UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL 25 April 2005
Joint Public Meeting on the Counter-Terrorism Committee, 1267 Committee and 1540 Committee
Statement by H.E. Mr John Dauth LVO Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
(Check against delivery)
Mr President
I very much welcome the opportunity to speak today and commend your initiative to convene a joint public meeting on the important work of these three committees. This meeting gives us a valuable opportunity to highlight the importance of these committees operating in a coordinated manner given the interconnected and complementary nature of their work.
The tasks facing these committees reflect the serious challenge the international community faces in addressing the threat to our peace and security from both terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and also the very real danger of a terrorist attack involving chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological (CBRN) devices. The General Assembly�€™s adoption earlier this month of the International Convention for the Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism is a welcome and concrete response to one aspect of this threat. It is a further example of the important role that multilateral instruments and regimes play in underpinning global counterterrorism and counter-proliferation efforts.
Mr President
In the face of a persistent and evolving terrorist threat, it is absolutely vital that Member States, UN bodies and other international institutions work together to meet this challenge. Australia welcomes, in this context, the Secretary General�€™s comprehensive strategy on fighting terrorism and its recognition of the need to harness various elements of the UN machinery to address terrorism, including its CBRN dimensions, in a coordinated and strategic way. Australia encourages ongoing efforts to ensure the relevant UN mechanisms are best configured and equipped to meet this challenge, and to maximise the contribution that Member States can make nationally and regionally to countering terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Mr President
Cooperation and capacity building at the regional and bilateral levels are crucial to international counter-terrorism efforts. Australia is active in its own region, including in taking forward the outcomes of the February 2004 Bali Regional Ministerial Meeting on Counter Terrorism. Cochaired by Australia and Indonesia, the meeting established law enforcement and legal issues working groups to promote practical counter-terrorism cooperation between Asia Pacific governments. The latter group is doing important work to promote and assist implementation of UN counter-terrorism instruments and more effective international legal cooperation. The Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement, another Australia-Indonesia initiative, was opened in July 2004 and is already proving to be a valuable resource developing regional capacities to fight terrorism and transnational crime.
Mr President
The Counter-Terrorism Committee, the 1267 Committee and 1540 Committee can be assured of Australia�€™s continuing support in their coordinated efforts to confront terrorism and address the threats posed by the spread of weapons of mass destruction.