The United Nations response - Brief Article

UN Chronicle, Sept-Nov, 2001

The 11 September attack claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people from 80 nations. On 12 September, both the General Assembly and the Security Council adopted strong resolutions "unequivocally" condemning the "heinous acts of terrorism" and vowing to "bring to justice" the perpetrators and their sponsors. Cancelling its special session on the follow-up to the World Summit for Children, scheduled for 19 to 21 September, the Assembly on 18 September also decided to postpone its annual high-level general debate, which was to take place from 24 September to 5 October.

As the UN Chronicle was going to press, the Council had just passed a wide-ranging resolution targeting terrorist financing, and the Assembly was about to begin a week-long debate on measures to eliminate international terrorism, with some 145 representatives listed to speak. Opening the debate, General Assembly President Han Seung-soo of the Republic of Korea said the fight against terrorism transcended cultural and religious differences. "We must never forget that terrorism is not a weapon yielded by one civilization against another, but rather an instrument of destruction through which small bands of criminals seek to undermine civilization itself."

In his opening address, Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 1 October pointed out that "a single attack involving a nuclear or biological weapon could have killed millions". He called on Member States not to lose momentum in developing a "broad, comprehensive and, above all, sustained strategy to combat terrorism", noting that the United Nations was "uniquely positioned to serve as a forum" to fight it "on a global scale". While acknowledging the complexities of the issue, the Secretary-General urged them to sign, ratify and implement "without delay" all the existing conventions on terrorism (see page 74), and also to forge agreement on a comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

Mr. Annan also called attention to the victims, "whether they are the direct targets or other populations who will be affected by our common effort", and urged donors to support the recent UN humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan. "But just as a concerted international response can make the work of terrorists much harder to accomplish", he said, "so should the unity born of this tragedy bring all nations together in defence of the most basic right--the right of all peoples to live in peace and security".

New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani also addressed the Assembly before the debate, urging that "on this issue-terrorism--the United Nations must draw a line". He called on the Organization to "hold accountable any country that supports or condones terrorism", and urged Member States to "enforce these new mechanisms".

On 18 September, Council President Jean-David Levitte of France said the Council demanded that the Taliban "immediately and unconditionally" comply with its resolutions calling for the handover of indicted terrorist Osama bin Laden.

On 28 September, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1373 (2001), declaring that terrorists' acts, methods, and practices of terrorism, as well as their financing, planning and incitement are "contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations". The Council noted with concern the close connection between international terrorism and transnational organized crime, illicit drugs, money laundering and illegal movement of nuclear, chemical, biological and other deadly materials. It emphasized the need to enhance the coordination of efforts to strengthen a global response to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and expressed its determination to take all necessary steps to fully implement this resolution.

Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which makes its provisions mandatory on all States immediately, the Council laid out wide-ranging strategies to combat international terrorism, and established a Committee, consisting of all Council members, to monitor implementation of the resolution. It called upon all States to report within 90 days on actions they had taken to that end.

The resolution requires all States to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, as well as criminalize the willful provision or collection of funds for such acts. The financial assets of those who commit, attempt to commit or facilitate terrorist acts should also be frozen. The Council decided States should prohibit their nationals or people in their territories from making funds or services available to those involved in terrorism, refrain from providing support to people involved in terrorism, take steps to prevent terrorist acts, and deny safe haven to those who commit or support terrorist acts or provide safe havens. States are also required to prevent terrorists from using their territories for those purposes against other countries, bring to justice anyone who has participated in terrorism, and ensure that terrorist acts are established as serious criminal offences in domestic laws and are punishable accordingly. States should further assist one another with criminal investigations or proceedings relating to the financing or support of terrorist acts, and prevent the movement of terrorists or their groups by effective border controls and regulation of identity and travel documents.