Security Council calls on lapsed countries to report to Counter-Terrorism Committee

Hailing the progress achieved by the Counter-Terrorism Committee set up one year ago in the wake of the 11 September attacks against the United States, the United Nations Security Council called for those States that have failed to report to the panel to meet their obligations promptly.

Hailing the progress achieved by the Counter-Terrorism Committee set up one year ago in the wake of the 11 September attacks against the United States, the United Nations Security Council today called for those States that have failed to report to the panel to meet their obligations promptly.

“The Security Council notes with satisfaction that 174 Member States and 5 others have submitted a report to the Counter-Terrorism Committee,” said Martin Belinga-Eboutou of Cameroon, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the 15-member Council. “It calls on the 17 Member States which have not yet submitted a report to do so urgently,” he added in a formal statement read at a meeting which marked the culmination of a debate that began on Friday and included the participation of over 40 speakers.

[On Friday, CTC Chairman Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom reported that 16 Member States had failed to submit a report, but the Council added one – East Timor – to that list after it joined the UN in the interim. Six of the 17 countries – Chad, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Swaziland – have not yet contacted the CTC, while a seventh, Tonga, made contact on Monday, indicating its intention to submit a report.]

The President’s statement also invited the Committee to continue pursuing its agenda, focusing on ensuring that all States have legislation in place to implement resolution 1373 – the landmark text which set up the CTC – and are prepared to ratify, as soon as possible, all of the UN’s 12 treaties relating to terrorism. The Committee should also continue to ensure that States have “effective machinery for preventing and suppressing terrorism financing,” he said.

In addition, the Council invited international, regional and subregional organizations to continue to find ways of improving their collective action against terrorism and, where appropriate, to work with donor countries to establish suitable programmes.

Resolution 1373 bans all forms of support for terrorism and compels States to cooperate in rooting out the terrorist threat. In adopting that text on 28 September 2001, the Council invoked Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows for the use of force.

Video

- Security Council meeting