§ Ian LucasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee. [43548]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Counter-Terrorism Committee was established to monitor implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), which imposed mandatory obligations on all states to prevent and suppress terrorist financing and deny terrorists safe havens. The British Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, is its chairman.
As of 11 March 2002, the Counter Terrorism Committee had received reports from 135 of the UN's 189 member states. This is an unprecedented response rate, demonstrating the importance the entire international community attaches to fighting terrorism.
The Counter-Terrorism Committee is now in the process of analysing these reports, and seeking further information from states where necessary. The picture 196W being built up should help the committee and states concerned to identify and address areas in which existing counter-terrorism structures need to be improved.