General Assembly Session 53 meeting 83

The Acting President

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 10 of its report (A/53/636).

The Sixth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Acting President

I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.

Mr. Mohamed (Sudan)

Today, the global call to combat terrorism rings out above all others and is gaining in urgency. Though this call has been tarnished, at times, by politics and derailed by certain interests, it remains a legitimate one that we fully support. It enjoys priority within the general framework of initiatives and programmes to maintain international peace and security.

The unilateral actions of some States against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others, with the ultimate aim of advancing an illicit agenda on the pretext of combating terrorism, are not only unacceptable as instruments of policy, but are in themselves acts of terror that create nothing but chaos, confusion and injustice. They have nothing to do with combating terrorism.

Though it may be difficult in some instances to identify the real motives behind some acts, the claim of the United States of America that its 20 August attack against the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical plant in the Sudan took place in the context of anti-terrorism activities is blatantly false and completely untrue. We have satisfactorily proved that the American attack was purely terrorist and had nothing to do with the lofty objectives for combating terrorism to which we have all unanimously agreed. It is pertinent to recall here that, last September in Durban, the Non-Aligned Movement, whose members comprise two thirds of the United Nations membership, clearly and unequivocally condemned the American aggression against the Sudan. The Movement also voiced its opposition to unilateral actions of States taken on the pretext of combating terrorism.

It is with this understanding that we submitted the proposal that has been incorporated in operative paragraph 6 of the resolution that has just been adopted by the General Assembly under the agenda item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". Our proposal initially followed the same language used at the non-aligned summit in Durban, but we tried to be flexible, as all will attest, in order to arrive at the consensus language now used in the aforementioned paragraph. That flexibility was the choice we made in the face of aggression against my country. Even the aggressor can in no way deny it and we shall adhere to it throughout.

Mr. Sergiwa (Libya)

My delegation joined the consensus on the resolution adopted under agenda item 155, "Measures to eliminate international terrorism", since it wished to comply with the working methods of the Sixth Committee in adopting resolutions by consensus. My delegation, however, wishes to explain its position on the resolution.

First, my delegation reaffirms its condemnation of international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Secondly, my delegation expresses its concern at the omission from the resolution of a clear definition of international terrorism. Thirdly, our support for the text should not be interpreted as applying to foreign occupation or a people's inability to exercise its right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the provisions of international law. Fourthly, our support for the resolution should not be interpreted as justifying State terrorism, which we consider to be the most vile and dangerous form of terrorism.

Mr. Akbar (Pakistan)

Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We attach great importance to the work of the General Assembly and the Legal Committee relating to measures to eliminate international terrorism.

The General Assembly has been emphasizing in its various resolutions, including resolution 46/51, the need to address this threat to humanity in a comprehensive manner. The Legal Committee has to undertake this unfinished task. Acting on the mandates given by the General Assembly, it should address the issue of the definition of terrorism. This matter is of fundamental importance for combating this scourge. Pakistan fully subscribes to the position of the Non-Aligned Movement that the legitimate struggle of liberation movements for the exercise of their right to self-determination does not constitute terrorism.

In this context, we are looking forward to the work that the Ad Hoc Committee established by resolution 51/210 will undertake as the last part of its work, as duly indicated in operative paragraph 11 of the resolution the Assembly has just adopted.

The time has now come to address the outstanding issue of the definition of terrorism and State terrorism, and to distinguish terrorism from the legitimate struggle of liberation movements in exercise of their right to self-determination.

The Acting President

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position.

I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in exercise of the right of reply.

Ms. Willson (United States)

We regret that the representative of the Sudan has not heeded your request, Madam President, that explanations of position made in the Sixth Committee not be repeated in the plenary and has restated accusations made against the United States in his previous statement. My delegation will not repeat our denial of those unfounded allegations, but refers delegations to our Sixth Committee statement in this respect.

Mr. Mohamed (Sudan)

I wish to clarify that my delegation did not speak in explanation of the vote when the resolution was adopted.

The Acting President

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 155.