Statement by Mr. Andranik Grigoryan, Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN, at the GA Plenary Meeting on the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

23 June, 2023

Mr. President,

Armenia welcomes the adoption of the resolution on the 8th review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS). We extend our appreciation to the co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of Canada and Tunisia to the UN, as well as their respective teams for their valuable efforts in facilitating the discussions on this important resolution. We recognize also the work of the Office for Counter-Terrorism in efforts to strengthen the capacity of member states in preventing and countering terrorism.

Terrorism remains an urgent and grave threat to international peace and security. Global terrorist threat continues to adapt through advanced and more sophisticated methods. In order to respond to the transnational challenges posed by terrorism and violent extremism, the international community should act collectively and through coordinated action.

The GCTS and its regular reviews continue to play an important role in enhancing national, regional and international efforts to counter terrorism. The strategy helps international community to advance preventive toolbox in counter-terrorism efforts. It also includes the protection of human rights in the fight against terrorism as an integral part of the objectives. As we reflect on the way forward, this is a good opportunity to take stock of our collective efforts and consider both their achievements and shortcomings.

The review resolution contains important elements, the effective implementation of which could enhance our collective resilience in the fight against the scourge of terrorism. This includes several paragraphs on the issue of addressing threats posed by the recruitment, financing and transfer of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) between different regions and particularly to the conflict zones. Rapid advancement of technologies and new forms of terrorism financing and illicit flow of weapons have created conducive environment for the presence of FTFs almost in every region. Foreign terrorist fighters increased the intensity, duration and intractability of conflicts. In many regions, including in our region they have also been involved in massive violations of human rights, atrocity crimes and destruction of cultural heritage. UN member-states have crucial task to redouble their efforts in order to fight this alarming trend. Any attempt of instrumentalization of FTFs should be condemned resolutely. Effective international cooperation could help to elaborate practical steps on how to deprive terrorist groups and their sponsors of capabilities to recruit, finance and relocate FTFs.

We also continue to be concerned about the expressions of discrimination and violence that emanate from intolerance, xenophobia and proliferation of hate speech. Any attempts to justify inspirers or perpetrators of terrorism or violent extremism, as well as those inciting hate crime and violence should be decisively and unequivocally condemned at all levels. Strengthening the early warning mechanisms for the identification of instances of state sponsored incitement of hatred and intolerance on ethnic and religious grounds could lay grounds for meaningful international response in situations, where the risks of atrocity crimes with involvement of terrorist groups exist.

Terrorist groups have proven their ability to exploit technological advances and misuse digital tools to achieve their goals. This requires forward looking collective efforts from the UN, its member states with collaboration of other relevant actors to enhance the capacities of the CT architecture in keeping up with these emerging threats.

Mr. President,

Armenia remains firmly committed to the global fight against terrorism and is actively engaged in international and regional activities to this end. We attach great importance to the thorough implementation of the counter-terrorism conventions and their additional protocols, as well as the relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council.

In this regard, we have undertaken a number of practical measures to prevent free movement of terrorists, combat transnational organized crime, money-laundering and terrorism financing, in line with the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and other counter-terrorism obligations. Countering terrorist financing, enhancing border control, updating counter-terrorism legislation and ramping up law enforcement capacities are important areas of the national counter terrorism policy.

The recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters and their transfer to conflict zone in our region has been extensively documented and acknowledged by the law enforcement agencies of several countries, as well as reported extensively by independent observers and media outlets. It is well known who recruited and transferred thousands of foreign terrorists in violation of a number of UN Security Council resolutions.

Armenia acknowledges the important role of the Security Council sanctions committees in ensuring accountability for terrorist entities and individuals, assessment of the evolving global terrorism threat in different regions and monitoring compliance of the member states with the sanction regimes.

We highly value the cooperation in the framework of regional and sub-regional organizations, which have a pivotal role to play in promoting and facilitating cooperation, including through sharing best practices and building stronger capacities to effectively address the threats of terrorism and look forward towards effective and result-oriented implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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