Un General Assembly on Terrorism

United Nations General Assembly on Terrorism in 2011

United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): On November 18, 2011, Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N., addressed the General Assembly at its session to discuss a foiled terrorist plot to assassinate the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States. In the excerpts below, Ambassador Rice welcomed the resolution condemning terrorism generally and the Iran-supported plot against the Saudi Ambassador in particular. United Nations Doc. A/RES/66/12. The full text of Ambassador Rice's remarks is available at (internet link) usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/2011/177393.htm.

Developments

I want to begin by congratulating the people of Saudi Arabia for their overwhelming success here in the General Assembly. But I also want to congratulate the member states of the General Assembly, because today—in a very powerful, unified statement of support—they came together to clearly condemn terrorism in all its forms, to deplore the plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, and to call on Iran to fulfill its obligations under the 1973 convention** I think it's noteworthy that over a 100 countries—a total of 106—voted in favor of this resolution, and only nine opposed it. Nine. Iran plus eight. Not one of those eight countries was another Islamic—predominantly Islamic—or Arab country. Not one. and cooperate with this investigation.

The world came together in a very strong message that diplomats and the work we do are sacrosanct. We all deserve protection and the ability to do the work of the state without fear or threat of violence.

Details

And today, the members of the General Assembly delivered that message very forcefully. Iran is increasingly isolated here in this body at the United Nations in New York, again, today in Vienna. And I think this is indicative of the world's growing abhorrence of their behavior, including their support for terrorism, their pursuit of a nuclear weapons program and their gross violations of Human Rights.

UN General Assembly on Terrorism in 2013

United States views on international law [1] in relation to UN General Assembly on Terrorism: On October 7, 2013, Steven Hill, U.S. Deputy Legal Adviser for the U.S. Mission to the UN, delivered remarks on measures to eliminate international terrorism at the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee (Legal). His remarks are excerpted below and available at (link resource) usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/215249.htm.

Some Aspects of UN General Assembly on Terrorism

On October 7, 2013, Steven Hill, U.S. Deputy Legal Adviser for the U.S. Mission to the UN, delivered remarks on measures to eliminate international terrorism at the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee (Legal). His remarks are excerpted below and available at (link resource) usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/215249.htm.

Developments

Focusing here on the legal developments, we recognize the great success of the United Nations, thanks in large part to the work of this Committee, in developing 18 universal instruments that establish a thorough legal framework for combating terrorism. The achievements of the past ten years are noteworthy. We have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of states who have become party to these important counterterrorism conventions. For example, over the past ten years 170 states have become party to the Terrorist Financing Convention. The international community has also come together to conclude six new counterterrorism instruments, including a new convention on nuclear terrorism and updated instruments which cover new and emerging threats to civil aviation, maritime navigation, and the protection of nuclear material.

Details

The United States recognizes that while the accomplishments of the international community in developing a robust legal counterterrorism regime are significant, there remains much work to be done. The 18 universal counterterrorism instruments are only effective if they are widely ratified and implemented. In this regard, we fully support efforts to promote ratification of these instruments, as well as efforts to promote their implementation. We draw particular attention to the six instruments concluded over the past decade—the 2005 International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (Nuclear Terrorism Convention), the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM Amendment), the 2005 Protocols to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Protocols), and the 2010 Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation and its Protocol. The work of the international community began with the negotiation and conclusion of those instruments. But that work will only be completed when those instruments are widely ratified and fully implemented.

More

The United States is advancing in its own efforts to ratify these instruments. We have been working closely with the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would allow the United States to ratify the Nuclear Terrorism Convention, the CPPNM Amendment, and the SUA Protocols. As we undertake efforts to ratify these recent instruments, we urge other states not yet party to do likewise. And as we move forward with our collective efforts to ratify and implement these instruments, the United States remains willing to work with other states to build upon and enhance the counterterrorism framework. Concerning the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, we recognize that, despite the best efforts of the Ad Hoc Committee Chair and Coordinator, negotiations remain at an impasse on current proposals. We will listen carefully to the statements of other delegates at this session as we continue to grapple with these challenging issues.

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See Also

• International Criminal Law
• International Crimes
• Terrorism
• Un General Assembly

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Notes

1. Un General Assembly on Terrorism in the Digest of United States Practice in International Law

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Notes and References

1. Editor's note: The reference is to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, 1035 U.N.T.S. 15410.