Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly
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GA plenary on United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with a heavy heart that I open our meeting this morning.
Let me extend my sincere condolences to all who have lost their loved ones in the horrific attack which took place in Uganda on Saturday.
And by expressing my sympathy to the many families living the unimaginable: still kept in the dark about the fate of their children – killed or kidnapped.
Let me be clear.
Targeting innocent children in the sanctuary of their school is a most heinous and insidious act.
It shows the true intention of terrorism.
And it is a war crime.
Terrorism is a destructive wildfire, fuelled by hatred.
It knows no borders and it takes thousands of innocent lives every year, stopping at no one: school children, infants, pregnant women, fathers, grandmothers.
Anyone can become a victim.
Whether domestic or transnational – terrorism should have no place in today’s world.
Excellencies,
Terrorism – domestic or transnational – thrives off conflict and instability, marginalization, inequalities, discrimination, human rights violations, lawlessness, and poor governance.
Our unsustainable way of living will only increase that pressure in the future.
We have to look forward to many more crisis situations across the globe.
We must ask ourselves, should we continue to bicker over what constitutes terrorism or violent extremism?
To languish in details and remain blind to the bigger picture?
Or should we come together and channel all our resources to fight terrorism in all its forms?
Which proactive, agile and innovative steps can we take, both online and offline?
How can we make our multilateral response comprehensive, inclusive, and effective?
How can we collaborate on solutions that strengthen respect for human rights?
The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is a unique instrument, which carries truly transformative potential.
It provides the framework for action.
It outlines the tools at our disposal.
What is needed now is the political and moral will to act together.
I would like to truly thank the co-facilitators of the 8th Review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Ambassadors Robert Rae of Canada, and Ambassador Tarik Ladeb of Tunisia.
They worked tirelessly to bring together all of you, Member States and other stakeholders, to forge consensus on our joint way forward. Despite many challenges.
On finding common ground to achieve our shared goal: a world without indiscriminate violence.
I invite all of you to join this consensus and to focus on what unites us.
To think of the countless victims and the many scared survivors of terrorism.
And of those across the globe who look to this House for hope, and action.
Let me emphasize my strong hope that our 8 billion shareholders can see the purpose of the work we are doing here, together.
With my wish that people understand and acknowledge the merit of the debates we are conducting.
And with my wish they have a good reason to recognize the progress Member States achieved having spent months of intense work to reduce the danger of terrorism in this fragile world.
Let us remember, that people outside the Turtle Bay might not be interested in some sophisticated references in long resolutions we may produce.
They simply want us to act together to reduce the danger of terrorism.
Our joint message to them, to the world, and to the perpetrators must be that the United Nations stands together in the face of terrorism.
That it has been able to take a step ahead.
Terrorism is not only a war on people, but a war on our minds.
Let us not succumb to the division it wields.
Let us rise above it.
I thank you.
