Security Council meeting 6217-Resu.1

The President

I wish to remind all speakers, as I indicated at the morning's session, 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.

I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of New Zealand.

Mr. McLay (New Zealand)

New Zealand welcomes today's briefings by the Committees tasked with supporting the implementation of the Security Council's measures to counter the threat to peace and security that is posed by terrorism.

The United Nations has an indispensable role in efforts to combat global terrorism. The framework provided by the United Nations Global Strategy on Counter-Terrorism, the 16 international counter-terrorism instruments, Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) and their successors has established the principles, norms and mechanisms underpinning counter-terrorism efforts globally and provided them with authority and legitimacy. The sanctions implemented by the Committees form an important element of this framework.

Over the past decade, targeted United Nations sanctions have proved an effective tool in global counter-terrorism efforts. United Nations sanctions have played an important role in collective efforts to restrain and disrupt the activities of individuals, entities and networks engaged in or providing support to acts of terrorism, and to restrict their movement and access to weapons and resources. It is nevertheless essential to keep such measures under constant review to ensure that they remain effective, credible and relevant, and to consider further enhancements to their design and implementation.

New Zealand is a strong supporter of targeted sanctions, which offer the global community a means of achieving its political and security objectives while minimizing unintended humanitarian and human rights impacts. We have therefore been encouraged by this Council's recent steps to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of its existing sanctions regimes, particularly through the changes introduced in resolution 1822 (2008) to strengthen procedures for listing and delisting, notification and availability of information relating to the consolidated list of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999). New Zealand welcomes the progress made by the 1267 Committee in preparing publicly accessible narrative summaries outlining the reasons for specific listings.

Upcoming decisions on the renewal of the mandate of that Committee's Monitoring Team will provide an important opportunity for the Council to take further practical steps to ensure that its sanctions regimes are effective, transparent and fair, and that its listings remain accurate, relevant and actionable. For example, in order to ensure that United Nations sanctions regimes are accurate, fair and capable of effective implementation, it is important that listings be backed by sufficient information. New Zealand supports further measures to promote a cleaner, leaner list of greater utility. We also support consideration of further steps to strengthen the Committees' listing and delisting procedures to ensure these are as rigorous and transparent as the special circumstances of their work will allow.

Full and conscientious implementation of measures mandated by the Council under Chapter VII of the Charter is a fundamental obligation for all Member States. This in turn places a responsibility on the Council to ensure that such measures are practical, targeted and fair. New Zealand is conscious of the difficulties in meeting international counter-terrorism obligations faced by small developing States, including many in our own region. We therefore welcome recent efforts by the Secretariat to enhance engagement with small developing States in the Pacific and elsewhere to encourage and support compliance.

New Zealand is also determined to take all necessary measures at the domestic level to prevent and combat terrorism and to ensure that New Zealand is neither a target nor a source of terrorist activity. We continue to improve our legislative, policy and operational capabilities in line with international standards and obligations, including prioritizing work to ratify all 16 international counter-terrorism instruments. Last month, New Zealand enacted new legislation aimed at combating money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, and designed to implement fully the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force. New Zealand was also pleased to host a highly productive visit by the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate in July.

Much has been achieved over the past decade through the collective efforts of the global community to combat terrorism. Yet, sadly, continued attacks around the world remind us of the continued threat posed by terrorism and of the enduring need to combat it through international cooperation. New Zealand fully supports the vital contribution of the Council and its sanctions Committees to such endeavours, and encourages them in their efforts to ensure that their measures remain as effective, transparent and credible as possible.

We know full well that no single measure will be sufficient to counter the threat to peace and security posed by global terrorism, but equally we know that sanctions imposed by this Council play an indispensable role in efforts to combat that threat. New Zealand therefore reiterates its wholehearted support for this Council and its Committees in the implementation of those measures.

The President

I now give the floor to the Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil.

Mrs. Dunlop (Brazil)

Mr. President, I thank you for convening this open debate, which constitutes an excellent opportunity for delegations to hear from the Chairs of key subsidiary bodies of the Security Council and to provide input into their activities. I also wish to commend the Chairs of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1540 (2004) for their work and their briefings today.

Brazil's federal Constitution enshrines the repudiation of terrorism as a guiding principle of our foreign policy. We therefore condemn terrorism unequivocally in all its forms and manifestations. Just as importantly, we are committed to fighting it with effective measures that prevent the planning, preparation and execution of acts of terrorism and other forms of transnational crime within our borders and beyond. At the United Nations, Brazil has duly submitted all the reports requested by the Committees.

My delegation has presented the Counter-Terrorist Committee with a total of six reports, in accordance with resolution 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). Furthermore, the Brazilian Government has provided the CTC with additional information regarding the national implementation of resolution 1373 (2001), as requested. We were pleased to note the positive remarks contained in the Preliminary Implementation Assessment regarding the Brazilian implementation of resolution 1373 (2001).

My delegation welcomes the efforts exerted by all three Committees to present and combat terrorism while upholding relevant rules of international law, including human rights law. With regards to the 1267 Committee, currently under your capable guidance, Mr. President, it is encouraging to see that, despite difficulties, the Committee is making progress in addressing the key aspect of due process in the listing and de-listing of individuals and entities.

We note with satisfaction the update of its guidelines, the development of procedures for reviewing all names contained in the consolidated list and the preparation of narrative summaries giving the reasoning for listing each entry. Those are fundamental steps to enhance not only the transparency and legitimacy of the sanctions regime, but also its effectiveness worldwide. No victory over terrorism will ever be truly sustainable if it comes at the expense of the rule of law.

The Counter-Terrorism Committee, ably chaired by His Excellency Ambassador Ranko Vilovi, has also made significant progress in assessing the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) and facilitating technical assistance. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate has played a valuable role in gathering information from Governments and in assisting them in that regard. The adoption of adequate standards and criteria for determining implementation by Member States is crucial to ensure consistency in the work of the CTC and Committee's Executive Directorate and, thereby, secure the continued support of Governments.

Important activities are also under way in the 1540 Committee. Brazil has participated in and closely follows the comprehensive review being carried out under the able leadership of Ambassador Jorge Urbina. The open session of the Committee, held from 30 September to 2 October, was an important step in this process, inasmuch as it allowed all Member States to express their views on an issue that directly affects them all. As we progress towards the final document of the review, we must continue to bear in mind the very concrete difficulties faced by many countries in fulfilling their obligations under the resolution. We must make sure assistance is available to these countries and guarantee that reporting requirements do not represent an undue burden on them.

My delegation noted with interest the assessment of the 1267 Committee with respect to the ninth report elaborated by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, as contained in document S/2009/427. We recognize that there have been significant improvements in the implementation of the sanctions regime established by resolution 1267 (1999).

However, the Committee could further enhance its procedures, in particular with regard to transparency and due process. Concrete ways must be found to ensure that the views of individuals and entities listed are taken into account to the largest extent possible. We share the view that the 1267 Committee should take into consideration, as appropriate, the opinion of a national court that has evaluated the reasons for listing presented by the Committee and undertaken its own fact-finding procedures.

Another important aspect is the need to improve the overall coordination among the different United Nations bodies that fight terrorism. The Committees and their respective subsidiary bodies should look at additional ways to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, not only among themselves, but also with other entities, including those related to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Further coordination among the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force of the General Assembly and the three Security Council Committees is necessary. Operating on several parallel tracks may prove to be excessively burdensome, especially for smaller States, and tends to lead to either duplication or reduced effectiveness.

Working with determination and a sense of shared responsibility, the Council has been able to improve some of its sanctions regimes. I am sure that, in the same spirit, it will make further progress, so that it can better prevent and fight terrorism, while upholding democratic principles and protecting human rights. Brazil is ready to engage in such an endeavour.