Statement by H.E. Andrew Goledzinowski, Deputy Permanent Representative
of Australia to the United Nations Security Council regarding the work of the the UN's counter-terrorism committees, delivered on 13 November 2009.
(as delivered)
Mr President
Australia wishes to record its appreciation and strong support for the work of the Committees established by United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1267, 1373 and 1540, with the assistance of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED). A global effort is needed to counter terrorism effectively and multilateral action through the United Nations system is a vital element in any international strategy to address terrorism and violent extremism.
Australia encourages the three committees, and their respective expert bodies, to continue to work closely together and with the broader UN system, including the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. Cooperation, especially in relation to streamlined reporting regimes, assessment missions and the facilitation of technical assistance, is particularly important. We note, in this regard, the importance of all three Committees continuing to recognise the regional context of their activities. We also encourage the 1540 Committee, as it increases its focus on technical assistance needs to facilitate implementation of the resolution, to work with CTED to identify effective approaches.
The relationship of the subsidiary bodies with other international organisations is also important. My delegation would like to draw attention to a recent Best Practices Paper adopted by the Financial Action Task Force on implementing terrorist asset freezing obligations arising from both UNSCR 1267 and 1373. As Co-Chair of the Project Team that developed this paper, Australia would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of both the 1267 Committee and CTED to this work.
Effective relations with member states – particularly donor and recipient countries – are also critical to the success of the Committees’ work. In this context we welcomed the recent visit to Australia in July by a CTED delegation. We appreciated the opportunity to share our approach to counter-terrorism efforts domestically and in the region.
Mr President
Continual institutional review is crucial and we commend the 1267 Committee on its review of the consolidated list and the conclusion of procedures for drafting narrative summaries on the reasons for listing each entry. This approach could be a model for other regimes to follow.
We also welcome the recent open meeting of the 1540 Committee as part of its comprehensive review of the implementation of the resolution.
Mr President
In closing, I would like to reiterate Australia’s active and ongoing support for the Council’s counter-terrorism bodies and its commitment to assisting efforts to advance their work. The UN has the unique capacity to set international norms and standards on countering terrorism and encourage adherence to them – a capacity my delegation will continue to support.
Thank you.