Statement by H.E. Frances Lisson, Ambassador and Chargé d’affaires of Australia to the United Nations to the UN Security Council on UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committees
(As delivered)
14 November 2007
Mr President,
Australia wishes to record its appreciation and strong support for the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the 1267 Committee and the 1540 Committee to bring practical effect to the United Nations' counter-terrorism framework and the unanimously endorsed UN Global CT Strategy.
Australia encourages these committees to further their efforts to improve cooperation with the General Assembly through close engagement with the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. This is essential for ensuring appropriate coordination in UN CT efforts, avoid duplication and to encourage the effective implementation by member states of the Global CT strategy.
We welcome the appointment of Mike Smith as Executive Director of the Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate. As Australia's CT Ambassador, Mr Smith has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge in CT strategies and policies through his extensive engagement with various member states and regional bodies.
Counter-Terrorism Committee
Australia strongly supports the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate which have a crucial role to play in advancing the implementation of resolutions 1373 and 1624, and the Global CT Strategy. By extension, these bodies are central to the international community's response to the threat of international terrorism, and are a key component of the UN architecture constructed to help member states to deal with that challenge.
Constructive relations with member states - particularly donor and recipient countries - are critical to the success of the CTC's work. Australia encourages the Committee in its efforts to improve needs assessments for member states requiring technical assistance and coordination mechanisms with donor countries. We note that the focus of much of this assistance is moving from ratification support to legislative implementation and support for national CT capacity building for criminal justice systems, which demonstrates the advances we have made in our CT work.
We welcome CTED's outreach in the Pacific region to increase understanding of the UN CT architecture and make available assistance to countries through various UN bodies. We encourage a deepening of this dialogue so that the specific needs of countries in this region are better understood and so that assistance is coordinated and tailored to meet them.
Australia remains ready to work with the CTC and CTED to further its objectives and improve its engagement with the UN membership.
1267 Committee
Australia recognises the vital work of the 1267 Committee in the UN's counter-terrorism efforts and is committed to ensuring full compliance with UNSCR 1267, 1390 and successor resolutions. We welcome the Committee's efforts to engage more closely with Member States and regional bodies. We also encourage Member States to designate terrorists domestically, including to implement obligations under UNSCR 1373 to freeze the assets of individuals and entities that commit and support terrorist acts, in order to supplement the important work of the 1267 Committee.
The effectiveness of the 1267 Committee is directly related to the relevance and currency of the Consolidated List and we encourage further efforts by the committee in its outreach to and dialogue with Member States to this end.
1540 Committee
Australia welcomes the 1540 Committee's efforts in pursuing the universal and effective implementation of the goals of the Resolution. It is commendable that the Committee has sought to promote and develop greater regional coordination and cooperation on 1540 implementation, including on assistance. We encourage the Committee's continued engagement with regional bodies such as the ARF, ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum. The Committee might also like to consider expanding its dialogue and cooperation with other relevant bodies, such as the export control regimes, on furthering non-proliferation.
Australia has been directing particular efforts to improve regional capacity and expertise in terms of 1540 implementation and enforcement. In our bilateral and multilateral engagement with other countries we have taken every appropriate opportunity to inform countries of the goals and obligations of Resolution 1540, and made offers to further assist where we can.
The Chair and the Committee, through their own outreach efforts, establishment of databases and analysis of national reports, have completed an impressive amount of work in a short time. Of particular note are their endeavours aimed at matching offers of assistance with requests, including through the development of a 1540 assistance request template. The Committee's matrix format of measures that countries have taken to implement their requirements under Resolution 1540 is also most welcome. Australia would support making these country matrices publicly available through the Committee's website.
The more countries that publicise their compliance with Resolution 1540, the stronger the signal to terrorists and their supporters that there are fewer places available to them to use in obtaining or transferring the materials and technology necessary for weapons of mass destruction. Such a signal would contribute significantly to realising the goals of Resolution 1540.
In closing, Australia would like to reiterate its active and ongoing support for the Council's counter-terrorism bodies and its commitment to assisting as appropriate all efforts to advance their work.
Thank you.