UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S COUNTER-TERRORISM

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000141 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PREL PTER SUBJECT: UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S COUNTER-TERRORISM IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE BRIEFS MEMBER STATES REF: USUN 00096 ¶1. Summary. At a February 17 briefing the Secretary General and members of his Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) reported to member states on progress in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/60/288) adopted last September. The CTITF also introduced the UN Counter-Terrorism Online Handbook which can be accessed through the UN Action Against Terrorism website. End Summary. ¶2. General Assembly President Al Khalifa convened an informal meeting of the General Assembly at which the Secretary-General and representatives of his CTITF reported SIPDIS to member states on their recent activities. The US was represented by Amb Wolff. Al Khalifa recalled that the Strategy had identified ways by which the UN system could provide technical assistance to help combat terrorism. She noted that the government of Austria will hold a symposium in Vienna from May 14-18 on CT Strategy implementation. ¶3. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that, "the fight against terrorism is our common mission" and that adoption of the Strategy had been an historic step forward and the UN system has mobilized around the Strategy with vigor. The CTITF brings together 24 entities within the UN system but member states must take full ownership of the strategy. Ban Ki-moon said that the CT on-line handbook, developed by his team, is an easily accessible tool to link states with Task Force activities. Task Force Chairman, Assistant Secretary Robert Orr, introduced the web page, which is available at http://www.un.org/terrorism/cthandbook. Orr said that this initiative arose from the call in the Strategy for the CTITF to "enhance coordination and coherence within the United Nations system in promoting international cooperation in countering terrorism". The handbook combines data from the 24 member Task Force to provide member states with current and relevant information on the UN and its entities' work and resources contributing to countering terrorism. Searches of the site can be performed by using headings: theme, geographic region, entity or keywords. ¶4. Chairmen of several of the CTITF's Working Groups also reported on their activities. Richard Barrett, Chief of the S.C. Res 1267 Monitoring Team, discussed efforts to address the issue of "conditions conducive" to terrorism. He noted that the reasons why people become terrorists differ widely, and that subjectivity makes it a difficult topic to address. The Working Group will, where appropriate bring together national, international and non-governmental organization efforts to determine what the UN can do to develop an understanding of this issue. Jean Paul La Borde, UN Vienna Center Terrorism Branch, discussed technical assistance. He said that policy implementation must be supported by capacity building. There must be monitoring and evaluation. Technical assistance must address all facets and reach out to the various actors. He noted that the online Handbook helps to identify all of the technical assistance providers. ¶5. Best practices for preventing attacks were also highlighted. The strategy of sharing best practices has been promoted by the CTITF. INTERPOL, INICR, DPA, IMO CTED, ICAO and UNDP have all been involved. Focus has been on three themes: developing a mechanism for global exchange of Best Practices, structural research, and assisting civilians caught in conflict and disasters. Also briefing the group was the New York Director of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. He said that the Strategy ensures that counter-terrorism measures will be founded in respect for human rights and the rule of law. He mentioned the need to focus on the concerns of victims of terrorism. ¶6. Member states were not given an opportunity to speak at this briefing. The General Assembly President concluded by saying that she will continue to work with member states on implementation of the Strategy. She said she was encouraged by the positive spirit that had characterized the recently concluded session of the Ad Hoc Committee negotiating the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and she urged member states to complete the convention as soon as possible. WOLFF