Summary: April 15, 2002: Statement by H.E. Mr. Inocencio Arias, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union at the meeting of the Security Council in connection with threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts (New York)
Mr. President:
It is for me an honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Cyprus and Malta, and Iceland, an EFTA country belonging to the European Economic Area, aling themselves with this statement.
Mr. President,
The European Union welcomes this new opportunity to review the important task undertaken by the Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) since the debate held in this Council on January 18.
This meeting also grants us an opportunity to present developments with regard to the common action undertaken by the Member States of the European Union and the European Commission in the fight against terrorism, in fulfillment of Resolution 1373.
I again underline the historic significance of this Resolution and I reiterate the European Union´s commitment to its objectives and instruments.
Mr. President,
We wish to congratulate the CTC for the work it has carried out over these last three months. First, for the firmness and dedication demonstrated by its members as well as the experts who serve as advisors. The United Nations Secretariat also merits special mention for its support and collaboration with the CTC and with Member States.
The second characteristic that we wish to praise is that of transparency. Open briefings are by now a common practice of the CTC. In them, its Chairman presents significant activitites as well as decisions and progress on them.
Thirdly, we applaud the CTC´s concern for facilitating States´ compliance with regard of Resolution 1373, particularly by providing information about assistance available to States that might wish to request it.
Mr. President,
According to information released recently by the CTC, 142 national reports had been received by the end of March, but more than 50 States have not complied yet with this obligation. The EU calls upon these States to submit their reports as a matter of priority.
The EU understands that, in many cases, noncompliance may be due more to practical difficulties than to lack of political will. Therefore, it is important to facilitate assistance to those States which face this kind of problems. Several of the EU Member States as well as the European Community are in the directory of assistance offers published by the CTC.
The European Community, through the European Commission, has informed the CTC about assistance available to third States in areas related to the fight against terrorism, such as finance, customs, immigration, extradition, police, the judiciary, etc. We encourage all potential providers of assistance, advice and expertise to submit an entry to the CTC´s directory of assistance.
Mr. President,
The CTC recently presented its next 90-day workplan, stating its confidence in being able to complete the evaluation of the first series of reports by the end of May and to begin the second round of evaluations starting on 7 June. The EU supports this proposal for continuity in the revision of compliance with Resolution 1373.
The assessment of the country reports may prove beneficial in aiding States to identify areas where they should strengthen or complete their national legislation or administrative measures. In keeping with the spirit of transparency, lessons learnt from this evaluation process should be shared with all States, and we trust that the CTC will know how to best do so. The main goal of the CTC should be to achieve a uniform, full and global application of the Resolution.
The measures against terrorism must be in accordance with the UN Charter, including the obligation to promote and respect human rights. This obligation should be taken into account fully when implementing Resolution 1373.
The CTC is very active in its contacts with regional and subregional organisations. In addition to exchanging information about their respective work in the fight against terrorism, the CTC can contribute very effectively to attaining a coherent approach by those organizations and coordination with their Member States. We stress the need for a coordinated international approach to implementation of Resolution 1373. Furthermore, we underline the role of regional organisations for facilitating
assistance to their Member States.
The EU presented a common report to the CTC in addition to those of its Member States, and will soon join other organisations which have maintained direct contact with the CTC in order to brief on its joint anti-terrorist activity.
Mr. President,
The Secretary General has created a working group in the Secetariat to review and improve actions in the fight against terrorism undertaken by its different departments. We support this initiative, which should be well coordinated with the CTC.
The EU takes note of the Secretary-General´s appointment of the new head of
the UN Vienna-based institutions. We welcome the efforts of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Centre for International Crime Prevention as part of UN system-wide counter-terrorism efforts. In this regard, the EU awaits the report of the Secretary-General requested by General Assembly resolution 56/253 which will "make proposals to strengthen the UN´s Terrorism Prevention Branch ... to enable it to carry out its mandate as approved by the General Assembly".
Mr. President,
With respect of the EU action in the fight against terrorism, the European Union had undertaken, even before September 11, a considerable effort in coordination based on the understanding that terrorism takes advantage of loopholes or differences among countries in their legal or administrative rules and practices.
The EU gives maximum importance to the fight against terrorism, which is the top priority of the Spanish Presidency. The EU common action is focused on the areas where it can contribute an added value to the national efforts, complementing them.
This common European initiative stems from a Common Position and an Action Plan adopted by the European Heads of State and Governments. Their goal is to develop concrete common or concerted measures against terrorism within and outside the EU.
The response of the EU includes a broad range of actions. Some are political, others are legal or operative. Many entail a greater dialogue and closer cooperation within the EU and with third countries.
The development of our Action Plan is being carried out very actively. In the field of Justice and Home affairs, an important set of measures has been agreed. They include the European Arrest Warrant, a common definition of terrorist crimes, a common list of terrorist organizations, a new judicial cooperation unit called Eurojust, and an antiterrorist task force within the joint police unit, Europol, among others.
As to the fight against financing of terrorism, compliance with Resolution 1373 is well advanced. The list of individuals, entities and terrorist organizations annexed to the Common Position of 27 December is being revised and updated.
The EU is also carrying out an assesment of its relations with third countries in the light of their attitude in the fight against terrorism.
The EU, sharing the importance attached by the CTC to transparency, has asked the President of the Security Council to distribute its Action Plan as an official Council document.
Mr. President,
The European Union believes that terrorism is a very real threat to all States. Thus, international cooperation is crucial in combatting terrorism and in ensuring that the perperators be brought to justice. The actions of the EU are aimed at individuals or groups of terrorists, never at peoples, religions or cultures. The goal is to strengthen international security, the rule of law and human rights.
Thank you. Mr. President
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