EventsFeaturesImage galleriesMediaMFAT speeches20042005200620072008Media contact informationMinisters releasesPublications
Mr President,
New Zealand joins other Member States in strong condemnation of the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai. We repeat here our condolences to India for the tragic losses it suffered, as well as to those countries whose nationals were also affected.
The Mumbai attacks were a reminder that in spite of some significant successes in recent years, the scourge of international terrorism persists. There continue to be too many victims of terrorism in too many places. New Zealand remains unequivocal in our condemnation, in the strongest possible terms, of terrorism in all its forms.
The terrorism we face today is a global phenomenon and as such requires a coordinated global response. The spread of terrorist attacks and the globalization of terrorist networks confirm that no region or country can be complacent when it comes to taking measures to combat terrorism. The United Nations, through the work of the General Assembly, the Security Council and its Committees and other bodies, is best placed to coordinate the global response.
New Zealand supported the adoption of the United Nations Global Strategy on Counter-Terrorism, and we work together with other Member States, particularly those in our region, to advance our collective efforts to implement the Strategy.
Equally important is the need for ongoing improvements in the implementation of the key Security Council resolutions on counter-terrorism — resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004). We support the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate in this regard. Next year, we look forward to welcoming a visit to New Zealand by officials from the Executive Directorate to discuss implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) in New Zealand and in our region.
There is a high level of commonality between the principles under the four pillars of the Global Strategy and those that guide New Zealand's approach to counter-terrorism domestically and within our region.
Domestically, we remain determined to take all necessary measures to prevent and combat terrorism to ensure that our country is neither a target nor a source for terrorist activity. We continue to improve our legislative, policy and operational capabilities.
Regional bodies too play a key role in coordinating responses to terrorism. We wish to draw attention to the statements unequivocally condemning terrorist acts made by leaders and ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies at their annual meeting in Lima last month. Leaders reiterated that terrorist acts can never be justified or excused and reaffirmed their collective commitment to eliminating the threat of terrorism.
New Zealand has been actively engaged in our region, building the capacity of partner countries to counter the threat of terrorism. We continue to help Pacific Island countries meet the requirements of the international counter-terrorism agenda. We have been encouraged by the progress made in improving counter-terrorism legislation, policy and operational capability in the Pacific. In South-East Asia, New Zealand continues to support a number of counterterrorism capacity-building initiatives both bilaterally with key partners and regionally through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Mr President,
The threat of international terrorism requires a comprehensive, multilayered and long-term response. Complementing our wider counter-terrorism efforts, New Zealand has also funded initiatives aimed at addressing the conditions that are conducive to the spread of terrorism through a programme of counter-radicalisation activities.
Thank you, Mr. President, for Croatia's leadership on this fundamental issue and for the opportunity presented by today's debate to reaffirm New Zealand's steadfast commitment to combat and prevent terrorism.
