison Expert).

 

It would be interesting if this session explored the following discussion questions:

 

-         What are the gaps in the provision of counter-terrorism assistance in areas covered by resolution 1373 (Stage A, Stage B and Stage C)?

-         How can the flow of information on States’ assistance needs be improved?

-         How can the flow of information on assistance programmes being delivered to States be improved?

-         Mechanisms for coordination of assistance.

-         How should priorities for the delivery of assistance be set and shared?

 

-         How to increase awareness of guidance, self-help packages and  lessons learnt on counter-terrorism.  Increasing awareness and use of CTC’s centralised “Directory of CT information and sources of assistance”.

 

-         Potential role of regional and sub-regional organisations in

(a)   coordinating needs for assistance across region,

(b)   facilitating delivery of assistance programmes on region-wide basis, and

(c)    facilitating inter-region sharing of expertise and best practice.

-         Including bilateral assistance providers in networks.

 

-         How can the CTC further facilitate the provision of assistance?

 

1645 – 1730:  Conclusions and Wrap-Up

 

Session Objectives:

 

·        Establish targets for 2003/4;

·        Agree future action to achieve targets;

·        Improve institutional links between CTC and international, regional and sub-regional organisations, and among such organisations;

·        Discussion of and agreement on an Outcome Communique.