The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, says recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen are an indication that terrorism threat was still formidable.
“Terrorist organisations continue to look for new havens, adopt new tactics and seek new targets,'' he told the Security Council, during its debate on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.??
However, the debate which was held on Friday was organised by Azerbaijan and chaired by its President, Ilham Aliyev.
Azerbaijan holds the Council’s rotating presidency for the month of May.
Discussion of the debate comes ahead of next month’s review by the General Assembly of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
Adopted by the Assembly in September 2006, the strategy is based on four pillars, which include tackling the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and preventing and combating terrorism.
The strategy also includes, building states’ capacity to prevent and combat terrorism and to strengthen the role of the UN system in that regard.
The other strategy is ensuring respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis for the fight against terrorism.
The UN chief highlighted the need to focus special attention on conditions conducive to spreading terrorism.
He also said there was the need to pursue the integrated approach to terrorism and violent extremism embodied in the Global Strategy.
“That means countering the appeal of terrorism, strengthening capacity-building and protecting human rights as a central part of our response.
“It means resolving differences peacefully, providing education and job opportunities, promoting development and inter-cultural dialogue, and addressing the grievances that terrorists exploit.
“It also means promoting respect for human rights and respect for the rule of law, which are integral to any sustainable counter-terrorism approach, and recognising and alleviating the suffering of victims,’’ Ban said.
He, however, noted that co-ordinated global action was crucial to defeating terrorism across the world.
According to him, collective efforts have disrupted attacks and disabled terrorist networks.
He called on the Council’s member-states to take a decision and create the position of a UN Counter-Terrorism Co-ordinator to promote better co-ordination, collaboration and co-operation among all players.
“By working together from strengthening law enforcement to tackling the underlying drivers of extremism, we can greatly reduce this major threat to peace and security,’’ Ban said.
He said terrorism was a “significant'' threat to peace and security, prosperity and people, and the global community must continue to pursue a robust and comprehensive response.
The UN chief highlighted the need to focus special attention on conditions conducive to spreading terrorism.
He said it was also necessary to pursue the integrated approach to terrorism and violent extremism embodied in the Global Strategy.
Ban urged member-states to make full use of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, which he called a valuable tool for creating an integrated response for capacity-building and for sharing best practice.
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