More than 150 States have reported on moves to keep WMDs from terrorists – UN

As of the end of April, more than half of United Nations Member States have submitted assessments to the Security Council regarding efforts to keep nuclear, chemical and biological weapons out of the hands of terrorists and black marketeers, it was announced today.

Over 150 nations have fulfilled their reporting responsibilities, Ambassador Jorge Urbina of Costa Rica, the chair of the Security Council committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) by non-State actors, particularly terrorists, told the Council today.

He also encouraged States which have yet to submit reports to do so as soon as possible.

The Chairman of the 1267 (1999) committee concerning Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions said that the group has held discussions on the three sanctions measures: the freezing of assets, travel bans and the arms embargo.

Ambassador Johan Verbeke of Belgium, told today’s open Council debate which heard from two dozen speakers that the committee also considered the topic of the criminal misuse of the Internet for terrorist purposes.

“The Committee shares the concerns expressed over the fact that the Internet constitutes a powerful medium and instrument for Al-Qaida, the Taliban and their associates,” he said, adding that the issue will be discussed further in the future.

Meanwhile, the chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) briefed the Council on the new organization plan of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), which is tasked with monitoring the efforts of countries to combat the global scourge of terrorism.

“The adjustments to CTED’s organization and methods of work will have the effect of improving the quality and consistency of its technical judgments and will enhance the ongoing dialogue between CTED and the Member States,” Ambassador Neven Jurica of Croatia said. “It will also strengthen CTED’s cooperation with relevant international, regional and sub-regional organizations.”

Established as a special political mission in 2004, the CTED assists the CTC in monitoring the implementation of resolution 1373, which was adopted in the wake of the September 2001 attacks on the United States and calls on countries to adopt a number of measures to enhance their ability to counter terrorist activities nationally, regionally and globally.