Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at an informal Arria formula meeting of UNSC member states “Threats to international peace and security from the cross-border activities of terrorist groups”
Co-Presidents,
We are grateful to the United Arab Emirates and Kenya for organizing today's event.
The problem of cross-border activities of terrorist groups is very relevant. Terrorists are becoming more inventive and are increasingly using innovative technologies to commit atrocities. The paramount task of the international community is to prevent them from acquiring weapons and dual-use products that can be used to produce weapons and military equipment.
One of the most effective ways to do that is to establish national control systems and improve their efficiency, considering the specific environment, priorities and capabilities of each country. Among the basic elements of such systems is the licensing of cross-border transfers of any goods and technologies that can be used for terrorist purposes.
Today Mr. D. Rogers spoke in detail about the threat posed by UAVs in the hands of terrorists. We share the concern of many countries over the threat of terrorists gaining access to UAVs. In this context, it would be useful for interested States to study the know-how and best practices developed under the relevant multilateral export control mechanisms that cover certain types of UAVs.
Strengthening national capacities to regulate the transfer of UAVs and other sensitive goods could enhance the effectiveness of international and national counter-terrorism efforts. At the same time, we consider it unacceptable to use export control tools as a means to exert political or sanctions pressure on individual countries.
Co-Presidents,
We note with regret the continuing high level of the terrorist threat in various parts of Africa. The militants of the ISIS branch in West Africa, Boko Haram and other affiliated terrorist organizations are expanding their area of operations, seeking to gain a foothold in the states of the Gulf of Guinea. We see an increasing number of cross-border terrorist attacks in Benin and the Republic of Togo. We are concerned about the marked increase in the activities of Al-Shabaab, which controls vast areas in the southern and central parts of Somalia, as well as parts of the north-eastern regions. The militants of this organization regularly raid the territory of neighboring states.
We support the activities of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).
We positively assess the measures taken by the African countries to develop coordinated approaches to combating terrorism and establishing counter-terrorism cooperation within the framework of subregional organizations.
Co-Presidents,
The Russian delegation has repeatedly drawn attention to violations of the arms embargo against terrorist organizations in various regions of the world, including the African continent. We can not turn a blind eye to the problem of supplies of military products to terrorists. It is important to make public comprehensive information about all the terrorists support channels and efforts to stop them.
In this regard, we support the strengthening of engagement and coordination between the relevant structures of the UN Secretariat and regional organizations aimed at preventing terrorists getting a hold of weapons.
The relevant technical assistance programs of the Office of Counter-Terrorism (OCT) and the Office on Drugs and Crime (ODC) are good examples of such work.
Thus, in February 2021, in New York, with the financial support of the Russian Federation, a capacity-building project, developed jointly by the OCT and ODC, was launched with the goal to help Central Asia countries in combating illicit arms trafficking.
This project is aimed at strengthening criminal justice measures related to prevention of illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons and fighting against it, as well as the cutting their supply to terrorist groups in Central Asia. It envisages relevant workshops and advanced training courses for government officials responsible for combating illicit arms trafficking and terrorism. In 2023, it is planned to launch a similar project on the African continent.
Thank you.
Representative of the Russian Federation Mr. Sergey Leonidchenko in response to the statement of the representative of Poland
I intended to use my right to further statement as a member of the Security Council, not the right of reply. And it was my initial plan to be brief considering late hour.
I have to make the following remark.
We regret that one delegation decided to introduce unrelated and highly politicized sujet as well as absurd accusations against my country into our useful and topical discussion today. We will not comment on these accusations not only because of their absurd character. We will refrain from doing so out of respect for the co-chairs and our colleagues who like our delegation chose to speak on the point today.
Lastly, we firmly believe that such isolated cases of abuse will not devalue such a useful format as “Arria formula” meetings.
Thank you.
