Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) - Da'esh

PRESS RELEASE: Heads of United Nations counter-terrorism bodies conclude joint visit to Iraq

AKHVEDELID — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 06:07:00 +0000

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Baghdad and New York, 8 March 2018 – Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and Ms. Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), yesterday concluded a two-day visit to Iraq at the invitation of the Government and with the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

The joint delegation met with high ranking officials in Iraq as well as with representatives of the diplomatic community, UNAMI, and the United Nations Country Team.

The joint delegation congratulated Iraq on the military victory against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) and commended Iraq for its continued and long-term resolve in the fight against terrorism. They underscored the importance of comprehensive counter- terrorism efforts in accordance with all the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant Security Council resolutions.

“This joint UNOCT – CTED visit symbolises the concerted efforts of the United Nations to support Iraq’s fight against terrorism,” said Mr. Voronkov during the meetings with senior officials. “We want to emphasise, with one voice, the importance of preventing and countering terrorism in accordance with the rule of law, and commend Iraq’s ongoing efforts to ensure that its counter- terrorism laws are in compliance with the universal counter-terrorism legal framework,” stated Ms. Coninsx.

During the meetings, the joint delegation discussed the counter-terrorism priorities of Iraq and the Government’s progress in addressing the 16 priority needs identified by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2015 and endorsed by Iraq.

The United Nations Senior Representatives also visited Fallujah, a one-time stronghold of Daesh west of the Iraqi capital that was liberated by Iraqi forces in June 2016. They met there with the Mayor and other local officials, and toured the city.

The joint delegation reiterated the strong support of the United Nations to Iraq. Based on the priority needs identified, UNOCT will provide technical assistance in priority areas, including capacity-building assistance, which were discussed and reiterated during the visit and in coordination with UNAMI and the UN Country Team.

“This joint visit complements UNAMI’s efforts in supporting the Government of Iraq in its efforts to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous country for the people of Iraq,” concluded Mr. Ján Kubiš, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq and the Head of UNAMI.

The three leaders of UNOCT, CTED, and UNAMI have agreed to seize the first available opportunity to report back jointly to the Security Council at one of its relevant upcoming sessions.

Background

This joint visit was conducted within the framework of the joint efforts of UNOCT and CTED to facilitate the delivery of counter-terrorism related technical assistance to Member States in accordance with Security Council resolution 2395 (2017), in which the Security Council underscored the need for the two entities to work closely together, within their respective mandates, to ensure balanced implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

Mandated by the General Assembly, UNOCT was established in June 2017 to provide leadership to the implementation of General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates, to enhance coordination and coherence, and to strengthen the delivery of the United Nations counter-terrorism capacity building assistance to Member States.

Established by the Security Council, the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) is a Special Political Mission of the United Nations, tasked with assisting the Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee in monitoring the effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant counter-terrorism resolutions. CTED conducts objective country on site assessments that constitute the basis for the concerned technical assistance and capacity-building projects.

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For more information, please contact:
Mr. Samir Ghattas, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
Ms. Laurence Gerard, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism.
Mr. Mattias Sundholm, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). .

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Three Security Council Committees jointly briefed by Russian Federal Security Services

AKHVEDELID — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 06:14:00 +0000

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On 22 February 2018, the Counter-Terrorism Committee heldan informal joint meeting with the Security Council ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, and the Security Council Taliban Sanctions Committee, to receive a briefing by Mr. Igor Sirotkin, Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB), Head of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) Central Office and NAC Deputy Chairman. The meeting was co-chaired by the Permanent Representative of Peru as Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan as Chair of the two sanctions committees.

Mr. Sirotkin briefed the three Committees, as well as the invited entities, on the main outcomes of the XVIth Meeting of Heads of Special Services, Security Agencies, and Law Enforcement Organizations that took place in Krasnodar (Russia) in October 2017. Speaking of the Consolidated Assessment of Future Terrorist Threats agreed upon by the participants in the XVIth Meeting, Mr. Sirotkin underlined that although ISIL had sustained significant losses in terms of manpower in Syria and Iraq, it had transformed into a network-based organization. “ISIL’s cells sprawl across and beyond the Middle East towards Central and Southeastern Asia, and the African continent,” said Mr. Sirotkin. He also spoke about the surge of lone-actor terrorist acts in Europe, and the threat of foreign terrorist fighters taking advantage of migrant routes.

The XVIth Meeting focused on three areas: terrorism counteraction, terrorism prevention, and mitigation and elimination of consequences of terrorist attacks. Responding to questions from the Committees’ Members, Mr. Sirotkin stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to countering terrorism, including preventive efforts of the relevant authorities in coordination with civil society. In the Russian Federation, such an approach is ensured by NAC and, over the past five years, resulted in particular in the disengagement from terrorist/extremist activity of over 300 individuals.

The annual Meeting also plays an important role in facilitating the sharing of intelligence information between relevant authorities. In this regard, NAC and FSB continue to maintain an International Counterterrorism Database (ICD), a project focused on developing a common antiterrorist information environment for security intelligence and law-enforcement operators worldwide.

“We must continue to strengthen our partnerships. We must ensure that, through our cooperation, collaboration, coordination, and joint efforts, our commitment and our capacities are stronger than before,” said the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in his introductory remarks. He also welcomed the constructive dialogue between the Committee, CTED, and FSB aimed at addressing common terrorism-related concerns and enhancing international cooperation.

A day earlier, Mr. Sirotkin met with CTED’s Executive Director to discuss the cooperation between CTC/CTED and FSB, in which they agreed to continue and enhance the good working relationship between the two entities.

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Joint briefing of two UN Security Council committees stresses need for Member States to do more to counter terrorism financing (press release)

BMUSONI — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 16:01:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE

United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee

Joint briefing of two United Nations Security Council committees stresses need for Member States to do more to counter terrorism financing

(NEW YORK) Terrorists require money to operate. Without funding, they cannot purchase weapons, equipment, supplies, or services. Terrorism financing is a global phenomenon that not only threatens Member States’ security, but can also undermine economic development and financial market stability. It is therefore of paramount importance to stem the flow of funds to terrorists. This is why on 14 April 2016, the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Daèsh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, together with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), held a joint open briefing on Depriving terrorist groups of sources of funding. Both committees expressed their support for FATF and its crucial role as a policy-making body that develops international standards on safeguarding the international financial system from money laundering and terrorist abuse, in close coordination with the United Nations.

In the joint briefing, which gathered representatives from the private sector to further explore the development of financial intelligence and partnerships with Governments, both committees urged Member States to do more to counter terrorism financing, stressing the need for greater cooperation, enhanced information sharing, more innovative approaches, and a better targeting of resources.

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For additional information , please contact Mattias Sundholm with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), at sundholm@un.org; and/or Sarah Bradley with the Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations, at sarah.bradley@mfat.govt.nz.

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