Thank you Mr. President for convening this transparent, inclusive and interactive engagement. We also thank the Secretary General for outlining his Counter Terrorism (CT) vision for the UN and Under Secretary General Feltman for delineating the proposed CT architecture.

2.    Every day our collective conscience is being ravaged by terrorists in some part of the world or other. It is variously estimated  that  since the beginning of 2017, there have been 150 cases of terrorist violence with more than a 1000 deaths.    

3.    Just last week, Bill Gates speaking at the Munich Security Conference, drew attention to how unprepared we were to a new kind of terrorism - bio-terrorism. If I may use his words, 'the next epidemic could originate on the computer screen of a terrorist, intent on using genetic engineering to create a synthetic version of a small virus or a super contagious and deadly strain of flu'. According to Gates, epidemiologists say that a fast moving air borne pathogens could kill more that 30 million people in less than a year.

4.    It is in this background of growing concerns, that we greatly appreciate the SG's initiative to promptly address the need to enhance coordination of the UN's CT efforts.

5.    India welcomes the initiative and fully supports the proposal for creation of the Office of CT. We will extend all possible support in taking the proposal to its fruition.

6.    We envisage the Under-Secretary General for CT to be able to take positions and speak on behalf of 'all of UN' and develop a comprehensive narrative on terrorism including on all issues relating to CT.

7.    We do understand that there are differing mandates of various UN bodies. If the CT coordinator is to have credibility, she/he needs to be seen as the UN's voice on CT issues, not merely a voice on CT. Such Differentiation of mandates is only known to those in this room or those who use this building as work space. It will never be comprehensible to the ordinary people at large. So let us not allow turf battles to hobble this initiative, if we have to maintain its credibility.

8.    As Terrorism thrives on and is sustained by its trans-boundary networks for ideology, recruitment, propaganda, funding, arms, training and sanctuary, no single nation alone can tackle this menace decisively. There is no stronger case for more multilateral action, more coordination and more cooperation on any matter amongst all stakeholders than on terrorism.

9.    We therefore welcome this first step and stand ready to support early actualisation of this initiative of the Secretary General.

Thank you.