Ban Warns Of Long Journey In Battle Against Terrorism

New York, Oct 14 2009 5:10PM The United Nations task force charged with coordinating the world body’s counter-terrorism efforts met in Vienna today, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warning: “We are far from reaching safer shores.”

The Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), set up in 2006, brings together two dozen UN entities, working under mandates from the Assembly, the Security Council and various specialized agencies, funds and programmes.

“Countless innocent civilians and the United Nations itself have suffered heinous terrorist acts,” Mr. Ban said a message delivered by CTITF head Jean-Paul Laborde. “Our efforts to address this problem comprehensively are crucial to global security.”

He noted that some are the entities in CTITF are focused directly on terrorism, while others bring expertise on non-proliferation, disarmament, education, cultural and inter-religious dialogue, human rights, peacekeeping, health and other issues.

“This range of experience allows the United Nations to address terrorism as part of our broader mission to promote development, human rights and peace. It also promotes synergies and information-sharing, and allows each entity to maximize its comparative advantage,” Mr. Ban said, envisaging an enhanced role for the task force in ensuring overall coordination and interacting with Member States and other stakeholders.

“The United Nations has brought the world a long way in advancing multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation, but we are far from reaching safer shores. I am counting on the task force, with support from across the United Nations system, to advance our journey towards peace and security for all.”

Today’s meeting follows a two-day workshop of national counter-terrorism officials, the first ever such meeting on the working level, to devise ways to implement the UN's global counter-terrorism strategy, looking at actual practical aspects and identifying real needs and key gaps.

ENDS