Security Council meeting 5293

The President

I should like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Fiji, India, Israel, Liechtenstein, Samoa, Switzerland and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in which they request to be invited to participate in the consideration of the item on the Council's agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite those representatives to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

The President

In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council's prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to hear briefings under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure by Ambassador César Mayoral, Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities; Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Løj, Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism; and the representative of Romania in his capacity as Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004).

It is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations.

I wish to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/2005/663, which contains the text of a letter dated 21 October 2005 from the Chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitting the Committee's seventeenth 90-day work programme.

At this meeting, we will hear briefings by the Chairman of the 1267 Committee, the Chairman of the 1373 Committee and the Chairman of the 1540 Committee.

I now give the floor to Ambassador César Mayoral, Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities.

Mr. Mayoral

This is my first report pursuant to paragraph 16 of resolution 1617 (2005). Since my last briefing to the Security Council, 11 individuals and one entity have been added to the list, and one individual has been removed from the list.

The Committee considered in great detail the third report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, published as document S/2005/572. The Committee agreed with a number of its recommendations. Some recommendations will be referred to the Counter-Terrorism Committee, as we see them as valuable but outside the scope of our mandate. Also, there are some recommendations which will require further consideration by the Committee, including on important matters such as listing and delisting. Pursuant to paragraph 18 of resolution 1617 (2005), I can inform the Council that consideration of the revised draft guidelines has begun and that the agreed work programme contains a clear outline for our discussions.

Pursuant to paragraph 8 of the same resolution, the Committee has substantively increased cooperation with Interpol. A resolution adopted at the Interpol General Assembly in September will enable us to initiate a number of practical steps, including the issuance by Interpol of a new notice indicating that an individual has been placed on the Consolidated List. It is our expectation that this will significantly improve the implementation by Member States of the sanctions, in particular the travel ban. Here, I would like to express the Committee's appreciation for the efforts made by the Monitoring Team and by the Interpol Special Representative in New York, Mr. Klaus Ulrich Kersten, in advancing cooperation between the Committee and Interpol.

The Committee also considered a request from the Principality of Liechtenstein to make available the Consolidated List maintained by the Committee pursuant to paragraph 3 (a) of resolution 1452 (2002) to interested Member States. After extensive consultations, the Committee did not grant that request. Nonetheless, at the Principality's request, the letter has been forwarded to the Council for issuance as an official document.

The Committee took note of the participation of four listed individuals in the Afghan parliamentary elections held on 18 September 2005. The Committee decided to contact Afghan representatives in New York to remind them of their country's obligations regarding resolution 1617 (2005), and requested the Monitoring Team to clarify with the Afghan Government how this issue will be dealt with.

I turn now to the activities of the Monitoring Team. Since the appointment of its members in September the Team has attended and held various meetings in New York and abroad, including the already mentioned Interpol General Assembly; a conference of East African intelligence and security heads, where it was able to explain and promote the work of the Committee; and a conference on terrorist use of the Internet. In addition, the Team has visited three countries in Southern Africa, and a Team member accompanied me on my recent travels. In New York the Team has met various visiting counter-terrorism experts and has held discussions with the Action against Terrorism Unit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as a result of my trip to Vienna, and with the European Commission Legal Service.

The Committee continues to greatly appreciate the work of the Monitoring Team and looks forward to the consideration of its next report, to be submitted at the end of January 2006.

Let me now speak of my visit to selected States. Between 8 and 19 October I undertook a visit to selected countries pursuant to paragraph 15 of resolution 1617 (2005). I visited Nigeria, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Permanent Council in Vienna and Chad.

As discussed in the Committee, we have found an increasing need to focus on visits to Member States where there may be concerns about capacity, the need for technical assistance and the requirement for the submission of reports pursuant to resolution 1455 (2003). I found the trip useful in terms of better understanding views of the effectiveness of the sanctions regime and the possible improvements that can be made to it, including as a result of regional threat assessments.

In both Nigeria and Chad we were honoured to meet a number of ministers and other authorities dealing with the implementation of the sanctions measures, and I had an opportunity to convey the Committee's strong interest in receiving reports pursuant to resolution 1455 (2003). I should, at this point, note that 48 Member States have yet to report to the Committee; we continue to urge all non-reporting countries to submit their reports as soon as possible. Chad and Nigeria are among those countries, and their authorities assured me that the reports would soon be forthcoming.

Again, the visits to Nigeria and, in particular, to Chad were most useful as they gave me an insight into the effects of a lack of technical capacity to implement the sanctions regime. I have no doubt that the political will is present in both countries; this was clearly displayed by the authorities at all levels. But the Committee and the Security Council need to consider what can be done to further assist countries with a need for technical assistance.

In response to an invitation from the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, I briefed the Permanent Council in Vienna and met with relevant officials. I also briefed Permanent Representatives there and met with the Director General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The discussions I had at the OSCE were very useful, and I hope they will be a first step in what should be a very fruitful process of enhancing our cooperation with regional organizations.

I turn now to the future work of the Committee and the Monitoring Team. Security Council resolution 1617 (2005) provides the very clear guidance to the Committee with regard to its future activities. First of all, its work should be focused on the adoption of the Committee's revised guidelines, including listing and delisting procedures and the implementation of resolution 1452 (2002).

Secondly, it reiterates the need for regular dialogue with Member States through oral or written communications regarding effective implementation of the sanctions measures, including through involvement in the improvement of the Committee's list.

Thirdly, the resolution urges the Committee to maximize its performance by benefiting from the work of the relevant specialized agencies and international organizations.

Fourthly, the resolution reiterates the need for close cooperation and continuous information-sharing among all three counter-terrorism bodies. It is my firm intention to intensify the work of the Committee in forthcoming months to achieve those objectives. Members of the Committee and I will continue to rely on the professional assistance of the coordinator and members of the Monitoring Team.

In conclusion, the sanctions targeting Al-Qaida and Taliban members and their associates are an effective, although not yet perfect tool in the fight against terrorism. It is the responsibility of the Council to constantly sharpen and improve that tool. In order to render sanctions as effective as possible all States must contribute to their implementation. Only then will United Nations sanctions play their intended role and function as a significant preventive measure that will assist, working together with other counter-terrorist measures, in combating terrorist activities rather than merely reacting to their tragic consequences.

The President

I thank Ambassador Mayoral for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Løj, Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism.

Ms. Løj (Denmark)

In my capacity as Chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) I would like to review the Committee's activities over the past three months, and to submit to the Security Council the Committee's seventeenth work programme for the current three months period, lasting until 31 December 2005.

I want to thank the Head of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), Mr. Javier Rupérez, and his team, as well as the Secretariat staff, for the valuable support they give to the CTC.

Before I elaborate on the work of the Committee, I would like to point out that we now have a fully staffed Executive Directorate. The Committee will therefore benefit fully from the assistance envisaged in the revitalization documents. More significantly, the Committee hopes Member States will begin to profit from the fact that we now have the resources to give them the guidance and advice they might want in fulfilling the provisions of resolution 1373 (2001). I sincerely hope that States will take advantage of that valuable resource and ask for whatever assistance they need to further their counter-terrorism efforts.

Over the past three months, the Committee has focused on the following priority areas: we are engaging with regional organizations, which have more recently developed a counter-terrorism agenda; we are catching up on the backlog of reports from States; we are continuing to look at ways to do our job better as facilitators of technical assistance; we continue to visit States, always with their consent; we are enhancing our dialogue and cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations, inter alia, through their involvement in the CTC visits to States and by engaging them to help us strengthen our capacity to promote implementation of resolution 1373 (2001). We are also taking steps to ensure follow-up to Security Council resolution 1624 (2005) on incitement of terrorism adopted at the summit meeting in September; and finally, we are engaging in policy discussions aimed at giving CTED the guidance foreseen in the revitalization documents.

Let me brief you in greater detail on each of those areas and explain to you what we hope to accomplish by the end of the year.

First, the Committee regularly stresses the importance of regional organizations in the fight against terrorism. Regional groups are increasingly vital as we move towards facilitating technical assistance to States that are unable to do everything they would like in the fight against terrorism. The importance of regional organizations in this regard was also reflected in resolution 1631 (2005) passed in connection with the Security Council debate on 17 October 2005 on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in maintaining international peace and security.

I am, therefore, pleased to note that an increasing number of regional organizations continue to develop their counter-terrorism agendas and include efforts to help their members implement the provisions of resolution 1373 (2001). The CTC and its CTED stand ready to provide guidance and assistance to such organizations in those endeavours, and I urge organizations to come forward as they realize they can benefit from closer contact with the Committee and its CTED. For its part, the Committee too will take advantage of CTED's improved resources to do more to reach out to regional groups.

In that light, I am pleased to note the strengthening of the Committee's dialogue with several regional organizations over the past three months. For example, the Committee welcomed a briefing on 21 July 2005, by the Director of the Peace and Security Division of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Several IGAD members are behind in reporting to the Committee and are asking for help in building their capacity to fight terrorism. I hope the CTC will be able to provide IGAD with the necessary guidance and assistance for it to succeed in its endeavour to develop its counter-terrorism agenda and to help its members.

I also welcome the initiative taken by the Pacific Islands Forum to enhance its dialogue with the CTC about timely reporting and the possible facilitation of assistance to its needy member States. Similarly, CTC welcomes that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has decided to establish a crime and security taskforce, which includes counter-terrorism in its mandate. The Committee is looking forward to cooperate with it.

At the same time, CTC and its CTED are continuing cooperation with organizations such as the European Union, the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Council of Europe, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of American States, to name a few.

In that regard we also note the essential contribution made by such international organizations as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to CTC visits to Member States and the finalization of reports from such visits. We continue our interaction with those organizations in the preparation of new visits. The Committee encourages the international, regional and subregional organizations to consider ways to enhance their bilateral cooperation in order to assist each other in developing their counter-terrorism agenda.

In that connection, it is time for the Committee to consider how to follow-up on the latest special meeting with international, regional, and subregional groups. Previous gatherings have done a lot to enhance the common effort. The Committee will be considering how to approach future meetings in order to ensure that they will be equally useful for everyone concerned.

A second priority for the Committee is reflected in its determination to eliminate the backlog of reports from States on their implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) by the end of the year. Moreover, as indicated in the seventeenth work programme, we will examine ways of updating the reporting regime. This includes looking at how to ensure that all aspects of resolution 1373 (2001) are included in future dialogues with States. Also, in cooperation with the 1540 and 1267 Committees, we will discuss ways of jointly addressing the so-called reporting fatigue referred to by several States at public meetings such as this. We are conscious of the recent summit's call for the Council to consider streamlining the reporting procedure.

Thirdly, it is already well established that the CTC assesses assistance needs when discussing how far States have come in implementing resolution 1373 (2001). In the most recent reporting period, the Committee has assessed assistance needs and obtained agreement to share needs with potential donors for 25 States. We started sharing the needs assessments with the Counter-Terrorism Action Group, and we are in touch with a number of potential donors.

Over the next months, the Committee intends to strengthen its dialogue with States to determine what each one needs in order to reach agreement on such needs and to stress the importance of meeting those needs. In this process, the CTC will also enhance its cooperation with the relevant international organizations, which often have the required experience in specific areas of resolution 1373 (2001). The CTC will also look at how its dialogue with potential donors can become more result-oriented. As part of the Committee's consideration and dialogue, the technical assistance providers and recipients will include issues of prioritization and focus, in order to be able to make the greatest impact on the global counter-terrorism effort. The Committee is well aware that much has been said about facilitation and that the time has come to produce concrete results.

Fourthly, visits to States continue to be an important part of monitoring implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) and of gaining a better understanding of assistance needs. Since I last reported to the Council, the Committee has finalized reports from its first four visits, in cooperation with the visited States and the involved international and regional organizations. The Committee must now ensure the appropriate follow-up to such visits, while the States, for their part, work to meet their commitments to further their implementation of 1373 (2001), as agreed in the respective visit reports. Moreover, the Committee has decided to visit four more States, with their consent.

Fifthly, resolution 1624 (2005), adopted during the September summit, calls upon States to report to the CTC on implementation of this resolution. The Committee was directed to include Member States' efforts to implement 1624 (2005) in its dialogue with those States. To launch this dialogue, the Committee has decided that its letters to States on implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) will also contain questions on resolution 1624 (2005). I encourage States to provide the Committee with detailed information about their efforts in this regard to enable the Committee to report back to the Council on their implementation.

Before I conclude, I should like to stress that the CTC puts great emphasis on its responsibility to provide policy guidance to the CTED. The Committee will continue its discussions about how to provide transparent guidance on implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) through the development of best practices. Also, the Committee will discuss how a human rights perspective might be appropriately incorporated into the Committee's policy and substantive work while, at the same time, respecting the various aspects of its Security Council mandate.

In this connection, I should mention that before the end of the year, the CTC will take steps to provide for the Council's comprehensive review of the CTED, in line with resolution 1535 (2004).

The CTC remains a crucial instrument in the international community's fight against terrorism. Developments during the last three months have again proven that its task remains vital and urgent. The support from and cooperation with Member States remains invaluable. On behalf of the CTC, I should like to thank Member States and again encourage them to look on the fully staffed CTED as an opportunity to obtain the guidance and assistance they need in their efforts to fulfil the provisions of resolution 1373 (2001).

The President

I shall now give a briefing in my capacity as Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004).

I have the honour to brief the Security Council on the activities of the 1540 Committee since 21 July this year and to introduce the Committee's third programme of work, for the period 1 October through the end of 2005.

The main task of the Committee for the last three months has been the examination of national reports submitted by States. I am very pleased to announce that this objective, which is an important part of monitoring States' efforts to implement resolution 1540 (2004), has been carried out successfully.

Since June 2005, the Committee, with the valuable support of its group of experts, has examined 124 national reports. On the basis of this process and with a view to better understanding the measures undertaken or planned by States to implement resolution 1540 (2004), the Committee decided to solicit additional information and/or clarification in areas covered by their first reports. As a result, letters have been forwarded to the submitting States through their Missions in New York, together with the individual matrices used for processing the first reports. The Committee has requested States to address the information gaps identified in their reports and to inform the Committee accordingly within two months from the date of the letter. We stand ready to develop a constructive and transparent dialogue with all States in addressing the issue of additional information.

The Committee will continue to examine further first reports that are received from States, as well as additional information being provided in response to the letters. In that regard, I would like to inform the Council that 21 States have already provided additional information with respect to their first reports. All of this data will be processed accordingly by the Committee.

In order to broaden its knowledge about States' efforts to implement resolution 1540 (2004), the Committee decided to build a legislative database that will be used as a supplementary information tool for the further examination of the reports. This database will contain links to relevant public sources of information about States' national legislative and other regulatory measures. The final product of the work under way will be shared with the reporting States at a later stage.

Turning to the question of reporting and outreach, on previous occasions I stated that by April 2006, the Committee would have to provide necessary information to enable the Security Council to assess the progress States have made in implementing the resolution and to decide what should be done subsequently.

The Committee can properly fulfil its remaining mandate only if all States submit their reports on time, as the Council has called upon them to do. Given the provision of sufficient information, the Committee can present to the Security Council a report on what has been achieved so far by States in implementing the provisions of resolution 1540 (2004), and on which implementation gaps need to be further addressed.

As of today, 67 Member States have yet to report. I would like to call again on those that have not yet done so to submit their first reports without further delay. Reporting is the best tool to allow the Committee to account for States' implementation efforts and to promote assistance for those which encounter reporting or implementation difficulties.

All States should be aware that, unless they meet their obligations in full, such as by enacting and enforcing effective national legal and regulatory measures, their territories may be used for the transit shipping of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and related materials, or for the financing of illegal activities or as a safe haven to broker the sale of WMD-related materials in other countries. However, we recognize that fully implementing the resolution will be a long-term undertaking that will require additional dialogue and coordination.

The Committee has continued to raise the issue of further reporting and has promoted the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) through outreach activities. On 8 September 2005, together with the Chairpersons of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee, I had the opportunity to address the second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments. This was the first occasion to reach out to leaders of national legislatures to inform them of our achievements as well as of the challenges ahead, and, more important, to seek their support in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) through the incorporation of its provisions into national legislation.

I would like to express my gratitude to Argentina and the United Kingdom for contributing to the organization of the first regional seminar, entitled "Advancing in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004)", for countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The interactive format of the discussions that took place in Buenos Aires from 26 to 28 September has contributed to a better comprehension of the objectives of resolution 1540 (2004) as well as of the steps to be pursued by States in the implementation process.

The Committee also had the opportunity to promote its outreach programme in Africa and Eurasia and was represented by its experts at the Uganda workshop on the global bargain for biosecurity and health and at the Seventh International Conference on Export Controls, held in Sweden. We will continue to approach all countries that have yet to report. I have expressed my readiness to reach out again to members of all regional groups in New York. We have already met Member States from Latin America and the Caribbean. Informal interaction with other regional groups will follow soon.

The Committee, with the support of Member States and the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs and its regional centres, will continue its outreach activities. Seminars and workshops aimed at raising the awareness of the proliferation problem worldwide, facilitating further reporting and advancing the implementation process, are useful tools for our work. In this context, I would like to welcome the statement made by China in the First Committee of the General Assembly on 10 October indicating that China is giving positive consideration to hosting a regional seminar on issues related to resolution 1540 (2004) and is discussing this matter with relevant United Nations bodies.

The issues of improving reporting performance and late submission are considered in a coordinated manner by the three Committees. We are making use of country visits by the CTC and the 1267 Committee in order to raise the issue of reporting.

On the subject of assistance, in considering first national reports, the Committee has identified offers of and requests for assistance. Information on offers of assistance is available on the website of the 1540 Committee and includes, in some instances, areas in which a specific country has indicated that it is able to provide assistance, as well as initial contact information. The Committee will seek to expand this information, as appropriate. The Committee will continue to act as a clearing house on the issue of assistance. In further examining the first reports and additional information from States, the Committee will keep up-to-date information on the issue of assistance in order to contribute to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In order to effectively perform its role as a clearing house on assistance, the Committee will continue to request States, as appropriate, to designate contact points on assistance.

As I mentioned before, full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by all States is a long-term objective that goes beyond the current mandate of the Committee. It will require continuous efforts at the national, regional and international levels on capacity-building and assistance, as well as monitoring and measuring progress made by States in implementing the resolution.

I am confident that the Security Council will consider how best to ensure that the work of the Committee makes an enduring contribution to non-proliferation.

As the process of examining national reports continues, the Committee will interact and cooperate, as appropriate, with the relevant international, regional and subregional organizations in order to facilitate the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Working relationships with those organizations are being developed, as appropriate.

In the same vein, the 1540 Committee will maintain close cooperation with the CTC and the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee, as envisaged in resolution 1566 (2004) and in statements by the President of the Security Council of 25 April 2005 (S/PRST/2005/16) and 20 July 2005 (S/PRST/2005/34). The Committee's experts will work closely with the experts of the other Committees, making every effort to maximize synergies between and among the experts of the Committees.

Transparency will remain a priority of our work. The Chairman and the Vice-Chairmen will reach out on a regular basis to Member States. This will include work with the United Nations media, including through joint briefings with the Chairpersons of the CTC and the Committee on Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions. The Committee will keep updating its dedicated website as an additional source of information on issues related to resolution 1540 (2004). A separate entry on assistance was added to the website. The Committee will also continue its practice of informing organizations outside the United Nations about our work through attendance at international, regional and subregional meetings and conferences. I will make full use of these opportunities to address, in particular, the issues of further reporting and implementation.

On behalf of the Committee, I look forward to the cooperation of all States as the Committee carries its work forward in the months ahead.

I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council.

In accordance with the understanding reached among Council members, I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than five minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Delegations with lengthy statements are kindly requested to circulate the texts in writing and to deliver a condensed version when speaking in the Chamber.

Mr. Vassilakis (Greece)

At the outset, I would like to associate myself with the statement to be made later in the debate by the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom on behalf of the European Union.

The recent terrorist attacks in Bali have shown once more that terrorism knows no boundaries and constitutes one of the most serious global threats to peace, freedom and human dignity. Acts of terrorism are under no circumstances justifiable on any grounds, be they political, religious or philosophical. Those who commit such horrific acts must be brought to justice.

The international community must once more show its resolve and determination to collectively fight this scourge. Appropriate action, at the national and international levels, is an obligation for all Member States, pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001), 1540 (2004) and related resolutions.

We would like to express our thanks to the Chairman of the Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions Committee, Ambassador César Mayoral, for briefing us today on the recent activities of the Committee. The addition of 11 new individuals and one entity to the Consolidated List is a welcome development. Listing of individuals and groups has an important political and psychological impact and can function as a deterrent to the commission of terrorist acts. However, there is a growing international concern about existing listing and delisting procedures and the lack of due process requirements. We believe that the Security Council should address those concerns as soon as possible, if sanctions are to be a credible and effective tool in the fight against terrorism.

In that connection, during our open debates many Member States have repeatedly proposed the establishment of a review mechanism that would allow access by individuals requesting delisting. That would be an adequate response to such concerns. The probable need to revise the existing guidelines was foreseen by resolution 1617 (2005). Indeed, revision of the guidelines so as to develop more precise and detailed provisions regarding delisting procedures, based on due process requirements and humanitarian exemptions, should be a high priority for the Committee, since that can considerably enhance the sanctions regime.

We would like to extend our many thanks and our appreciation to the Chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Løj. She gave us useful insight into the Committee's activities over the past three months, as well as updating us on its programme of work for the upcoming 90-day period.

We are pleased that the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) is now fully operational. It will contribute to the better provision of assistance and guidance to States so as more effectively to implement resolution 1373 (2001). We would like to thank the head of the CTED, Ambassador Javier Rupérez, and his team, for their ongoing efforts to support the CTC.

We note with interest that the Committee has enhanced its cooperation and dialogue with some regional organizations, which may help them to build their capacity to combat terrorism. We also welcome the Committee's efforts to eliminate the backlog of reports from States concerning their implementation of resolution 1373 (2001). Likewise, we commend the efforts of the Committee to explore ways to strengthen the facilitation of technical assistance to States, with a view to better implementing the provisions of the resolution.

We are pleased to hear today that the CTC has taken steps to ensure follow-up to resolution 1624 (2005), regarding incitement to commit terrorist acts, which was adopted in September 2005 at the Security Council summit meeting. The resolution requires States to report to the CTC, as part of their ongoing dialogue, on the steps they have taken to implement the resolution. We would like to stress, however, that, in implementing the resolution, States must ensure that they comply with their obligations under international law, refugee law, and international humanitarian law.

Finally, we fully support the decision of the Committee to engage in a policy discussion on how to incorporate a human rights perspective into its work. In that regard, we warmly welcome the appointment of a human rights expert to the CTED. We believe that the close cooperation of the expert with the Commission on Human Rights and the recently appointed Special Rapporteur on human rights and terrorism will help States to implement counter-terrorism measures in conformity with human rights law.

We must thank you, Sir, in your other capacity, as the Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for your briefing on recent activities and future work. We are pleased to learn that the Committee has completed the examination of all the first reports that were submitted by 1 October. We believe that the examination of State reports is an essential part of efforts to implement resolution 1540 (2004) and reinforce the global counter-proliferation regime. We encourage States that have not yet done so to submit their reports to the Committee so that it may assess implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and consider further measures.

We note with interest the steps taken by the Committee to facilitate the provision of technical assistance to States to implement the resolution. We support the Committee's ongoing efforts to establish closer interaction and cooperation with relevant international, regional and subregional organizations, with the aim of reinforcing implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).

Lastly, we fully support an increased cooperation and coordination between the three Committees -- the 1267, 1373 and 1540 Committees. We believe that those Committees should continue to function in a transparent and open way, particularly through the holding of joint briefings and by providing information on a regular basis to Member States on their respective activities.

Mr. Sardenberg (Brazil)

The delegation of Brazil is grateful to Ambassador César Mayoral, Ellen Løj and Mihnea Motoc for their valuable briefings on the activities of the Committees they chair.

Concerning the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities, my delegation finds that the period since our previous joint public meeting has been very productive. Among other activities, the Committee has been working successfully on cooperation with Interpol and has been considering the recommendations of the third report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (S/2005/572), which contains valuable contributions on how to further many aspects of the Committee's work. The Chairman has undertaken a second trip to selected countries to improve dialogue with Member States.

Some urgent tasks remain before us, however. In our view the most important among them is the revision of the draft guidelines of the 1267 Committee, as mandated by resolution 1617 (2005). Work on the guidelines is urgently needed in order to update them and better adapt them to the new needs of our task. Special attention should be paid to the issues of listing, delisting and associated procedures. Present mechanisms for both listing and delisting leave significant room for improvement in transparency, effectiveness and fairness. The Monitoring Team has formulated some noteworthy suggestions to that effect in its proposed revisions to Committee guidelines. We hope to be able to start working soon on those suggestions, as well as on other ideas.

As regards the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and taking into account that this is the first public meeting on terrorism since the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) has become fully operational, I would like to make a few comments on important issues currently under discussion that are likely to influence the work of that body in years to come.

First and foremost, our delegation believes that from now on the CTED will be in a better position to carry out its ambitious programme of work under the policy guidance of the plenary of the CTC.

In our view, CTED's primary role is to identify States' technical assistance needs and facilitate the provision of that assistance. Unfortunately, many Member States still lack the institutions and qualified personnel necessary to deal with the terrorist threat. Therefore, we emphasize that providing assistance to States in areas related to institution-building and training is one of the best ways to counter terrorism and also a very efficient way to persuade Member States, which may be under the false impression that international terrorism poses only a remote threat to their countries, to be more involved in this issue.

Brazil strongly encourages States that might benefit from such assistance to request it. We also stress the need for the United Nations to reach mutual agreement on the potential technical needs of States through increased dialogue and to handle with utmost care any sensitive information that may expose State's vulnerabilities to terrorism.

In accordance with resolution 1535 (2004), Brazil hopes that visits to States with their consent will provide the CTC with a more thorough understanding of the situation in those countries, including further insight into the difficulties States may face in implementing resolution 1373 (2001). It is also essential that a proper follow-up mechanism to those visits be put in place, so as to ensure that technical assistance and other needs identified during the visits are duly taken into account. We believe that the CTED's work will contribute to the identification of possible best practices in various areas related to the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001), such as those involving the financing of terrorism. We recall that best practices are, by definition, non-binding instruments that should be in conformity with existing international law.

Another important issue on the CTC's agenda is the incorporation of the human rights perspective while countering terrorism -- that is, the idea that all United Nations bodies should always act in conformity with international human rights law. Despite the fact that the CTED's mandate does not include a monitoring role in that field, it is important that its work actually contribute to strengthening the observance of human rights standards. We believe that General Assembly resolution 59/191, entitled "Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism", which was adopted by consensus, should be a primary reference for the CTED's work in that area. While respecting the Committee's own mandate, the CTED is expected to liaise with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, and with other human rights organs in matters related to counter-terrorism. Furthermore, we expect to engage in a fruitful Security Council discussion in December, involving a comprehensive review of the CTED's work, as mandated by resolution 1535 (2004).

As regards the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), my delegation is pleased to note that, with the valuable support of the group of experts, the Committee has been able to conclude the examination of the first round of national reports submitted by Member States. That is a most welcome achievement. At the same time, we continue to encourage those States that have not yet done so to present their first reports as soon as possible.

In the coming weeks, the Committee will begin to devote itself to considering the responses to requests it has made for additional information. That exercise, we believe, will allow the Committee to have a full and comprehensive picture of the state of worldwide implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). It will also serve as the basis for the final report to be submitted by the Committee to the Council by April 2006. It seems appropriate to mention that that reporting exercise has also proved to be very positive for Brazil at the domestic level, as it has stimulated Brazilian authorities to proceed with a broad assessment of our legal system and to identify redundant provisions with a view to facilitating the modernization of the national legal framework.

Concerning technical assistance, I wish to stress that the Brazilian Government is ready to provide assistance, as appropriate, to States in the Latin American and Caribbean region and to other developing countries possibly lacking the legal or regulatory infrastructure and implementation experience required to implement the provisions of resolution 1540 (2004).

Finally, I should recall that for Brazil, the very existence of weapons of mass destruction, either in the hands of non-State actors or in the possession of States themselves, is a matter of grave concern. Our Government continues to call for complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament.

This is probably the last opportunity in 2005 for a regular briefing from the Security Council Committees regarding terrorism. We are all aware of the urgency of dealing forcefully and decisively with the menace of international terrorism. Yet we must not let a heightened sense of vulnerability -- given that terrorism can now threaten anyone, anywhere -- lead us to forgo fundamental principles and rights. Our delegation will continue to cooperate constructively on this issue, which has considerable impact on the type of society we want to build in the years to come.

Sir Emyr Jones Parry (United Kingdom)

I have the honour also to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and those countries that have aligned themselves with this statement.

I should like to start by thanking the three Committee Chairmen for their comprehensive briefings.

Once again, recent events have shown us that the threat of terrorist attack is ever present. It seems that every time we gather for a meeting of this type, we must face the harsh reality of recent terrorist action. The European Union extends its deepest condolences to the people and the Government of Indonesia and to the victims in Bali. The terrible events that they and others around the world have suffered have served only to renew our determination to fight this battle and to maximize our efforts to counter this global menace.

The European Union welcomes the steps that the United Nations is taking in that direction. In particular, we strongly support the measures outlined in the summit outcome document (General Assembly resolution 60/1) and in Security Council resolution 1624 (2005). We fully expect and look forward to the conclusion of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the present session of the General Assembly.

We are also highly appreciative of the appointment of the new Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. The European Union firmly believes that any strategy to counter terrorism must of necessity be coupled with a concern for the rights and freedoms of individuals.

The European Union welcomes the adoption of the new Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions resolution -- resolution 1617 (2005) -- in particular the clarification it provides on the definition of association with Al-Qaida, and its encouragement of Member States to endorse the internationally recognized Financial Action Task Force standards. We hope that, following that endorsement, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) now intends to adopt the standards as an example of best practice for States.

We are also pleased to note that resolution 1617 (2005) tasks the Committee with furthering work on its guidelines, including on procedures for delisting and providing humanitarian exemptions. The European Union strongly favours the creation of clearer and more detailed guidance on those issues, and we urge the Committee to begin its work in that area as soon as possible.

The European Union also welcomes the adoption of resolution 1624 (2005) and looks forward to the Counter-Terrorism Committee's working to ensure that States are doing all that they can to implement the resolution. We are pleased that the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) is now at full strength, and we are glad to note that the resulting increase in CTC and CTED capacity has led to the production of a full and forward-looking programme of work.

In particular, the European Union places great emphasis on the importance of the coordination and facilitation of technical assistance, and we keenly anticipate the expansion of the CTED's role in those areas. We look forward to its increased engagement with international, regional and subregional organizations and with the donors in order to produce tangible results. The EU has participated in CTED visits to countries with which it has a close relationship, and it looks forward to doing so again.

The European Union welcomes the ongoing work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We are pleased to learn that the Committee has now completed its examination of the first reports submitted by States. We welcome the beginning of more work on technical assistance for States to implement the resolution, and the EU stands ready to play its part. Our member States are working hard to identify key areas of implementation to address, from both national and international perspectives, and we would be glad to consider any requests for assistance or advice to such States as might be required.

The European Union supports increased coordination and cooperation among the three Committees and their experts. Issues such as information-sharing, visits and technical assistance are relevant to the Council's work overall, and the work of the Committees should reinforce one another as much as possible in those areas. As a regional organization, the European Union welcomes the adoption of Security Council resolution 1631 (2005) and stands ready to work with the Council to take forward close cooperation in the area of counter-terrorism.

Implementing our regional strategy to counter terrorist financing remains a high priority for the European Union. Notable achievements include progress towards adopting and implementing new regulatory measures to tackle terrorist financing and regulate wire transfers, alternative remittance systems and cash couriers. We continue to work towards an EU code of conduct for regulating the charitable sector by improving financial information exchange and investigation, as well as by improving asset-freezing measures at both the EU and national level. We are also working on a programme of assistance to priority third countries and are actively considering to which other countries the EU could usefully contribute. We are in the process of drafting a Europe-wide strategy on recruitment and radicalization, and as always stand ready to play our part in the global response to terrorism.

Mr. Idohou (Benin)

We would like to thank the Ambassador of Denmark, the Ambassador of Argentina and the Ambassador of Romania for their briefings to the Council on the activities of the Committees that they chair. It is clear that the fight against terrorism remains a high priority for the international community. Acts of terrorism are crimes against humanity, especially when they target innocent civilians. They constitute a grave violation of the basic values of today's world, in particular human dignity. Terrorism's poisonous effect is further intensifying the divisions among civilizations and religions. In that regard, terrorism constitutes a grave threat to international peace and security.

The fight against terrorism can be effective only if we aim at preventing terrorist activities through appropriate policies aimed at strengthening States' national legislations through effective structures that seek to enhance cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally, through information exchange and assistance to countries that need it in order to bring their capacities up to the level of other countries.

We welcome the progress achieved by the three Committees in guiding such cooperation, which should be further intensified by concerted efforts on the part of States, national and regional organizations and civil society. In that connection, we are happy to see the reduction in the delays in the submission of national reports and in the analysis of those reports. Over and above the reports, efforts should be further directed towards the effective implementation of the measures that States are obligated to introduce into their own domestic legislation, as stipulated by the Council.

The efforts on the part of the three Committee Chairmen to raise the awareness of parliamentarians during the consultations held in New York in the context United Nations reform efforts was a step in the right direction, because action by national parliaments will be decisive in the implementation of appropriate legislation and in the creation of an operational framework to monitor terrorist movements, to cut off their sources of finance and to prevent them from gaining access to weapons.

That issue is of particular relevance in the light of the need to prevent non-State actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. The success of that effort will depend essentially on the adoption of national legislation and regulations -- and their effective implementation -- aimed at accounting for and managing, on a daily basis, the production and circulation of dual-use substances.

That is a matter of concern for all countries. We call on all States that have not yet presented their first national reports to do so and to indicate the degree of assistance that they need in order to update their national mechanisms for combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), like the two other Committees, has begun a direct dialogue with Member States as part of the consideration of its report. That dialogue will also enable them to become acquainted with and gain an understanding of the internal workings of the Committees and the mechanisms set up to monitor the various sanctions regimes directed against terrorist movements.

The holding of such a dialogue will help to eliminate any doubts and ambiguities that might otherwise lead to reluctance on the part of certain States. Visits to States by the Chairmen of the Committees are a valuable instrument for maintaining such dialogues.

We welcome the considerable efforts made by the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate to move its work forward. At the same time, the Committees must continue to improve their working methods on the basis of clearly defined and well-known principles. The initiatives undertaken in that area are to be welcomed. We invite the Committees to spare no effort to make their activities as transparent as possible. We express full support for the CTC work programme for the last quarter of 2005.

Furthermore, in the context of the implementation of counter-terrorism measures, the need to protect the international community's achievements in terms of human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be overemphasized. The appointment of Mr. Martin Scheinin as Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism is clear proof of the commitment of the Secretary-General in that regard.

In order to mobilize all States in the fight against terrorism, we must also pay further attention to the difficulties faced by some countries resulting from the application of counter-terrorism sanctions. We need to consider to what extent a State whose economy or social fabric has suffered a result of sanctions against Al-Qaida and the Taliban and other associated individuals and entities should benefit from fair compensation. We should establish mechanisms to that end.

In conclusion, my delegation would like to emphasize the need for the international community to resolve conflicts throughout the world and tackle inequality, injustice and poverty, which provide a fertile breeding ground for the development of violence and extremism. Terrorism will be eliminated only if we make constant efforts and take concrete actions to promote peace and sustainable development to make our world better for all through a dialogue of cultures and an alliance of civilizations.

Mr. De La Sablière (France)

The Council has shown that it is capable of responding firmly to terrorist acts aimed at destabilizing States and jeopardizing international peace and security. It has done so by unequivocally condemning such acts, as well as by demanding that those responsible and their supporters be tracked down and brought to justice.

Furthermore, for some years now the Council has been committed to patient work aimed at strengthening the capacity of all the members of international community to combat terrorism. Indeed, that is the raison d'être of the three Committees that have just submitted their reports.

The Council is making an invaluable contribution to the international struggle to combat terrorism, which is now an important item on its agenda. In the months to come, as we consider the Secretary-General's strategy in this area, we must ensure that the Council's place in that common effort is fully recognized. The adoption by the General Assembly of a universal definition of terrorism would provide a solid foundation for that strategy.

In the meantime, we must regularly assess the progress achieved. In the near future, the Council will be focusing on the comprehensive examination of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate provided for in resolution 1535 (2004). Although the Directorate now has all the human resources that it needs, we must commit ourselves to undertaking a genuine debate on action in support the Committee so that we can determine its priorities.

Under the chairmanship of Ambassador Løj, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) has caught up, to a significant extent, with its backlog in considering State reports. We are also pleased that it now includes the implementation of resolution 1624 (2005) on incitement to terrorism in its discussions with States. We now hope that it will be able to devote more time and resources to visits on site.

The visits that have already taken place have enabled us to make a much better assessment of the efforts of States to implement their obligations pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) than would have been possible working from written reports alone. Those visits have also enabled us better to determine what assistance States may need in future. We therefore hope to see an increase in CTC visits.

The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities is also making considerable efforts to improve its working methods.

We welcome the adoption of resolution 1617 (2005), which has provided useful clarifications. The resolution calls on the Committee to review its guidelines in order to enhance its effectiveness. We believe that such a review is necessary. It is particularly important to enhance transparency in the context of the Committee's procedures for listing and delisting and in those relating to humanitarian exemptions. Such transparency, which justice demands, will improve Member States' understanding of the work of the Committee and therefore contribute to enhancing their cooperation.

The visits made by the Committee and the group of experts to Member States represent an important part of their work. It is important that such visits focus on States requiring the greatest assistance for the full implementation of the sanctions determined by the Council.

I wish to devote particular attention to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) at a time when, under your chairmanship, Sir, it is presenting an assessment that France believes to be very positive. This battle was not easily won, but now the Committee is working quickly, and the group of experts has carried out an exceptional in-depth analysis of the national reports.

We believe that the position of States vis-à-vis resolution 1540 (2004) is shifting, as seen at the recent seminar organized by Argentina in Buenos Aires. Many States had felt that, by resolution 1540 (2004), the Security Council was legislating in their place, but they now seem to better understand the objectives of the resolution and are passing laws to ensure compliance with its provisions.

France is convinced that the threat of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery or related materials falling into the wrong hands poses a very serious threat for all States. We draw attention to that problem in all forums in which we participate -- in the G-8, the European Union, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and today in the General Assembly, to which we have submitted a draft resolution on radiological terrorism that we hope will be adopted by consensus.

The renewal of the 1540 Committee's mandate will have to be discussed a few months hence. Today we wish to say that the Committee is very useful. It is now gaining a full understanding of the control systems for sensitive installations and materials worldwide -- an understanding that really has no equivalent in disarmament forums. We should use that understanding to better direct our own efforts. Of course, we can continue to request reports, but it might be more effective to make better use of the existing database in order to identify priorities; match up requests for and offers of assistance; and identify intelligent responses to resolution 1540 (2004) of which note could be taken, such as the information we have culled from reading the reports submitted by India and South Africa.

As I said earlier, to be effective, the fight against proliferation requires that all States shoulder their responsibilities in the area and recognize the benefits they can derive. I believe that the Committee can provide assistance in that respect by identifying regions, requirements, partnerships and models and drawing conclusions in order to make concrete progress.

The establishment of zones free of weapons of mass destruction has played a major role in the elaboration of the regional security policies of the countries of the South, and the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones could in future also strengthen international security. Resolution 1540 (2004), which encourages cooperation among States, provides an opportunity in that direction.

Mr. Wang Guangya (China)

The Chinese delegation wishes to thank Ambassadors Mayoral, Løj and Motoc for their respective briefings on the work of the three Committees and on their work programme for the next stage. We note with satisfaction that, since the last meeting at which briefings were made, the three Committees have made progress in their work.

The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities has conducted a preliminary review of the third report of the Monitoring Team, and the Team made another round of visits to the countries concerned.

The Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) is now fully operational, with all its staff on board, and has further improved the efficiency and quality of its work.

The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) has further strengthened its cooperation with international organizations.

I should like to take this opportunity to commend the three chairpersons for their work. I should like also to make the following comments on the focus of the work of the three Committees in the next phase.

The 1267 Committee should step up its efforts to conclude the revision of its guidelines and enhance its sanctions measures and working procedures.

The CTC should focus on providing comprehensive policy guidance to the CTED and step up its efforts to carry out the new tasks set out by resolution 1624 (2005).

The 1540 Committee should continue to urge those Member States that have not yet submitted their reports to do so as soon as possible. China is actively considering hosting a regional seminar on issues relating to resolution 1540 (2004) and would welcome the participation and support of interested countries.

I wish to stress once again that the three Committees and their expert groups should maintain and enhance their synergy and coordination and further develop a complementary relationship.

The resolute fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations continues to present a major challenge to the international community. Acts of violence such as the bombings in Bali, Indonesia, and the terrorist attack in Nalchik, Russia, have sounded yet another serious warning that terrorists continue to run rampant and to blatantly challenge us.

We express out deepest condolences to the families of the victims of such attacks. The Security Council, as the organ bearing primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, must intensify its efforts to take concrete measures to assist Member States in eliminating that scourge.

We warmly welcome resolution 1624 (2005) condemning the incitement of terrorist acts, adopted by the Council summit meeting held on 14 September 2005. That resolution testifies once again to the determination of the members of the Security Council to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism.

As set out in the summit outcome document and in Security Council resolution 1624 (2005), terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of its motivation, whenever and by whomsoever committed, poses serious threats to international and regional peace and security and should be condemned in the strongest terms.

The eastern Turkistan terrorists have been rampantly carrying out activities in Xinjiang, China, committing numerous crimes and colluding with other international terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaida and the Taliban. Thus, they not only pose a terrorist threat to China but also seriously jeopardize peace and stability in the region.

It must be pointed out in particular that the Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization is one of the terrorist organizations listed by China. Recently, the organization openly declared, through an online video blog, that it will take up armed struggle against China by all possible means. A hyperlink to that video blog remains on the website of the East Turkistan Information Centre, which is another terrorist organization listed by the Chinese Government.

That flagrant incitement to terrorism shows once again that the Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization and other East Turkistan groups are extremely violent terrorist organizations. As the eastern Turkistan groups are flagrantly threatening terrorist violence, China urges all countries, especially those countries where eastern Turkistan terrorists are found and are active, to be more vigilant and strictly fulfil their obligations under Security Council resolution 1624 (2005) by taking the necessary measures against the East Turkistan Liberation Organization and its members and other East Turkistan terrorists, firmly suppressing their terrorist activities and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

I wish to reiterate that, in accordance with the purposes and the principles of the United Nations Charter and the relevant Council resolutions, China will continue to enhance its cooperation with the international community and spare no effort to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in order to make its contribution to world peace and security.

Mr. Baja (Philippines)

Once more, we welcome the opportunity of a joint briefing by the Chairmen of the three Security Council Committees on counter-terrorism. I congratulate Ambassador Løj, Ambassador Mayoral and Ambassador Motoc and commend the respective teams of independent experts assisting their Committees in the implementation of their mandates. As Chairman of the Working Group established pursuant to resolution 1566 (2004), and in working towards the Group's objectives, I draw considerably on the experience of the three Committees.

Continuing terrorist attacks worldwide are grim reminders of the need for the international community to remain vigilant and further enhance the global efforts against terrorism. The unanimous adoption of Security Council resolution 1624 (2005) by our heads of State or Government at last month's Security Council summit meeting is testament to the strong collective commitment of our Governments to counter terrorism.

The increasing cooperation and information-sharing among the three Committees at the formal, informal and expert levels have proven to be very useful and effective. Their increased interaction and cooperation with relevant international and regional organizations further benefit global counter-terrorism efforts. The synergy resulting from such interaction and cooperation will maximize the results of global counter-terrorism efforts and, at the same time, streamline efforts by avoiding duplication. Thus, my delegation wishes to encourage the ongoing efforts by the three Committees to that end.

The Secretary-General has identified elements of a counter-terrorism strategy to promote a comprehensive, coordinated and consistent response to counter-terrorism at the national, regional and international levels. Coordinated and cooperative fulfilment of their mandates by the three committees will greatly contribute to the achievement of a comprehensive international counter-terrorism strategy. And we look forward to the conclusion this year of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

My delegation endorses the new activities being undertaken by the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee under the leadership of Ambassador Mayoral to improve implementation of the sanctions measures mandated by resolution 1617 (2005). We welcome the increased cooperation with Interpol and encourage the Committee to benefit from the work of relevant specialized agencies and international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. We look forward to continuing enhanced cooperation with regional organizations, particularly in the Asian region.

We fully support the Chairman's visits to Member States, particularly where there are concerns about capacity and the need for technical assistance. We believe that the visits by the Chair provide the political impetus for those countries to address the difficulties they face in the implementation of the sanctions measures and to identify their needs for assistance. Since the 1267 Committee has no mandate to directly handle technical assistance needs of States in the implementation of the sanctions regime, cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the 1540 Committee is vital and should be further strengthened.

Now that the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) is fully staffed and operational, the Counter-Terrorism Committee, led by Ambassador Løj, will now have a fully functional CTED to support the Committee's activities, especially the full examination of Member States' responses to the letters of the CTC Chairman. We expect a more vigorous identification of areas for technical assistance so that actual assistance can be rendered by the appropriate countries and institutions.

We welcome the appointment of the CTED's human rights expert. In our view, that will enable the CTC -- as well as the other counter-terrorism Committees, given the enhanced cooperation among the three Committees -- to better fulfil its additional function, mandated under resolution 1624 (2005), of monitoring that States' efforts against terrorism are in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian standards.

We also welcome the CTC's efforts to pursue contacts and coordination with regional and subregional organizations. This month's thematic debate of the Security Council, chaired by Romania's Foreign Minister, demonstrated that regional organizations are an invaluable resource in the global fight against terrorism, as a source of both best practices and technical assistance.

My delegation congratulates the 1540 Committee, under the stewardship of Ambassador Motoc, for completing the examination of the 121 first national reports submitted so far by Member States. We wish to commend the invaluable contribution of the Committee's team of independent experts in the examination of the reports.

We consider the Committee's outreach activities to be vital to implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), as they provide information on how States can implement obligations under that resolution. We also encourage remaining States that have not yet submitted their first national reports to participate in the Committee's outreach activities for useful guidance on how to complete their reports. As Ambassador Motoc indicated, while the reports are not an end in themselves, they are the best tool the Committee has to assess the status of States' implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and to identify capacity gaps. That information is the basis for sharing experiences and expertise among countries in order to increase worldwide capacity to prevent weapons of mass destruction from being used for terrorism purposes.

The holding of regional seminars to support the implementation process is a useful outreach activity. In that regard, the successful regional seminar for the Latin American and Caribbean region, held in Buenos Aires, has shown the value of such regional sharing of experiences in the implementation of the resolution and the preparation of national reports. My delegation supports China's plan to host a similar seminar in the Asian region, as its delegation announced in the General Assembly's First Committee. All those initiatives contribute to the global efforts to combat terrorism.

Mr. Kitaoka (Japan)

At the outset, I would like to welcome the three Chairs and express my appreciation for their briefings.

Since our last public meeting on 20 July (S/PV.5229), we have had no respite from acts of terror, which have been committed one after another, in Egypt, Iraq, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Bali, Indonesia. My delegation would like to express its sincere condolences to the victims and their families and its hopes for early recovery for those who suffered injuries in those attacks. Terrorism must never be condoned, and my Government strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

In adopting the 2005 World Summit Outcome (General Assembly resolution 60/1), Member States debated for long hours over the counter-terrorism measures to be pursued by the United Nations. Although those negotiations were difficult, they are now being followed up by negotiations on the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in hopes of reaching an agreement. We believe it is essential that the Security Council also continue to develop an effective counter-terrorism policy by deepening the cooperation among the counter-terrorism-related committees.

There are three points I would like to focus on today that may help to ensure further effectiveness in the work of the three Committees.

First, as I emphasized on the occasion of the last briefings, there can be no question about the importance of establishing counter-terrorism prevention measures. From that perspective, it is worth mentioning that Council resolution 1617 (2005), adopted on 29 July, strongly urges all Member States to implement the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) Forty Recommendations on Money Laundering and the FATF Nine Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing. On the basis of resolution 1617 (2005), we also have seen progress in cooperation between Interpol and the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee, with the General Assembly of Interpol recently approving this matter. We expect that information accumulated by Interpol can thus be further utilized in order to prevent terrorist activities. In addition, resolution 1617 (2005) encourages further improvement in the Consolidated List of the Sanctions Committee. It is therefore vital to ensure that the List be utilized effectively within each Member State. We also find it of great significance that Council resolution 1624 (2005), aiming at the prevention of incitement to terrorist acts -- an area not covered previously -- was adopted by the leaders at the Security Council summit last month.

Secondly, in order to build the counter-terrorism capacity of Member States, it is crucial to accelerate the efforts to strengthen the role of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC). We need to devise ways to facilitate the provision of technical assistance requested by Member States through the CTC to build their counter-terrorism capacity. At present, with the assessment of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the CTC is working to identify the technical assistance needs of Member States, and we expect that the information on those needs will be relayed to the donor community in a systematic manner so as to ensure that technical assistance is actually provided to the States requiring it.

Specifically, we believe assistance could be provided more efficiently if the CTC, with its information-gathering and analytical capacity, could provide additional information on what kinds of assistance donors should focus on in those cases in which donor States and organizations are currently identifying needs through individual efforts. Japan would like the CTC to devise ways and means to make the CTC analysis clearer to the donor community so that coordination between donors and recipients can be closer and thus strengthen the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) by Member States. In this connection, establishing a structure for closer contact with the Counter-Terrorism Action Group and international, regional and sub-regional organizations would be an effective step. We also expect that during the visits to States, contacts with regional organizations and others in addition to the Governments will be enhanced.

Thirdly, in the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), the examination of national reports is in the final stage, and we welcome the fact that second reports are being submitted by some Member States. It is our view that from this point forward the Committee should focus more on the issue of technical assistance. The mandate of the Committee is expected to expire at the end of April next year, but many tasks still remain to be accomplished by the Committee. It is critical that we have an efficient work programme, bearing in mind the limited time remaining.

We need to enrich the activities of the three Committees, and from that standpoint, in addition to the experts working for the 1540 Committee, we welcome that the experts and new members of both the Monitoring Team of the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee and the CTED are now operating in full force, and we look forward to their active role.

My Government will continue to extend its full cooperation for the work of the three Committees so that the Security Council will be able to further strengthen its activities in the fight against terrorism.

Mr. Mahiga (Tanzania)

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting to hear joint briefings on the activities of the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1540 Committee. We commend the three Committees for providing us with updates every three months in a coordinated manner. This approach enables us to keep pace with the changing nature of the threat of terrorism while promoting transparency in the work of the Security Council.

As stated earlier by the Chairman of the Al-Qaida and Taliban Committee, Ambassador César Mayoral, the Security Council adopted a new resolution -- 1617 (2005) -- in which the due process concerns of Member States have been addressed. In our view, the Council has introduced very pertinent elements in the resolution, such as the checklist, which to a great extent will assist Member States in the preparations of their reports to the Committee.

It was gratifying to receive the Chairman's report on his recent visit to Nigeria and Chad -- two strategically significant States in the subregion of West Africa. Contacts with Member States are crucial for the Committee to understand the operational field constraints in the implementation of resolutions by States, rather than perceiving and interpreting delays as reporting fatigue.

We recognize the commendable work by the Chairperson of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, Madam Ellen Margrethe Løj, during the past three months. We thank her for her leadership in facilitating the full staffing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). This will enhance the Committee's capacity to review and respond expeditiously to reports received from Member States.

With the adoption of resolution 1624 (2005), the Security Council has placed additional responsibilities on the Committee. Some Member States are still struggling to fulfil their obligations under resolution 1373 (2001). It is nonetheless an important undertaking that should be implemented with appropriate assistance for those States requiring such assistance. In view of that, the ongoing efforts by the Committee and CTED to facilitate the provision of technical assistance to Member States should be stepped up and augmented through increased cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations.

Mr. President, I wish to commend your chairmanship of the 1540 Committee and your report, which touched on the Committee's task of examining national reports and the steps taken to address the problem of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors. Tanzania commends the Committee's achievements during the past three months, particularly in successfully implementing the examination of first reports submitted by Member States; we hope that the remaining 67 Member States will submit their reports in due course.

Tanzania attaches great importance to the activities of the Committee and finds merit in its outreach efforts, including encouraging Member States, both individually and through regional seminars, to prepare and submit their reports on time.

Tanzania also commends the Committee for facilitating extensive cooperation with international organizations that are ready to offer relevant technical assistance to Member States. We wish to congratulate Argentina and the United Kingdom for organizing the first regional outreach seminar for countries of Latin America, and we look forward to a seminar of a similar nature next year in China for Asian countries.

Before I conclude, let me make one general remark. Persistent terrorist attacks worldwide and the changing nature of terrorist threats make it imperative for the three Committees to increase cooperation among themselves in information-sharing and dialogue with Member States, in particular concerning late submission or non-submission of reports and implementation of all Security Council resolutions.

It is also important to situate our coordinated counter-terrorism strategies in the wider context of our respective national, regional and overall international efforts to combat terrorism, led by the Security Council. The seminal Madrid statement made by the Secretary-General last year on combating international terrorism is, and should be, a useful reference in this endeavour.

Mr. Rogachev (Russia)

May I express our gratitude to you, Mr. President, for organizing today's meeting. I also sincerely thank Ambassador Mayoral, Ambassador Løj and you, Ambassador Motoc, for your comprehensive briefings on the activities of their respective Committees, whose work is part of our campaign against terrorism. This is the third Security Council meeting in this format. We support this approach, which is in keeping with enhancing coordination and cooperation among subsidiary bodies of the Council and enabling the Council to more effectively carry out its tasks in the key sphere of counter-terrorism.

The 2005 General Assembly summit once again reaffirmed that the international community is counting on the United Nations to formulate a reliable system to counter terrorism, including preventive measures against that global threat. This was reflected in the active participation of Member States in the event marking the opening for signature of the new International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, which was an initiative of the Russian Federation.

Another important step in that context was the Security Council's adoption of resolution 1624 (2005), which, for the first time, contains provisions pertaining to the criminalization of the incitement of terrorism and the enhancement of dialogue among civilizations and religions in the context of ensuring international security.

We welcomed the painstaking work towards agreeing upon the counter-terrorism provisions of the 2005 summit Outcome Document, although we were not able to achieve unanimity during the discussion that took place. However, the debate helped to narrow the gap between the positions of States on key aspects of counter-terrorism activities and strengthened mutual understanding with respect to finding solutions to the problems remaining on the United Nations counter-terrorism agenda.

We hope that States will heed and support the 2005 summit appeal that they do their utmost to coordinate and agree upon a comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. The overall positive momentum achieved in recent months concerning counter-terrorism gives us hope that that task will be completed successfully.

The Russian Federation advocates building on the activities agreed upon by the Security Council in all key areas of the struggle against terrorism and strengthening its capacity through the relevant subsidiary bodies.

Concerning the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities, we shall continue to pay close attention to its activities, bearing in mind the massive threat to peace and security posed by the terrorist network of Al-Qaida, the Taliban and their accomplices. In that connection, we support the efforts of the 1267 Committee to intensify dialogue with Member States and international organizations with a view to strengthening the sanctions regime, consistent with the provisions of resolution 1617 (2005).

We welcome the Committee's efforts to improve the Consolidated List and adapt it to existing conditions. We also acknowledge the effective work of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which has been acting in ever-closer contact with the expert groups of the other Committees.

In connection with the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), we note with special satisfaction the completion of the organization and staffing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), which enables us to intensify the activities of the Committee in all the basic areas of its mandate.

We welcome the goal set in CTC's programme of work to address the issue of States late in submitting their reports, and to ensure the expert review of reports. We support the effort to further develop the practice of conducting visits to Member States, including through dialogue between the CTC and States on the outcome of these field missions. The Russian Federation supports the Committee's consistent efforts to intensify cooperation with regional organizations, first and foremost in facilitating assistance to States in complying with their obligations stemming from the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001), and in order to strengthen the counter-terrorism capacity of those organizations. That should be an important element of the overall coordinated strategy of enhancing the Committee's cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations. Today, as the CTED begins addressing the full range of its tasks, we see new opportunities for developing such a dialogue. In that connection, we agree that preparations for a new coordinated regional meeting of the CTC should be undertaken.

We would especially like to point out the importance of the work begun by the CTC, in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1624 (2005), to combat incitement to terrorism. We believe that the Committee, as part of the tasks set out in that resolution, must use all its capacity, means and resources in working with States -- including letters, visits, contacts with international and regional organizations -- to erect the obstacles necessary to stem the spread of the ideology of terrorism. In that connection, we must take into account not just the letter, but also the spirit of resolution 1624 (2005).

The Russian Federation shares the positive evaluation of the momentum of the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We believe that the major task now is to conclude the careful analysis of national reports and responses to additional questions of the Committee, to process the data received and to identify the weak links in the national systems of measures, in order to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and in that connection, develop the procedures needed to provide relevant assistance to those who may need it.

We are convinced that the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) should not just be a one-time action, or be reduced to a mere exercise in accountability. The main task is to use that Security Council decision to enhance the effectiveness of the process of improving the non-proliferation efforts of Member States, including in connection with the fight against terrorism. This work will require significant time and effort. Bearing in mind the scope of the tasks pertaining to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and the limited time remaining before that Committee's mandate ends, we believe that resolving the issue of whether to extend the Committee's powers for two years beyond April 2006 is a pressing matter.

We could have taken a decision on the matter in the Security Council before the end of the current period of the Committee's work.

Ms. Willson (United States)

Our thanks go to you, Mr. President and to the other Committee Chairs for your reports this morning, as well as for your tireless efforts in leading the work of the Committees reporting today.

The United States is pleased that all three Committees are considering critical issues, including such issues as improving reporting performance. Our counter-terrorism efforts in the Committees will succeed only by maximizing joint accomplishment of shared goals and minimizing duplication, a point that has been underscored by other speakers in this debate this morning.

The experts that advise the three Committees have an important role to play in coordinating efforts, and we urge them to cooperate more closely as well. As you stressed in your own report as Committee Chairman, Mr. President, reporting is an important aspect of counter-terrorism efforts. We note that many States have not yet fulfilled their obligation under resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) to make such reports, and we urge them to do so without delay. The objectives of those resolutions can only be achieved with the full and transparent participation all Member States.

The United States notes with satisfaction that the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) is fully operational and we expect it to help the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) significantly to improve its performance. The CTC's emphasis on working with regional organizations is important. Such organizations can play a role in helping States to implement the provisions of resolution 1373 (2001). In the area of technical assistance, the CTC must complement the efforts of international and other organizations, as well as donor States, and the CTC should continue to work to develop best practices in the areas covered by the resolution. Among other things, the CTC should endorse the work of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in the field of terrorist financing.

We are also pleased that the CTC expects to eliminate the backlog of States' reports by the end of the year. Reporting must not become a self-perpetuating exercise and we hope that the CTC will examine carefully how to use effectively the information gleaned from States' reports.

Concerning the 1267 Committee, the United States notes that resolution 1617 (2005) greatly assists us in the fight against Al-Qaida, the Taliban and Osama Ben-Laden, by defining the term "associated with," and thus further clarifying who is subject to the sanctions. With the clarifications to resolution 1617 (2005), the Committee should continue to urge Member States to submit names for listing. We are encouraged by the Committee's proactive and comprehensive dialogue with Member States, and we hope that this engagement will lead to better sanctions implementation. Another step towards that end is the Committee's work with relevant specialized agencies and international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and Interpol. We applaud those outreach efforts. The United States strongly supports the call in resolution 1617 (2005) to Member States to implement the Financial Action Task Force recommendations on money-laundering and the nine special recommendations on terrorist financing.

With regard to the work of the 1540 Committee, we are pleased that the Committee and its group of experts have completed review of 121 national reports. This is an important first step in monitoring Member States' implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). However, we are concerned that nearly 70 Member States have yet to report to the Committee, and we reiterate our call to those States to submit their reports as soon as possible.

The 1540 Committee has a key role to play in educating Member States about effective and efficient ways to implement the resolution, and the United States stands ready to work with the Committee, potential donors and interested recipients to address, on a bilateral basis, States' needs for technical assistance in implementing the provisions of resolution 1540 (2004). The United States looks forward to upcoming discussions on the possible renewal of the 1540 Committee's mandate.

Mr. Baali (Algeria)

It has become a tradition for Ambassadors Mayoral, Løj and Motoc to address the Security Council at the same meeting in order to inform it of the activities and the efforts they are making as the heads of their respective committees. I should like to thank them and congratulate them upon their excellent briefings. I would agree with Ambassador Mayoral that resolution 1617 (2005) has provided some clarity, especially regarding the idea "associated with Al-Qaida and the Taliban", and the recognition of the role to be played by the International Civil Aviation Organization and Interpol in the implementation of sanctions, particularly with regard to travel documents.

We welcome this resolution, which has renewed the mandate of the Monitoring Team. This is acknowledgement of its efforts and of the professionalism of the members of the Team. We congratulate Mr. Richard Barrett and the Monitoring Team, as well as the members of the Secretariat, for the assistance they have been providing the Committee. We also welcome the fact that the Committee has considered in depth the third report submitted by the Monitoring Team and that it has approved certain of the recommendations within its mandate. We encourage the Committee and the Monitoring Team to continue to use visits to verify the implementation of sanctions, thus meeting the concerns of States in this regard and strengthening dialogue with Member States at the political level. The recent visit of the Chairman of the Committee to certain African countries was productive, and we encourage him to continue the follow-up to such visits, especially regarding strengthening the capacity of developing countries and African countries.

We support the future activities of the Committee, especially the need for an intensive dialogue with Member States and for close cooperation among the Committees involved in the campaign against terrorism.

My delegation supports the seventeenth work programme of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and also welcomes the fact that its Executive Directorate (CTED) has now become operational. We are convinced that this achievement will greatly benefit Member States. The fact that the Directorate has become operational has already been reflected in a speeding-up of the processing of reports submitted by Member States.

Regarding visits, I note with satisfaction that the appeal I made a few months ago is beginning to be heeded. Thus, CTED will soon visit three member States of the Security Council, including Algeria. I should like to see other members of the Council volunteer to host visits of CTED, especially in light of resolution 1624 (2005) on incitement to terrorism. The CTC was mandated to ensure follow-up on the implementation of that resolution.

We agree with the views of Ambassador Løj on the priority areas of CTC activity, be it the involvement of regional organizations in the fight against terrorism, action-oriented and result-oriented dialogue with potential donors, visits to countries for their agreement or the implementation of resolution 1624 (2005).

Finally, I would like to state once again that my country condemns all acts of terrorism, and we would like to thank Ambassador Javier Rupérez and the members of the Executive Directorate, as well as members of the Secretariat, for their valuable assistance in the work of the Committee.

Regarding the 1540 Committee, I would like to thank you, Sir, as Chairman of that Committee, for the excellent report and, through you, commend the Committee and the group of experts for the praiseworthy efforts they have been making. Since the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004) in April 2004, the international community has made important progress in coping with the threat inherent in the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors. This progress is shown in the substantial number of national reports submitted by Member States pursuant to obligations mandated under paragraph 4 of resolution 1540 (2004), which is undeniably a collective response aimed at protecting us against the proliferation of such weapons.

In this connection, my delegation welcomes the fact that 124 States have submitted their national report, or even two reports, often in difficult conditions because of time constraints imposed by the provisions of the resolution and the diversity and complexity of the topics with which it deals. We should bear those limitations in mind when we consider the delay shown by a certain number of States, especially in Africa, in the drafting of their national reports.

In this regard, the 1540 Committee should set aside a substantial portion of its work programme to considering the possibility of lending assistance to States that might request it. With this in view, we believe that States should find their difficulties significantly alleviated through the direct contact that the Committee intends to carry out with them, as well as in the holding of regional and similar meetings. In that connection, we would like to commend the recent holding of two seminars, one in Argentina and one in Uganda.

The President

In order to optimize the use of our time, I will not invite speakers individually to take their seats at the table and invite them to resume their seats at the side. When a speaker takes the floor, the Conference Officer will seat the next speaker on the list at the table.

I also wish to repeat my earlier call for oral interventions to be kept within the five-minute limit.

I thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

The next speaker inscribed on my list is the representative of Samoa, to whom I give the floor.

Mr. Elisaia (Samoa)

I have the honour to address the Security Council on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum member States with Permanent Missions in New York -- namely, Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Palau, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and my own country, Samoa.

I would like, at the outset, to express our unequivocal condemnation of the recent terrorist bombings in Bali and convey our condolences and sincere sympathy to the Government of Indonesia and the families and friends of all those killed or injured in the attacks.

The Bali bombings present a further stark reminder that international terrorism remains a fundamental threat to the safety and stability of the international community, a threat that must be overcome by a collective international response.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Ambassadors of Argentina, Denmark and you, Mr. President, for the briefings today. We welcome the fact that the Committees have chosen to coordinate their briefings and hope this trend will continue.

Pacific leaders made a commitment to meet international counter-terrorism obligations in their Nasonini Declaration of 2002, and our region remains fully committed to the international campaign against terrorism.

Our members are working together with regional organizations and donors on a range of initiatives to enhance our individual and joint counter-terrorism capabilities and to strengthen our trade, transport and border security infrastructures against possible attack or exploitation by terrorist groups. We have made some encouraging progress.

That said, it is important that we remind Council members of some of the challenges the Pacific region faces in complying with the multitude of new requirements that have been introduced by the Security Council, particularly since 11 September 2001.

First, I would like to emphasize that the majority of Pacific Islands Forum group members are small island developing States with limited resources and many pressing priorities. Fulfilling counter-terrorism commitments results in the diversion of scarce financial and other resources that would otherwise be used for development and challenges, such as poverty eradication efforts and the fight against HIV/AIDS, among other things.

A further challenge has been the sheer volume of new international counter-terrorism and non-proliferation standards introduced since 9/11. Keeping informed of new standards is difficult enough. It is even more difficult for many of us to meet often onerous reporting requirements. More often than not, new standards are introduced with very little consultation or opportunities for us to provide input. As a result, they seldom reflect, or make allowances for, the challenges many of us face in implementing them. To be frank, this is a source of frustration for many Pacific Island Forum countries.

Our Governments are strongly of the view that it is important that Pacific Island Forum member countries should be able to engage at the senior level on international counter-terrorism standards and the standard-setting process with the bodies that set and administer those standards. This message was clearly conveyed once again at a Pacific Forum-wide Working Group on Counter-Terrorism held this past June. In particular, the obligations established by Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) are proving to be a considerable challenge to our region.

To this end, the Pacific Islands Forum member countries have extended an invitation to the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) to attend next year's meeting of our Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. This Working Group represents the one occasion annually that senior officials from all Pacific Islands Forum member and observer countries, as well as the relevant regional organizations, come together specifically to discuss international counter-terrorism is