01 October 2001U.N. Security Council Enacts New Measures Against Terrorism
(Denies financing, support, safe haven to terrorists) (700) By Judy Aita Washington File United Nations Correspondent United Nations -- The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution September 28 that establishes wide-ranging measures to combat terrorism, especially focusing on the financial support terrorists need to carry out their acts. "This is an unprecedented resolution against terrorism in the work of the United Nations," said U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte. "It obliges all member states to deny financing, support, and safe harbor for terrorists. It will also expand information sharing among U.N. members to combat international terrorism. There will be a Security Council mechanism to monitor implementation on a continuous basis." "We're very encouraged by the Security Council's strong support for this measure and the rapid and unanimous action that it has taken," said Negroponte, who is the chief U.S. representative to the United Nations. "I have the strong feeling that this is one of those resolutions that we're going to be working with and we'll remember for a long time to come." The resolution, drafted by the United States, is "designed to encourage member states to cut off the various sources of international terrorism," the ambassador said. "It is important in terms of enlisting the operational cooperation of all the other member states of the United Nations." The resolution calls on U.N. member states to take the necessary measures to suppress financial activities and other forms of support for international terrorism. It draws heavily on other resolutions already approved by the United Nations, he noted. There are a number of important obligations being undertaken by the entire international community through the resolution, which is binding on all U.N. member states, Negroponte also said. The ambassador said the resolution is just the first step in what will be "very, very full" days and weeks ahead. The General Assembly will hold a debate on terrorism beginning October 1 in which more than 140 nations are expected to speak. In the resolution the council expressed its deep concern over the increase in acts of terrorism motivated by intolerance or extremism in various regions of the world, and called on states "to work together urgently to prevent and suppress terrorist acts, including through increased cooperation and full implementation of the relevant international conventions relating to terrorism." The resolution requires nations to "freeze without delay funds and other financial assets or economic resources of persons who commit, or attempt to commit, terrorist acts or participate in or facilitate the commission of terrorist acts." Nations are also to "refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive, to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts, including by suppressing recruitment of members of terrorist groups and eliminating the supply of weapons to terrorists," the resolution says. According to the resolution all countries should criminalize the willful provision or collection of funds for such acts. Nations are also to prohibit their nationals or people in their territories from making funds or services available to those involved in terrorism, and 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. Nations should also bring to justice anyone who participated in terrorism and ensure that terrorists acts are serious criminal offenses in domestic laws and punished accordingly. The resolution also 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 as well as through 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. Countries should also ensure that refugee status is not abused by the perpetrators of terrorist acts, and that claims of political motivation are not recognized as grounds for refusing requests for the extradition of alleged terrorists, the resolution says. (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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