EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Ad Hoc Committee on Measures to eliminate international terrorism

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia as well as Armenia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.

The EU continues to believe that the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism should become a vital law enforcement instrument in our joint counter-terrorism efforts. And in that regard, let us also respond to the questions put forward by Liechtenstein during our informal consultations. The EU regards the Convention as an instrument of international criminal law, emphasising the need for strengthened cooperation and coordination in this field. As such, once adopted, it will neither alter any existing obligations of states under International Humanitarian Law, nor create new ones. The EU remains committed to reaching an agreement on the draft Convention as soon as possible.

We welcome the summary of the bilateral contacts the coordinator has held in the past days. The EU commends and supports Ms. Maria Telalian's efforts towards reaching a consensus on the draft Convention. We note with interest the assertion of the coordinator that delegations are willing to remain engaged in the process and that the package proposal made in 2007 is still under active consideration. The EU is open to consider the coordinator's 2007 package proposal seriously and, in this context, looks forward to a substantive exchange of views at the 6th Committee's Working Group in the autumn.

The EU is of the opinion that our work on the outstanding issues during the 64th GA session could be usefully informed by the elaboration of the coordinator's summary. Such a working document could summarise the existing proposals, their underlying rationale and implications, thereby contributing to the efficiency of our work and to re-establishing the momentum needed for its conclusion.

Mr. Chairman, let me conclude by thanking you and other members of the Bureau for your guidance throughout this session of the Ad Hoc Committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman


* The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations 6th Committee: Measures to eliminate international terrorism (6/10/2009)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations General Assembly: Measures to eliminate international terrorism (2/7/2009)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Security Council: Counter-Terrorism Committee, 1267 Committee, and 1540 Committee  (26/5/2009)
• EU Commission adopts new programme to fight terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (17/4/2009)
• Fifth European Day for the Victims of Terrorism - The EU Commission expresses continued and deeply felt solidarity with all victims of terrorist attacks (11/3/2009)