UN calls for renewal of global solidarity against terrorist acts
10/12/2008 16:26
The UN Security Council yesterday called on member states to renew the
degree of international solidarity against terrorism that was manifested
immediately after the tragic Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
With the unanimous
adoption of a presidential statement, the 15-member body concluded a day-long
meeting focusing on the threats of terrorist acts to international peace and
security.
In a statement read out by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, the
council's president for this month, council members expressed deep concern over
"continuous terrorist attacks around the world."
They underlined the need to
strengthen existing mechanisms and cooperation in order to find, deny safe haven
and bring to justice any person who supported, facilitated or participated in
the financing, planning, preparation or commission of terrorist acts.
They
also condemned in the strongest terms the incitement of terrorist acts and
repudiated attempts at the justification or glorification of such acts, and
reaffirmed the importance of countering radicalization and the exploitation of
young people by violent extremists.
At the same time, the council emphasized
the need to enhance dialogue among civilizations and address regional conflicts,
underdevelopment, and the full range of global issues to help build
international cooperation, which, by itself, was necessary to sustain "the
broadest possible fight against terrorism."
Council members said they
believed that "the strengthening of mutual trust among member states of the
United Nations will facilitate the creation of conditions for the successful
fight against terrorism."
Addressing the meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon condemned terrorism as "a global scourge."
As a leading threat to
international security, terrorism had to be one of the international community's
main priorities, Ban said.
The United Nations had a responsibility to lead
international efforts to confront the menace, "which no cause or grievance can
justify," and the organization was uniquely well placed to play that role, the
UN chief said.
Most of the 46 speakers that followed Ban condemned the Mumbai
attack and reaffirmed their commitment to pursue the struggle against
terrorism.
Xinhua
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