*EPF110 04/15/2002
Significant Progress Seen on Counter-Terrorism Measures
(UN Security Council Committee gives 6-month report) (790)

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- More than 140 countries have reported to the United Nations on their approaches to countering terrorist activities on their territory, the chairman of the Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) said April 15.

British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock said "the overall determination of virtually all member states to do something about terrorism has definitely taken off since 11 September and since the passage of (Resolution) 1373."

One of the most important developments, Greenstock told a public meeting of the Security Council, is that many nations now are passing legislation to counter terrorism, not just reviewing what legislation they have. "This amounts to more than intentions. It is actually happening now," he said.

The CTC was mandated under Resolution 1373, which was adopted on September 28 to advance efforts to deny safe havens to terrorists and their supporters.

Resolution 1373 requires nations to freeze funds and other financial assets of terrorists and their supporters, and to refrain from providing any active or passive support to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts. They must not allow any recruitment on behalf of terrorist groups or efforts to supply weapons.

Also under Resolution 1373, nations are to prohibit their nationals or people in their territories from making funds or services available to those involved in terrorism; refrain from providing support to people involved in terrorism; take steps to prevent terrorist acts; and deny safe haven to those who commit terrorist acts. The resolution also calls on nations to bring to justice anyone who participated in terrorism and ensure that terrorist acts treated as serious criminal offenses in domestic laws and punished accordingly.

The resolution says that states should help each other with criminal investigations and criminal proceedings, intensifying and accelerating the exchange of information. They also should prevent the movement of terrorists and terrorist groups by effective border controls, controls on the issuance of identity papers and travel documents, and measures for preventing counterfeiting, forgery or fraudulent use of identity papers and travel documents.

Greenstock said that in the six months since the committee was organized, it has received reports from 143 nations who are UN members as well as from some who are not, and is following up with the 50 UN member nations who have not yet submitted reports in order to encourage and help them file their reports.

The British ambassador called the response "a significant achievement."

Over the coming months, "the CTC will check the facts of the legislative picture, the administrative action taken and the way in which these tools are being used to prevent the territory of each state being abused by terrorists," said Greenstock, who is also the permanent representative of Great Britain to the United Nations.

"We will continue the excellent dialogue which we have begun with all members of the United Nations until the CTC is confident that each state has taken action on all the issues covered by Resolution 1373," Greenstock said.

Nevertheless, the British Ambassador emphasized that it is not a matter of declaring any nation 100 percent compliant because "against a constantly evolving background" there will always be further work to do to counter terrorism.

Over the next 90-day period, the CTC will begin identifying gaps and asking states what action they intend to take to address issues of concern as well as help states get the assistance they might need to correct gaps in their legislation and in other areas, Greenstock said.

U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham highlighted the committee's intent to keep the dialogue open with all nations as the process continues "because all of us, I hope, will be adapting as we learn more and as we achieve progress in the battle against terrorism."

"All states have an obligation to comply with 1373 both in terms of the process that it sets out and by national action," Cunningham said. "We urge members who have not filed reports with the committee to do so. And we encourage members who have the capacity to do so to provide assistance to those who need it...those who want to join the fight against terrorism and who need help in doing so."

Cunningham, who is the deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized the importance of regional organizations in the fight against terrorism.

Those organizations, he said, "have an essential role to play, we think, because they provide a local, regional forum of interchange, action, encouragement and assistance. They are well-placed to encourage their members to implement 1373 and they are also well-placed to assist the Counter-Terrorism Committee in monitoring implementation and promoting international support for its efforts."

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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