14 September 2005
U.N. Security Council Adopts Resolution Against Inciting Terrorism
Council summit highlights terrorism, conflict prevention in Africa
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- Concerned about the spreading danger from extremists inciting acts of terrorism, President Bush and other leaders of the 15 Security Council member states met September 14 to take action to make inciting terrorism punishable by law.
Using the opportunity of the large gathering of world leaders for the United Nations' 60th anniversary, the Security Council held a historic summit of its own to highlight the problems of terrorism and adopt a broad strategy on conflict prevention in Africa. The leaders unanimously adopted two resolutions -- one on inciting terrorist acts, the other on the Security Council's role in conflict prevention, particularly in Africa.
Bush was joined by the presidents of Tanzania, Russia, Greece, Argentina, China, Algeria, Benin, Romania, Brazil and the Philippines; the prime ministers of the United Kingdom, France and Denmark; and the foreign minister of Japan.
The Security Council is the only U.N. body whose actions are binding on all 191 U.N. member states. Its meeting was only the third Security Council summit in 60 years.
"Terrorism and armed conflict are not only threats to our security," Bush told the meeting, "they're the enemies of development and freedom for millions."
"Each of us must act, consistent with past Security Council resolutions to freeze terrorists' assets; to deny terrorists freedom of movement by using effective border controls and secure travel documents; to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons, including weapons of mass destruction," Bush said.
The United States co-sponsored the resolution on conflict prevention with Algeria, Benin and Tanzania.
The United States supports the effort to improve the ability of the African Union and other regional organizations to deploy civilian and military assets to prevent conflicts, Bush said. He added that, as part of a broader initiative by the Group of Eight (G8) nations, over the next five years the United States will provide training for more than 40,000 African peacekeepers to preserve justice and order. The G8 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia.
The terrorism resolution, initially drafted by the United Kingdom, condemns in the strongest terms "all acts of terrorism irrespective of their motivation, whenever and by whomsoever committed" and "the incitement of terrorist acts." It repudiates attempts to justify or glorify terrorist acts in order to incite further violent attacks. (See text of Resolution 1624.)
The resolution calls upon states to adopt measures to "prohibit by law incitement to commit a terrorist act or acts, prevent such conduct, (and) deny safe haven to any persons with respect to whom there is credible and relevant information giving serious reasons for considering that they have been guilty of such conduct."
Nations should strengthen international border security, take active measures to stop fraudulent travel documents, and, to the extent possible, increase terrorist screening and passenger security procedures to prevent terrorists from entering their territory, it said.
The council instructed its Counter-Terrorism Committee to work with nations to implement the resolution and help them build their capacity to undertake the new anti-terrorism measures.
In the conflict prevention resolution, the council expressed its determination "to monitor closely situations of potential armed conflict" and strengthen the United Nations' capacities to play a role in mediation, strengthen civil society, promote fairness and transparency in electoral processes, and take action against illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural resources and high-value commodities.
The council urged the international community to support African efforts in securing peace, democracy and sustainable development and to help develop the African Union's own peacekeeping forces.
President Nestor Kirchner of Argentina said "all acts of terrorism and criminal are unjustified. There is no reason, based on race, ideology, religion or any other cause, that can justify killing innocent civilians."
Tanzania has experienced the negative impact of both terrorism and conflict, President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania said. It was the victim of an al-Qaida terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam in 1998 and is in a region that has a history of deadly conflicts.
President Traian Basescu of Romania added that "defense against security threats is not exhausted by taking a stand at one's own border, but going to where these challenges originate and eradicate them with sustainable action and investment."
Romania assumes the presidency of the Security Council in October and has indicated that as part of its work program, the council will deliberate further on the cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations.
A transcript of Bush’s September 14 remarks to the Security Council is available on the White House Web site.
For information on U.S. activities at the United Nations, see The United Nations at 60.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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