ACTION REQUEST: SIXTH COMMITTEE DRAFT RESOLUTION

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000994 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA UNGA SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: SIXTH COMMITTEE DRAFT RESOLUTION ON MEASURES TO ELIMINATE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM ¶1. ACTION REQUEST: USUN requests instructions from the Department to join consensus on the Sixth Committee's draft resolution on Measures to eliminate international terrorism (agenda item 108) contained in para 3, or substantially similar text. The texts of all draft resolutions must be tabled before the Sixth Committee by November 9. USUN expects the Sixth Committee to take action on draft resolutions shortly thereafter. USUN point of contact for this resolution is James Donovan, (212) 415-4300, DonovanJB@state.gov. END ACTION REQUEST. ¶2. BACKGROUND/COMMENT: After lengthy consultations, the coordinator (Canada) decided that this year's resolution should revert to last year's text with technical updates. He had originally proposed a focused, short text that the EU supported. U.S. pushed for a simple decision, but could have supported the focused text. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) argued that a focused and short text was unbalanced and, therefore, supported reincarnating last year's text. Subsequently, the European Union supported the NAM's view as the easiest way out. END BACKGROUND/COMMENT. ¶3. Text of draft resolution on Measures to eliminate international terrorism: BEGIN TEXT: Sixty-second session Sixth Committee Agenda Item 108 Draft Resolution Measures to eliminate international terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, which have been carried out worldwide, and reaffirming that no terrorist act can be justified in any circumstances, Reaffirming its strong condemnation of the heinous acts of terrorism that have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage, Convinced of the importance of the consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism by the General Assembly as the universal organ having competence to do so, Reaffirming the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in all its aspects adopted on 8 September 2006, enhancing the overall framework for the efforts of the international community to effectively counter the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Recalling all General Assembly resolutions and declarations �0A;on measures to eliminate international terrorism, and Security Council resolutions on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, Noting regional efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, including through the elaboration of and adherence to regional conventions, Emphasizing that tolerance and dialogue among civilizations, and enhancing interfaith and intercultural understanding, are among the most important elements in promoting cooperation and success in combating terrorism, and welcoming the various initiatives to this end, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General, the report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by resolution 51/210 and the oral report presented by the Chair of the Working Group established by the Sixth Committee during the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, ¶1. Strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed; ¶2. Calls upon all Member States, the United Nations and other appropriate international, regional and subregional organizations to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in all its aspects at the international, regional, subregional and national levels without delay, including through mobilizing resources and expertise; ¶3. Recalls the pivotal role of the General Assembly in following up the implementation and updating of the Strategy, and in this regard also recalls its invitation to the Secretary-General to contribute to the future deliberations SIPDIS of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General when doing so to provide information on relevant activities within the Secretariat to ensure overall coordination and coherence in the counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations system; ¶4. Reiterates that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them; ¶5. Invites regional intergovernmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted at the regional level to eliminate international terrorism, as well as on intergovernmental meetings held by those organizations; ¶6. Notes the progress attained in the elaboration of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 and the Working Group established by the Sixth Committee during the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, and welcomes continuing efforts to that end; ¶7. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall, on an expedited basis, continue to elaborate the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, and shall continue to discuss the item included in its agenda by General Assembly resolution 54/110 concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations; and also decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet on 25 and 26 February and 6 March 2008 in order to fulfill this mandate; ¶8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session in the event of the completion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism; and also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on progress made in the implementation of its mandate; ¶9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled Measures to eliminate international terrorism. END TEXT. Khalilzad