Thank you Chair for arranging this meeting. We thank USG Feltman and Director UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) for their informative briefings. We also welcome the appointment of Ambassador Voronkov as the USG to head the Office of Counter-Terrorism. 

Mr. Chairman,

2.    As you mentioned, the menace of terrorism continues to grow across regions and countries. Terrorist organizations and their networks are not bound by international borders, norms and legal frameworks.  The need for increased multilateral action, coordination and cooperation on counter terrorism is becoming ever more urgent. 

3.    We believe that the creation of the Office of CT is a much awaited first step in our efforts to enhance the coordination of the UN's CT efforts and raising the visibility of international community's efforts on this issue.

4.    India views its association with the UNCCT Advisory Board as an important part of our collective responsibility. India has faced and fought terrorism for the past several decades. We are therefore acutely conscious of the complex nature of this menace, its supporting eco- systems and the necessity of a joint international effort required to counter it. 

Mr. Chairman, 

5.    We support the work of UNCCT in contributing to the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) of the United Nations through the Counter Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF). We note that the plan of action of the UNCCT is being expanded at all levels - global, regional and national - especially in the context of its capacity building efforts. 

6.    More regular consultations of the Advisory board and inter-agency meetings would be useful. 

7.    While we focus on a balanced implementation of the strategy and a comprehensive approach to each pillar, there is scope for prioritizing on issues that are of urgent nature and belong to the core competence of the center and UN CT architecture. Creating capacity and drawing from existing international legal framework under the pillars on combating terrorism and international cooperation are essential. 

8.    Given the limited funding available for the projects being implemented by UNCCT, we must ensure that the projects are implemented with an important CT component and focus, as against issues which could fall under broader development aspects dealt with by other UN organs. These projects could focus on more specific technical capacity building areas for instance on border control or financing of terror networks, law enforcement and legal aspects. 

9.    Enhancing the capacity of countries in dealing with the ICT related issues and Financing of terrorism in this field is also crucial in the fight against terrorism and must be continued to be prioritized. We welcome the work of UNCCT in this regard and hope to see more collaboration with other UN bodies such as CTED, Sanctions Committees.

10.    More needs to be done for an 'All of UN' approach to this matter involving all different bodies dealing with this issue including the Security Council and the Sanction Committees. We are confident that the establishment of Office of Counter Terrorism in this regard will be helpful in pursuing this.  

Mr. Chairman,

11.    As all of us are aware, no State is immune to the threat of terrorism as continuing terrorist attacks across the world, many of them with links beyond the borders of the affected State, continue to demonstrate. No one country, however rich or powerful, will be able to defeat this acting alone. 

12.    Genuine and effective international cooperation at multiple levels are, therefore, crucial for dealing this challenge. 

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