Summary: May 25, 2004: Statement to the Security Council by Ambassador Richard Ryan Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations on behalf of the European Union - Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts (New York)
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro and the EFTA countries, Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
The European Union is grateful for the customary informative briefing provided by Ambassador Muñoz this morning. As Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), and in the assiduous and diligent manner in which you discharge your often difficult responsibilities, you may continue to rely on the whole-hearted support of the EU.
Mr. President,
Regular travel to, and interface with, relevant countries and regional organizations is an essential component in the effective conduct of the work of the Committee. Ambassador Muñoz has given us an overview this morning of his recent mission to Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal and Spain. Evident from this overview is the fact that significant and productive dialogue took place during this mission. Regarding, Tunisia, Algeria and Senegal, we wish to confirm that the EU remains fully aware that these
States have been threatened by terrorism for some time. We are committed to cooperating closely with the Maghreb countries in meeting this challenge.
The Declaration on Combating Terrorism, adopted by the European Council on 25 March 2004, commits the European Union to develop technical assistance strategies to enhance the counter-terrorist capacity of third countries, in coordination with other international organisations and Donor states. The European Commission maintains an ongoing programme of work in this regard, as do a number of Member States on a bilateral basis. The EU will continue to cooperate closely with our international
partners, including with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and with this Committee, to identify those countries where our assistance might most effectively be directed.
The EU also remains committed to meeting in full our counter-terrorist commitments under the relevant Security Council Resolutions. We will continue to cooperate with the Committee and with partner countries to halt the flow of funds and other economic resources to terrorists and terrorist groups, to prevent their access to the arms necessary to carry out their attacks and to ensure that terrorists will be unable to find safe haven either within the EU or externally. The EU also wishes to
recall that any amendments to or additions made to the Consolidated List of the 1267 Committee are automatically included into the Annex of the relevant European Regulation.
Mr. President,
It is a longstanding position of the EU that counter-terrorism actions must at all times be accompanied by respect for due process and the rule of law. We reiterate once again that there can be no trade off between human rights and effective security measures; indeed respect for human rights must remain an integral part of any comprehensive counter-terrorist strategy. We therefore subscribe fully to the views expressed by the Chairman today on this important matter.
Mr. President,
The European Union agrees fully with the conclusion contained in paragraph 12 of the Chairman's analytical summary contained in document S/2004/349 that Reports from States are essential in the international struggle against the scourge and threat posed by terrorists to the world community. While we are encouraged to hear of an increase in State compliance, every effort must be made by all concerned to facilitate the submission of outstanding reports. Any confusion regarding reporting
requirements must be dispelled. Assistance in the preparation of these reports should be given, where needed. While recognizing that there may be legitimate reasons which preclude timely submission of reports by some States and that these difficulties should be promptly addressed, an unfortunate signal is sent to the outside world by uneven or inconsistent submission of reports by States. The EU therefore strongly urges the States concerned to liaise closely with the Committee and the
Monitoring Team so that all outstanding reports may be submitted without further substantial delay.
Mr. President,
As the Chairman has observed, a new Monitoring Team has been constituted since he last addressed the Security Council on the activities of the 1267 Committee. The work of the Monitoring Team will be vital to ensuring the long-term success of the Committee itself. In addition to analysing means of ameliorating the level of submission of national reports and their quality, the Team has an equally important role in assessing how effective existing resolutions, legislation or controls have been in
combating terrorist financing, hindering the movement of terrorists and upholding arms embargoes. In this regard, we encourage the Monitoring Team to continue to develop its working relationship with the CTED to maximize synergies and avoid duplication in their closely related work. The European Union very much looks forward to receiving the Monitoring Teams' detailed reports over the coming months and will, as always, analyse them most carefully.
Before closing, it would be remiss of me, Mr. President, were I not to thank most warmly Ambassador Muñoz, on behalf of the European Union for agreeing to meet recently, and at some length, with both the EU Coordinator on Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Gijs deVries and only a few days later with a high-level EU Troika counter-terrorism delegation. We look forward to continued close consultation and cooperation with him, the Committee and the Monitoring Team.
Thank-you, Mr. President.
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