General Assembly Session 56 meeting 12

The President

Members will recall that, at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 14 September 2001, the General Assembly decided to hold the initial debate on this item in the plenary, on the understanding that the consideration of the technical aspects of the item will remain in the Sixth Committee.

I should like to make a brief statement.

We meet today almost three weeks after the worst terrorist assault in the history of the world. I know I speak for all of us in conveying once again my deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of the more than 6,000 innocent victims.

As stated in Security Council resolution 1368 (2001) of 12 September and reaffirmed by its resolution 1373 (2001) of 28 September, these vicious attacks, unprecedented in scale and brutality, pose a direct threat to international peace and security. More than that, these actions were aimed not just at physical targets, but indeed at the very structure of the civilized values -- peace, freedom, tolerance and human rights -- around which the international community is organized.

The General Assembly responded to this challenge with alacrity and spoke in strong, unmistakable tones. On the very first day of the session, 12 September, the Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 56/1, condemning the most heinous terrorist attacks and calling for greater international cooperation to prevent and eventually eradicate international terrorism. I am confident that our meetings during the next few days will provide a timely impetus for achieving the objectives set forth in resolution 56/1.

In fact, the issue of international terrorism has been on the agenda of the General Assembly for many years. An important step was taken in 1994 when the Assembly adopted the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism. In 1996, the Assembly adopted a Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration and established an Ad Hoc Committee to address the issue. This Ad Hoc Committee, along with a working group of the Sixth Committee, was given a mandate to elaborate draft conventions against international terrorism.

In recent years, the Assembly has contributed to the development of a comprehensive legal framework of anti-terrorism conventions by adopting two key instruments. They are the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, adopted by Assembly resolution 52/164, which entered into force on 23 May this year, and the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, adopted by Assembly resolution 54/109, which so far has gained 45 signatories and four ratifications, requiring 18 additional ratifications before its entry into force.

Based on such progress in building an effective international framework for combating terrorism, the Member States are now discussing a comprehensive convention on international terrorism. This convention, once finalized, along with the existing 12 anti-terrorist conventions dealing with various aspects of terrorism, will greatly enhance the ability of the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Member States to strengthen their efforts to achieve an early conclusion of the comprehensive convention. At the same time, I wish to encourage those Member States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the existing conventions as soon as possible.

Last but not least, I want to emphasize that the fight against terrorism is an issue that transcends cultural and religious differences, while terrorism itself threatens people of all cultures and religious faiths. We must never forget that terrorism is not a weapon wielded by one civilization against another, but rather an instrument of destruction through which small bands of criminals seek to undermine civilization itself.

The United Nations has designated this year as the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations. Terrorism is one of the gravest and most urgent of many international issues that can be effectively addressed only in the spirit of intercultural dialogue. Through such dialogue, the peoples of the world can unite around their common interests and shared values, so many of which are directly menaced by international terrorism.

Nothing can make amends for the senseless loss of life on 11 September, but I hope that this unspeakable tragedy will serve to strengthen our resolve to one day eliminate the threat of international terrorism once and for all.

I now give the floor to the Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General

On Friday night, the Security Council adopted unanimously a broad resolution aimed at targeting terrorists and those who harbour, aid or support them. That resolution requires Member States to cooperate in a wide range of areas, from suppressing the financing of terrorism to providing early warning, cooperating in criminal investigations and exchanging information on possible terrorist acts. I applaud the Council for acting so swiftly to enshrine in law the first steps needed to carry this fight forward with new vigour and determination.

Now all Member States must make greater efforts to exchange information about practices that have proved effective and lessons that have been learned in the fight against terrorism so that a global standard of excellence can be set. The implementation of this resolution will require technical expertise at the national level. I encourage States that can offer assistance in this regard to do so -- and to do so generously -- and without delay.

Thus far, the international community has been able to act with unprecedented speed and unity. On 12 September, both the General Assembly and the Security Council adopted strong resolutions condemning the attacks and calling on all States to cooperate in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Now, a second and more detailed resolution has been adopted by the Security Council, building swiftly on the first. Today, this Assembly meets to deliberate its own response to the events of 11 September.

The reason for this response and unprecedented unity is clear. The terrorist attacks against the United States, resulting in the deaths of some 6,000 people from 80 countries, were acts of terrible evil which shocked the conscience of the entire world.

But out of evil can come good. Paradoxically, these vicious assaults on our common humanity have had the effect of reaffirming our common humanity. The very heartlessness and callous indifference to the suffering and grief caused to thousands of innocent families has brought a heartfelt response from millions of ordinary people all over the world in many different societies.

The task now is to build on that wave of human solidarity to ensure that the momentum is not lost and to develop a broad, comprehensive and above all sustained strategy to combat terrorism and eradicate it from our world.

This important meeting of the General Assembly has a critical role to play in this. It must not be merely symbolic. It must signal the beginning of immediate, practical and far-reaching changes in the way this Organization and its Member States act against terrorism.

Today, the shock of this crime has united the world, but if we are to prevent such crimes from being committed again, we must stay united as we seek to eliminate terrorism. In this struggle, there is simply no alternative to international cooperation. Terrorism will be defeated if the international community summons the will to unite in a broad coalition, or it will not be defeated at all. The United Nations is uniquely positioned to serve as the forum for this coalition, and for the development of those steps Governments must now take -- separately and together -- to fight terrorism on a global scale.

The global reaction to the attacks should give us courage and hope that we can succeed in this fight. The sight of people from every religion gathering in cities in every part of the world to mourn, and to express solidarity with the people of the United States, proves more eloquently than any words that terrorism is not an issue that divides humanity, but one that unites it. We are in a moral struggle to fight an evil that is anathema to all faiths. Every State and every people has a part to play. This was an attack on humanity, and humanity must respond to it as one.

The urgent business of the United Nations must now be to develop a long-term strategy in order to ensure global legitimacy for the struggle ahead. The legitimacy that the United Nations conveys can ensure that the greatest number of States are able and willing to take the necessary and difficult steps -- diplomatic, legal and political -- that are needed to defeat terrorism.

The Member States that are represented here have a clear agenda before them. It begins with ensuring that the 12 conventions and protocols on international terrorism, already drafted and adopted under United Nations auspices, are signed, ratified and implemented without delay by all States.

Two of these conventions, in particular, can strengthen the fight against terrorism. First, the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, which entered into force on 23 May this year; and, secondly, the 1999 Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, which so far has 44 signatories and four ratifications. It requires 18 additional ratifications to enter into force, and I hope it will now be seen as a point of honour for Member States to ratify this vital Convention as soon possible.

While no one imagines that these conventions, even when implemented, will end terrorism on their own, they are part of the legal framework needed for this effort. I wish to propose to all Member States that they make it their first order of business during the general debate to sign all the conventions on terrorism and pledge to work for their ratification and implementation without delay.

It will also be important to obtain agreement on a comprehensive convention on international terrorism. In the post-11 September era, no one can dispute the nature of the terrorist threat or the need to meet it with a global response. I understand that there are outstanding issues, which until now have prevented agreement on the convention. Some of the most difficult issues relate to the definition of terrorism. I understand and accept the need for legal precision. But let me say frankly that there is also a need for moral clarity. There can be no acceptance of those who would seek to justify the deliberate taking of innocent civilian life, regardless of cause or grievance. If there is one universal principle that all peoples can agree on, surely it is that.

Even in situations of armed conflict, the targeting of innocent civilians is illegal, as well as morally unacceptable. Yet, as I have stated in my two reports on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, civilian populations are more and more often deliberately targeted. Indeed, civilians have become the principal victims of conflict, accounting for an estimated 75 per cent of all casualties.

This demands from all of us an increased attention to the civilian costs of conflict. It requires Member States to live up to their responsibilities under international law. They must deal firmly with the reality of armed groups and other non-State actors that refuse to respect common principles of human dignity.

It is hard to imagine how the tragedy of 11 September could have been worse. Yet the truth is that a single attack involving a nuclear or biological weapon could have killed millions. While the world was unable to prevent the 11 September attacks, there is much we can do to help prevent future terrorist acts carried out with weapons of mass destruction. The greatest danger arises from a non-State group, or even an individual, acquiring and using a nuclear, biological or chemical weapon. Such a weapon could be delivered without the need for any missile or any other sophisticated delivery system.

In addition to measures taken by individual Member States, we must now strengthen the global norm against the use or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. This means, among other actions, redoubling efforts to ensure the universality, verification and full implementation of key treaties relating to weapons of mass destruction, including those outlawing chemical and biological weapons, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; promoting cooperation among international organizations dealing with such weapons; tightening national legislation over exports of goods and technologies needed to manufacture weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; and developing new efforts to criminalize the acquisition or use of weapons of mass destruction by non-State groups.

In addition, we need to strengthen controls over other types of weapons that pose grave dangers through terrorist use. This means doing more to ensure a ban on the sale of small arms to non-State groups; making progress in eliminating landmines; improving the physical protection of sensitive industrial facilities, including nuclear and chemical plants; and increased vigilance against cyber-terrorist threats.

As we summon the will and the resources to succeed in the struggle against terrorism, we must also care for all the victims of terrorism, whether they are the direct targets or other populations who will be affected by our common effort. That is why I have launched an alert to donors about the potential need for much more generous humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

This appeal is only the most urgent part of our determination to continue to care for those suffering from poverty, disease and conflict around the world. The work of the United Nations in promoting development, resolving long-standing disputes and fighting ignorance and prejudice are even more important today than they were before 11 September.

The victims of the attacks on 11 September were, first and foremost, the innocent civilians who lost their lives and the families who now grieve for them. But peace, tolerance, mutual respect, human rights, the rule of law and the global economy are all among the casualties of the terrorists' acts.

In conclusion, let me say that repairing the damage done to the fabric of the international community -- restoring trust among peoples and cultures -- will not be easy. But just as a concerted international response can make the work of terrorists much harder to accomplish, so should the unity born of this tragedy bring all nations together in defence of the most basic right: the right of all peoples to live in peace and security. This is the challenge before us as we seek to eliminate the evil of terrorism.

The President

I should like to inform Members that in a letter dated 28 September 2001, addressed to the President of the General Assembly, the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, in his capacity as chairman of the Group of Western European and other States for the month of September, requests that the General Assembly hear in plenary meeting a statement by the observer of Switzerland in the debate on agenda item 166, "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". In view of the importance attached to the issue under discussion, it is proposed that the General Assembly should take a decision on that request.

May I take it that there is no objection to the proposal to hear a statement by the observer of Switzerland in the debate on this item?

The President

Before giving the floor to the first speaker on the list of speakers for this item, I should like to recall for the Assembly's attention that in the report contained in document A/56/250, the General Committee drew the attention of the Assembly to paragraph 22 of the annex to resolution 51/241, which states,

"Outside the general debate, there shall be a fifteen-minute time limit in plenary meetings and in the Main Committees."

As delegates may know by now, there are at this point 156 speakers already inscribed on the list for this item. In order that we may hear all the speakers in good time and to avoid meetings late at night, it will be most helpful if speakers do their utmost to limit their statements to less than 15 minutes, and preferably to 10 minutes. This will facilitate our consideration of this item in a timely manner and help us maintain our programme of work for this week. I honestly ask for the cooperation of all.

May I also remind the Assembly that the ringing of cellular phones in the Hall disturbs the proceedings of the plenary. Therefore, I would like to advise representatives once again to turn off cellular phones or to switch them to courtesy mode.

Mr. Aguirre Sacasa (Nicaragua)

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