Measures to eliminate international terrorism – GA Sixth Cttee debate – Summary records (excerpts)

Sixth Committee 

Summary record of the 2nd meeting 

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Tuesday, 5 October 2010, at 10 a.m. 

Chairperson: Ms. Picco …………………………………………………………..   (Monaco) 

Contents 

Agenda item 107: Measures to eliminate international terrorism (A/65/37, A/65/89 and A/65/175 and Add.1 and Add.2) 

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42.  Mr. Dahlan (Malaysia) …

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43.  The previous year had seen the continuation, not to mention escalation, of suicide bombings, assassinations and coordinated attacks against civilian property. Such countries as Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan had been particularly affected. Greater emphasis should therefore be placed on de-radicalization and on preventing the use of the Internet to recruit terrorists, disseminate propaganda and acquire financial and logistical support. Longer-term approaches should include democratization, education, improvement of economic conditions and the resolution of such problems as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 

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68.  Mr. Al-Ahmed (Saudi Arabia) said that his country condemned terrorism irrespective of origin or aim, and had joined in global counter-terrorism efforts. In defining terrorism, it was important to eschew selectivity or double standards. Terrorism could not be connected with any specific religion, society or ethnic group, and its perpetrators did not represent their own societies. Counter-terrorism must not, therefore, amount to a war against Islam or a clash of civilizations. His country was deeply concerned at attempts to equate Islam with terrorism or religious extremism. Terrorist acts were a flagrant violation of authentic Islamic values. 

69.  Nor should terrorism be confused with the legitimate struggle of peoples under foreign occupation in exercise of their right to self-determination. By the same token, any condemnation of terrorism should include State terrorism such as that practised by Israel against the Palestinian people. The distinction between terrorism and struggle against foreign occupation was enshrined in General Assembly resolution 40/61, which urged all States to contribute to the progressive elimination of the causes

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