Security Council endorses efforts to strengthen fight against terrorism

The United Nations Security Council today endorsed the call of its Counter-Terrorism Committee for greater assistance to Member States by providing technical expertise and by finding ways to improve cooperation with international, regional and sub-regional organizations.

In a presidential statement read by the United Kingdom’s Deputy Permanent Representative Adam Thomson, the 15-member Council said it had reviewed its worldwide anti-terrorism effort, as carried out by the committee’s new Executive Directorate, and reaffirmed that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.”

After its closed-door review of the Committee’s report, the Council also noted that the Executive Directorate had only been fully staffed since 6 September and had only become operational last week. It welcomed the directorate’s start on its revitalization priorities.

In March of last year, the Council said the Directorate would be responsible for such tasks as supporting and advising the Plenary (composed of the Security Council’s members and the Committee chairperson), ensuring the comprehensive follow-up of all of the Committee’s decisions, facilitating assistance to Member States, and supervising the collection of all relevant information.