Statement by H.E. Dr. M. Javad Zarif

Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran

before The Sixth Committee

on Agenda Item: 160

Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism

New York, October 3, 2002

In the name of God the Compassionate the Merciful

Mr. Chairman,

I wish to begin by expressing the appreciation of my delegation to the Secretary General for his report on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism contained in document A/57/183 and its addendum. This report is indeed a valuable dossier which describes intensified efforts taken at national, regional and international levels towards eliminating this inhuman phenomenon.

My delegation associates itself with the statement made by the distinguished representative of Sudan, who spoke on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference yesterday. Allow me to make the following remarks on behalf of my delegation.

Terrorism has been a global threat for decades. It has claimed countless innocent lives, disturbed normal life in many countries, disrupted relations among nations, and endangered peace and security in many regions. However, the barbaric terrorist attacks of September 11^th demonstrated yet another inconceivable manifestation of this menace and illustrated the vulnerability of each and every one of us to this sinister phenomenon. Swift reaction of the international community in unequivocal condemnation of this appalling crime, adoption of specific procedures by the United Nations including the mechanism established by the Security Council to monitor and assist States in their struggle against terrorism, and bilateral and regional arrangements to reduce and uproot the threat all indicated the crystallization of a reinvigorated international will to uproot this menace.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, for its part, has intensified its endeavors to fight terrorism. Iran was a victim of terrorism, including operations conducted and sponsored by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda long before these sad incidents and has thus remained as a faithful partner in the UN-led coalition against terrorism. The measures adopted by my government in response to the relevant General Assembly and the Security Council resolutions have been reported to the Counter Terrorism Committee, as well as to the Secretary General for inclusion in its annual report on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism. Here I wish to cite the salient points of these reports:

1. A National Coordination Committee has been established to facilitate the implementation of the Security Council Resolution 1373.

2. We have augmented and intensified the practical arrangements to ensure, among other things, the safety and security of civil aviation, increased security at the borders with a view to preventing the entry of terrorists into our territory, and enhanced the anti-laundering mechanisms in the banking system.

3. The forces at the 900 kilometer border with Afghanistan have been increased in order to identify and arrest individuals suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. Simultaneously, several large scale operations to locate and remove safe houses in the eastern provinces have been carried out. As a result over 200 suspected individuals, from many nationalities, have been arrested and handed over to the authorities of their respective countries.

4. A thorough study of existing national laws was carried out with a view to ascertaining whether the terrorist acts mentioned in the Security Council Resolution 1373 are crimes under our domestic laws. While many existing laws make terrorist acts punishable, a comprehensive law on combating terrorism is under preparation, which will be submitted to the Islamic Consultative Assembly in due course.

5. Bilateral arrangements have been made with a number of its neighboring countries as well as with countries from other regions to deal with security matters and coordinate counter terrorism measures.

Mr. Chairman,

Let me once again underline that terrorism must be condemned irrespective of its culprits and victims. At the same time, the fight against terrorism should be conducted in conformity with United Nations Charter, norms and principles of international law and relevant international instruments. The UN-led coalition should continue this fight until the menace is eradicated. Only this Organization can provide a forum for concerted global action and only it can ensure universal legitimacy for long term struggle against terrorism. In order to intensify our common endeavors against terrorism, President Khatami in his letter to the Secretary General has proposed that comprehensive and inclusive negotiations should commence to articulate practical and serious global policies and strategies to uproot the menace of terrorism. He has called for convening a “Global Summit”, at the earliest possible date to register and demonstrate the highest international political will to eliminate terrorism.

We urge the Ad Hoc Committee established by the General Assembly Resolution 51/210 to speed up its efforts on this issue and prepare for convening of the proposed Summit. The draft comprehensive convention on combating international terrorism is one of the appropriate documents that could be adopted at the Summit level. We believe that consultations should continue in the Sixth Committee to find generally agreed solutions to the pending issues relating to the draft comprehensive convention.

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me to bring up a few points that in our opinion are detrimental to our common cause of combating terrorism. I believe, while rejecting any pretext or excuse for terrorism, the international community should make a sober assessment of those policies that bring about conditions of injustice, deprivation and powerlessness that may lead to a perverted response in the form of resorting to violence and terror. Policies based on the outdated paradigm of “might makes right” are certainly antithetical to the requirements of a law based approach to eliminate terrorism, and may in fact provide new pretexts for violence and terror.

Legitimacy as well as sustainability of the global struggle against terrorism rests on applying a single set of standards to all. It is not acceptable that patterns of alliance rather than actual engagement in terrorism would become the determining factor. Thus, the credibility of the campaign against terrorism is seriously undermined when policies and practices designed to instill terror and fear among the entire Palestinian people receive acquiescing silence and even support, while resistance to foreign occupation is conveniently demonized.

Likewise, attempts to attribute violence and terror to a particular religion or a specific ethnic group are not only erroneous but also undermine our collective efforts to combat terrorism, as they assist terrorists to hide behind such false scenarios and perceptions. I wish to emphasize in this regard that our religion, Islam, considers respect of one human life as sacred as the preservation of the lives the entire mankind. Accordingly, the Islamic civilization has always called for dialogue, tolerance and understanding. Thus, it is absolutely essential that in our common endeavor towards combating terrorism to isolate those who purport to link terrorism with divine religions. Divine religions have always been the harbingers of peace, love, amity and moral decency. Any attempt to link these horrendous crimes with divine religions is an unforgivable transgression against these religions and their countless followers.

In conclusion, I wish to emphasize, once more, that no nation can fight terrorism unilaterally. Adoption of universal, non-discriminatory and comprehensive measures to deprive terrorists of their means of recruitment, operation and funding is essential to eradicate terrorism. The Islamic Republic of Iran, as in the past, remains ready to contribute to the UN-led law based struggle of the community of nations against terrorism.