Security Council steps up global cooperation against terrorism

Representatives of some 60 international, regional and sub-regional organizations attending a special meeting of the United Nations Counter-terrorism Committee (CTC) today agreed to share more information and avoid duplicate efforts in a bid to strengthen global cooperation in the fight against the menace.

A communiqué issued at the end of the one-day meeting at UN Headquarters in New York said participants agreed that "all invited organizations had a specific role to play in enhancing the effectiveness of global action against terrorism" and that they recognized the "high value" of cooperation at the global level.

Organizations invited to the meeting include the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the League of Arab States, the European Union (EU), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Interpol.

Among the meeting's conclusions, the CTC offered to maintain and circulate a list of contacts in all organizations as part the effort to share information and data on counter-terrorism activities. The Committee will also liaise with regional organizations in "developing their roles on counter-terrorism consistent with their mandates," and work with international organizations, including the international financial institutions, in providing help to countries in areas covered by the UN Security Council's resolution 1373, which was adopted in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks against the United States.

According to the communiqué, meeting participants also agreed to communicate to each other "best practices, codes and standards," relevant to the implementation of resolution 1373. Regional organizations would also develop and maintain mechanisms to help their members to meet their international obligations in counter-terrorism, while all organizations would remain aware of the link between their activities and human rights concerns.