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UNITED NATIONS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- In a move aimed at strengthening global
anti-terror cooperation, UN Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan Tuesday unveiled his
recommendations for the world's first comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy
to the 191-nation General Assembly.
Annan delivered a speech at a plenary session of the assembly, presenting
the 32-page report, entitled Uniting Against Terrorism.
In the address, he highlighted that the report stemmed from a fundamental
conviction shared by all that "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,
committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, is unacceptable and
can never be justified."
"All states, in every region -- large or small, strong or weak -- are
vulnerable to terrorism and its consequences. They all standto benefit from a
strategy to counter it. They all have a role to play in shaping such a strategy,
in implementing it, and in ensuring that it is updated continuously to respond
to challenges as they evolve."
In compiling the report, Annan was assisted by a multi-agency
counter-terrorism task force, and he said that throughout the document he had
built on ideas outlined in Spain in 2005 on the one-year anniversary of the
train bombings that killed and maimed more than 1,600 people.
"In formulating my recommendations, I have built further on the 'five Ds' --
the fundamental components which I first outlined in Madrid last year," he said.
The five Ds include dissuading people from resorting to terrorism or
supporting it; denying terrorists the means to carry out an attack; deterring
States from supporting terrorism; developing state capacity to defeat terrorism;
and defending humanrights.
"I believe all five are interlinked conditions crucial to the success of
any strategy against terrorism. To succeed, we will need to make progress on all
these fronts," Annan said, adding that the member states now had an "historic
opportunity" in front of them to agree on such a strategy.
"By rising to that challenge, you will demonstrate the resolve of the
international community, and lay the foundations of a trulyglobal response to
this vicious global scourge. I hope my recommendations will help you in that
vital mission."
Under the five broad headlines, the report lays out certain specific
recommendations, including urging member states to consider a proposal to hold a
global forum on biotechnology, as part of the strategy to prevent the use of
biological weapons.
The report also has specifics relating to "terrorist use of theInternet,"
including an offer to help member states develop legislation and "other possible
actions to counter" this.
In his address to the assembly, Annan also called for the conclusion "as
soon as possible" of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism, but
said that even if consensus couldn't be reached on this, it was no reason for a
delay in agreeing on a strategy.
The General Assembly is scheduled to hold its first consultations on this strategy and other counter-terrorism issues on May 11. Enditem |