61ST UNGA LAUNCHES GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001880 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER UNGA SUBJECT: 61ST UNGA LAUNCHES GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY REF: USUN 01816 ¶1. On September 19, the UN launched the "Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy" at a meeting chaired by General Assembly President Khalifa. The "launch" attracted a number of Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors. The strategy, called for in the 2005 World Summit Outcome document was the result of several months of negotiations. It sets forth a strategic framework for increased cooperation among member states, the UN Secretariat and other relevant international organizations to counter terrorist activities. ¶2. When the General Assembly adopted the Strategy on September 8, it decided to introduce the plan at a high-level meeting during its sixty-first session. GA President Sheikha Al Khalifa opened the program and called for states to translate their words into actions. Deputy Secretary Mark Malloch Brown delivered a statement on behalf SIPDIS of the Secretary General which echoed that sentiment saying, "If future generations are to live in a world free from terrorism and its inhumane tactics, Member States must embark without delay on the journey they have mapped out so carefully; they must start translating their commitments into reality at once." Statements by the Ministers of Singapore and Spain, whose Permanent Representatives had chaired the negotiations, followed. Finland (as EU President),Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Japan, Philippines, Lebanon, Switzerland, Australia (speaking as representative of the CANZ),the U.K., Yemen and the Russian Federation also spoke. ¶3. Many of the statements stressed global cooperation, de-legitimization of the killing of civilians, and ensuring that the Strategy stayed a "living document" that could respond to future challenges. All speakers mentioned the need to both ratify and enforce the various international anti-terrorism agreements. ¶4. The Finnish Foreign Minister said that the consensus adoption of the strategy sent a strong political signal which showed the Assembly's resolve to unite behind the shared goal of combating terrorism. She also stressed that it is imperative that all measures against terrorism comply with international law. The Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister said the launch of the CT Strategy was a landmark development that needed to be recognized by all. ¶5. The Egyptian Foreign Minister noted that the strategy would provide the UN with an opportunity to step out of a narrow perspective when dealing with international terrorism towards a global unified perspective. He said that, "Undoubtedly, the convening of this high-level meeting responds to the initiative launched by President Hosni Mubarak to hold such a meeting under the auspices of the United Nations reaffirms the Egyptian vision that the success of national efforts to counter-terrorism is bound by vast international cooperation including the engagement of the United Nations and its main bodies......". (Comment. When asked later whether Egypt considered the strategy launch to be a substitute for the meeting they have proposed, the Egyptian Mission Legal Adviser said that was not their intention. End Comment.) ¶6. For the most part, comments were general in nature and did not delve into detailed explanations of positions regarding elements of the document. Only Israel singled out other countries by name (Iran and Syria) for criticism. An attempt by Lebanon to reply to the Israeli comments was thwarted by the Chair who, having previously closed the speakers list, concluded the meeting. BOLTON