Sixth Committee
Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism
10 October 2007
Statement by Senator Michael Forshaw
Parliamentary Adviser to the Australian delegation to the United Nations
(As delivered)
Mr Chairman
I have the honour to speak on behalf of Canada and New Zealand, in addition to Australia.
CANZ reaffirms its strong condemnation of all acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and recognises that terrorism continues to present a serious challenge to international peace and security. Targeting and deliberate killing through acts of terrorism cannot be justified or legitimised by any cause or grievance. While terrorist organisations and networks have been significantly disrupted by sustained counter-terrorism measures in recent years, there is no room for complacency. Recent gains can only be sustained into the longer term with constant effort. Terrorist groups have demonstrated a capacity for innovation and resilience.
Events of the past year remind us that terrorism remains a very real menace to the lives and well-being of people all over the globe. We are deeply concerned about the resurgence of Al Qaeda in the Pakistan/Afghanistan border area, and the emergence of Al Qaeda franchises in Africa and the Middle East. Algeria has endured a series of deadly terrorist attacks throughout this year perpetrated by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. India continues to endure large numbers of civilian casualties from terrorist attacks. Germany and Denmark were fortunate to have foiled planned terrorist attacks by Al Qaeda linked groups. In South-East Asia, where there have been significant counter-terrorism successes against groups such as Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group, there are still terrorists who retain both the intent and capability to undertake further Bali-type bombings in the region.
Member States must counter stereotypes and misconceptions that terrorists seek to exploit. We must refute the terrorists who claim that there are irreconcilable differences between religions and cultures, and that our citizens cannot thrive together in a diverse society. Interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue can contribute to this process by reaching out to moderates and isolating extremists.
Mr Chairman,
It is vital that the international community is united in its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism. CANZ attaches value to the comprehensive legal framework that the UN and the UN system agencies have successfully established in the counter-terrorism field. The 13 counter-terrorism instruments of universal application remain fundamental tools in the fight against terrorism and we urge States to sign up to all of these conventions. CANZ consults closely with UNODC and CTED and welcomes the growing role UNODC and CTED have in providing technical assistance at the regional and national level.
CANZ firmly believes that it is here in the United Nations that we can set the global standard that terrorism can never be justified. CANZ calls on States to conclude a comprehensive convention against terrorism as soon as possible. This would provide a solid foundation for international cooperation to prevent, prosecute and punish terrorist acts. How many more of our citizens will die at the hands of terrorists before we can collectively agree to conclude this important international agreement?
CANZ calls States’ attention to the importance of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy as a guide for action for the international community. We hope the UN Global CT Strategy will provide impetus to Member States to adopt practical measures that facilitate counter-terrorism cooperation by way of extradition, prosecution, information flows and capacity-building.
CANZ is also concerned about the emerging threat to the international community of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism. CANZ members are working with a broad range of countries to build capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to this threat, for example through the International Atomic Energy Agency's Nuclear Security Plan. We urge all countries to join in multilateral and other measures to counter this threat.
Mr Chairman,
CANZ continues to support strongly the ongoing counter-terrorism work of the committees established by Security Council resolutions 1267, 1373 and 1540. We call on States to meet their obligations under these and other Security Council resolutions, including resolution 1624 on the incitement of terrorism.
We must bear in mind, however, that these obligations can place a heavy burden on smaller developing countries. To help alleviate this pressure, CANZ has engaged at the regional level to assist with capacity building measures.
New Zealand and Australia have continued to provide funding assistance with counter-terrorism capacity building in the Pacific region. Central to this assistance is New Zealand’s continued convening of the Pacific Island Forum Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. This year representatives of CTED, UNODC, and the 1540 committee also attended the working group and engaged directly with Pacific Island countries.
In addition, in May this year New Zealand hosted two significant gatherings to advance the global response to interfaith and inter-cultural issues in a practical way: the first, a high-level Symposium on the Alliance of Civilisations; and the second, the third meeting of the Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue, co-sponsored by the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia. New Zealand will continue to use the Asia Security Fund, established in 2006, to contribute to wider regional efforts to address religious radicalisation and to expand our counter-terrorism assistance to bilateral partners and regional centres in South East Asia.
Canada is also committed to a sustained and robust response to the growing threat of international terrorism, and actively supports the efforts of partner countries to fight terrorism, by providing training and assistance through its Counter-terrorism Capacity Building Program. The Program has a geographic focus on South and Southeast Asia as well as the Latin America-Caribbean region. Additional assistance is provided in the former Soviet Union through the Global Partnership Program. Canada has also made sustained efforts to reach out to its diverse ethno-cultural and religious communities, ensuring that their voices are heard and that they do not feel marginalized by counter-terrorism policies.
Australia has made a long-term commitment to tackling terrorism in our region. We are constantly assessing the terrorist threat and emerging trends in terrorist activity, as well as re-evaluating our counter-terrorism strategies. In our CT efforts in South-East Asia, we have sought to create a sense of regional responsibility and collective action. Since 2002 Australia has committed over $450 million to counter-terrorism cooperation. In March we co-hosted with Indonesia a sub-regional Ministerial Conference between the six countries most immediately affected by the threat from regional terrorist groups: Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The Conference advanced cooperation in counter-terrorism at the political and working level, producing a substantial program of follow-up activities.
Mr Chairman,
Terrorists stand in stark contrast to those of us who seek to promote a world where people can live in peace and security. Terrorists’ goals and their reach are global, and so must be our response. States must continue to develop effective strategies to disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks and to counter the appeal of terrorist ideology.
CANZ will continue to work at national, regional and global levels, cooperating with other states to overcome the grave threat to our security posed by terrorism. Our support for UN counter-terrorism efforts is assured.