Ambassador Greenstock, Chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) briefed member states on 31 October on the work of the CTC.  The CTC had received 175 first reports and 99 second reports.  The CTC Sub-Committees continued to review second round reports; of which 12 letters had already been agreed by the CTC. 

Ambassador Greenstock outlined the structure of the letters for the CTC's second round letters.  They would focus on 'Stage A' issues, defined by the Committee as follows: (i) having legislation in place covering all aspects of 1373, and a process in hand for ratifying as soon as possible the 12 international Conventions and Protocols relating to terrorism; and (ii) effective executive machinery for preventing and suppressing terrorist financing.  (See Discussion paper on "Focusing the Second Review of Reports".)

The CTC was moving ahead on facilitating the provision of assistance.  Agreement had been reached on the approach as set out in the working paper on "Assistance: Next Steps".  The approach was designed to ensure that the CTC added value to ongoing international efforts. 

Ambassador Greenstock said the CTC had appointed two new experts: Ms de Senna (Brazil) and Mr Netshitomboni (South Africa).   M R Sivaraman (India) was rejoining the team. Ambassador Greenstock emphasised the need to identify a candidate with expertise in the area of Sharia Law and one prosecutor/investigator/policeman with experience of the practical side of countering terrorist financing.  The CTC had also asked the Secretariat to identify a further expert to work in the Assistance Team, bringing the size of that team to three.  Delegations were encouraged to submit the names of potential candidates to the UN Secretariat.  

The High Commissioner for Human Rights (Sergio Vieria de Mello) had briefed the CTC on counter-terrorism and human rights (speaking notes).