U.N. Envoy Rice on Strengthening Counterterrorism Cooperation
Susan E. Rice
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York, NY
May 4, 2012
Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice,
Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations,
At a Security Council Briefing on Strengthening International
Cooperation
In the Implementation of Counter-Terrorism Obligations, May 4, 2012
Thank you, President Aliyev, for convening and chairing this important
session and for focusing our attention on the threat to international peace and
security caused by terrorism. This session could not be more timely. We meet
today a year after the death of Osama bin Laden. His death was an important
milestone in the fight against al Qa'ida and other terrorist groups, but it did
not remove the scourge of terrorism from our world. The resilience of terrorist
networks means that our collective fight against terrorism must continue.
Today's session underscores the Security Council's unwavering commitment to
counterterrorism and reminds us of the work we have left to do.
Though al-Qa'ida has experienced major setbacks, its affiliates and other
violent extremist groups continue to operate and pose significant threats. Al
Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula has expanded its reach in Yemen and looks to
launch attacks abroad. Al Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is exploiting and
sowing instability in the Sahel, particularly in Mali. Al-Shabaab, which
publicly pledged allegiance to al Qa'ida earlier this year, continues to
destabilize the Horn of Africa and deny vital humanitarian relief to those in
need. In Nigeria, elements of Boko Haram have perpetrated widespread attacks,
including against United Nations personnel. In New Delhi, Tbilisi, and
elsewhere, we have seen new and recurring acts of violence against diplomats.
Terrorist threats continue to emanate from and affect every region of the world.
The United States joins others in condemning terrorist acts everywhere they
occur.
Terrorist groups continue to evolve and adapt. Some have also become
criminal enterprises in their own right. AQIM, for example, has created an
environment of fear and instability by adopting kidnapping for ransom to finance
its terrorist operations. Kidnapping for ransom is a growing threat to
international peace and security and will pose significant challenges to the
international community in the years ahead.
To counter the ongoing threat posed by terrorists, President Obama has
adopted a strategic, comprehensive approach that combines every tool of American
power-civilian, military, economic, and the power of our values-with the
concerted effort of allies, partners, and multilateral institutions. Only by
addressing the drivers of radicalization - and doing so together - can we
prevent local threats from becoming regional and global ones that require a much
more costly response. Therefore, we are taking determined action worldwide to
stop material support for terrorists, counter violent extremism, reduce
recruitment and radicalization, and empower our partners to do so as well.
Last week, the United States chaired a thematic debate in this Council on
securing borders against illicit trafficking and movement. The Council agreed on
a Presidential Statement requesting the Secretary-General to prepare a
comprehensive assessment of the United Nations' various structures and
activities and consider how the UN system can respond more effectively to member
states' requests for assistance. The United States seeks to help countries build
enduring civilian institutions, underpinned by human rights and the rule of law,
which can effectively combat terrorism as well as the drivers of violent
extremism. The recently launched Global Counterterrorism Forum, aimed at
promoting the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, is
catalyzing these efforts.
The United States is committed to strengthening partnerships at the United
Nations and other multilateral organizations to combat terrorism. The
development of the United Nations' counterterrorism framework over the past
decade has been significant. The UN has played an important role in building
consensus around a global counterterrorism strategy and delivering technical
assistance to bolster civilian counterterrorism capacities worldwide. We
encourage the UN to build upon its valuable contributions, which include the
recent establishment of the UN Centre for Counterterrorism within the
Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. We welcome the Secretary-General's
initiative to appoint a UN Counterterrorism Coordinator and further unify the
UN's counterterrorism architecture to ensure that expertise and resources are
deployed as efficiently as possible.
Civil society, particularly victims and victims' associations, has played a
powerful role to play in terrorism prevention efforts. We encourage relevant
parts of the UN system, including the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the
Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, to intensify their engagement with
and support for civil society worldwide in the coming years.
The United States strongly supports all of these UN efforts and looks
forward to continuing to work together in common cause, within this Council and
the broader international community, to prevent and combat terrorism, wherever
and in whatever form it occurs.
Thank you, Mr. President.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State.)
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