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Statement by the General Assembly President

Statement on the Introduction of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

Secretary-General, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Friends,

We are here today to take action on aUnited Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. If adopted this Strategy would reaffirm and strengthen the role of the General Assembly in the work of countering terrorism. This is imperative since the scourge of terrorism affects us all.

The Strategy forms a basis for a concrete plan of action:

to address the conditions conducive to terrorism
to prevent and combat terrorism
to take measures to build State capacity
to strengthen the role of the United Nations
to ensure respect for human rights

This resolution would constitute the foundation from which the role of the General Assembly can be further built and developed. The Assembly will examine at its 62 nd session progress made in the implementation of the Strategy, and consider updating it to respond to a changing environment.

The Strategy must thus remain a living document. In considering the Strategy the Assembly should keep in mind that many of the measures can be achieved immediately. Some will require sustained work through the coming years. Some yet, are long-term tasks and objectives.

Two factors have made it incumbent upon us, members of the General Assembly, to take decisive action and unite around aUnited Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. One is the clear mandate given by our leaders in the Summit Outcome. The other is the reality of terrorism - its continued violent and tragic manifestation in all its forms.

By taking decisive action today and adopting the UN Counter-Terrorism Strategy we will once again send a strong message that the General Assembly is ready to shoulder its responsibility to act in the spirit of the Charter on a growing global menace.

We will tangibly demonstrate that the General Assembly can take assertive actions on one of the most serious threats to our common and individual security. This we owe to the hundred thousands of people who have through the years directly or indirectly suffered the effects of terrorism in all its forms.

I urge you to adopt the Strategy by consensus. By doing this we would strengthen the mandate given to the General Assembly. We need to stand united in the international fight against terrorism.

We are all aware of the contentious issues that have plagued the terrorism discussion for a long time. The Strategy is not intended either to avoid or to solve these controversies but rather to address them by building on already agreed language. It recognizes that these are important matters which we should continue to discuss in relevant fora.

There are some important issues related to the text that I would like to once again underline:

First of all, it is important that we build on our consistent, unequivocal and strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, as it constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
We have conceptualized and developed the issue of conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. It is vital for our common endeavour that we address these conditions in a serious and comprehensive manner.
Strong national capacity is a cornerstone of all global counter-terrorism efforts. We need to bring together all actors to enhance the capabilities of all states to secure their own territories. The United Nations system, other international, regional and sub-regional organizations and Member States all have role to play.
We need to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism. We have devoted an entire section to the respect of human rights and the rule of law, both at a national and international level.
We also need to ensure that any action taken to combat terrorism will comply with all obligations under international law.
The Plan of Action sets out a number of practical and operational measures that will enhance our efforts to fight terrorism. These include the call for Member States as well as the United Nations system to step up their efforts and strengthen their counter-terrorism measures in a number of concrete areas.

This resolution is my and my Co-Chairs best attempt to reach a consensus agreement on a Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The text is carefully crafted and every word scrutinized. There is no delegation in this room which has got all it wanted. Some of you wanted more, some less. But this text is, in our view, balanced.

Let us now unite around this Strategy and have it launched at a high level segment of the General Assembly later this month. And let us then start implementing it.

I want to conclude by thanking Ambassadors Menon of Singapore and Yanez-Barnuevo of Spain and their great teams, for the leadership they have shown. Without their tireless skillful and committed efforts we would never have been where we are today.

I also want to thank the Secretary-General for his support of and inspiration to our efforts. We know how thoroughly and intensely you and the Secretariat have worked with these difficult issues.

Finally - my warm thanks goes to you, the Member States. Without your contributions, your flexibility and your sense of responsibility we would have no Strategy to adopt today.