S T A T E M E N T
by dr. Dimitrij Rupel, Minister for Foreign Affairs
at the 17th EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting
8 May 2007
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished GCC Partners,
I would like to greet you on behalf of Slovenia, the second incoming Presidency. I would also like to thank the German Presidency for inviting us to give the lead statement on the Agenda item on terrorism. It is an important contribution to our preparations to take the Presidency in 2008 and we highly appreciate it.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
International community is more and more concerned about the increasing violence and the number of victims of terrorist attacks around the world, but most notably in Iraq and the Middle East Region - in the vicinity of our GCC partners. Unfortunately, suicide bomb attacks on the civilian population, attempts on the lives of politicians, civil servants and police officers, distrust and hatred between different religious communities have become a part of everyday life.
Terrorism and the fight against it are a very complex issue, so it is understandable that there are different views as to the most appropriate course of action that would meet the majority of requirements and expectations. EU is ready to work with all its international partners in finding comprehensive and efficient solutions.
The EU wishes to further promote and implement the counterterrorism elements of the 15 May 2006 Joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting. Foremost in this regard is the desire to work together to reach agreement on the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. A strong message from GCC members in support of the Convention would be helpful in achieving our common goal of creating an internationally accepted framework for combating terrorism.
EU fully supports the United Nations as the only global forum for fight against terrorism. The UN has a key role in mobilising the international community against terrorism. The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted by consensus in the UN General Assembly last September, is an important step towards truly united front in the fight against terrorism.
The 16 UN counter-terrorism Conventions and Protocols constitute the legal framework for anti-terrorist measures. The EU attaches great importance to universal adherence to, and full implementation of, all UN Conventions and Protocols related to acts of terrorism without reservations. The EU encourages GCC members to ratify and to fully implement, without reservations, all UN counter-terrorism Conventions and Protocols.
In order to prevent and combat the financing of terrorism, the EU also stresses the need to implement the comprehensive international standards established by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The EU expresses appreciation for the ongoing dialogue with the GCC on terrorist financing and looks forward to the next Joint Seminar on Combating Terrorism Financing. The EU highly values this series of exchanges on ways to improve international cooperation among financial intelligence units, non-profit organizations and formal and informal banking systems.
The EU adopted in 2005 a strategy and an action plan covering a wide range of measures to tackle radicalization and recruitment to terrorism. The EU attaches great importance to countering incitement to terrorism. The EU would welcome a dialogue with GCC members on combating terrorist radicalisation and recruitment, including through the prevention of incitement, and looks forward to closer cooperation with GCC members on interfaith/intercultural issues.
The EU emphasises that any measures we undertake to prevent and combat terrorism comply with our obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, refugee law and humanitarian law. We would like to reiterate that effective counter-terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are not conflicting but complementary and mutually reinforcing goals. When we strive towards a safe society, we basically strive towards a society, in which all human rights are fully protected and enhanced. We must not forget that safety is sine qua non for freedom, development and democracy.
Last, but not least, we should not forget that the planners and financial benefactors of mostly all terrorist attacks are still active. Therefore, the efforts to curb and finally out-root the terrorism require full and coordinated support of the international community. Anything less would cause irreparable damage, maintain an atmosphere of distrust, confrontations and increased tensions.
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