Mr. President,
 

Events that unfold around us every day have highlighted that terrorism remains the most pervasive and serious challenge to international security.  Even while we still struggle with the traditional methods employed by terrorist organizations to ravage our collective psyche, we are faced with ever more complex threats which have emerged alongside the evolution of technology and the rise of an interconnected world.
 

Nuclear terrorism, Radiological terrorism and Cyber terrorism are but a few of the vast array of terms that we now use for such apocalyptic threats. These are threats that have emerged, as ruthless non-state  actors evolve their ideology and adapt strategies to strike deeper roots and explore different avenues to threaten innocent populations of established States. Therefore, developing a comprehensive global response ought to be our highest priority. Terrorism is a global concern that demands global attention and requires global cooperation.
 

Mr. President,
 

The international community has negotiated more than a dozen instruments on combating terrorism as benchmarks for a State's commitment on the issue. The adoption and the regular reviews of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy demonstrate the continuing commitment and efforts of States to collectively deal with this threat.  Despite consistent efforts, the law-fare needs constant updating in a world of evolving threats. We, therefore, wish to highlight the importance of an early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on  International Terrorism, which will reflect the unwavering common commitment to cooperate in combating terrorism.
 

Mr. President,
 

The list of our collective limitations in dealing with the threats posed by terrorists is too long & self-evident to be recalled in its entirety. Imagination and integration remain two of our major shortcomings as individual nations and collectively as the United Nations. These have caused much distress at crucial times. While addressing our limitations, we must do an honest introspection. There are important issues today before the international community that beg answers. Where do potential terrorists go for training? How does their financing work? What are we doing to disrupt the eco-systems that promote terror startups? Do we know the answers and yet choose to look away?
 

Of equal concern is that our reaction to terrorism in some geographies is different from others. We are currently witnessing the impact of the Middle East on Europe, a development that was waiting to happen and yet not anticipated! In South Asia, we are witnessing the international community's efforts of combating terrorism being affected by a fatigue of a long-drawn war in Afghanistan.
 

Mr. President,
 

While we deal with these threats, we must resist the temptation of buying individual peace for ourselves by striking deals that divert terrorists elsewhere. We need to intensify our efforts in persuading States to refrain from using terrorism as a card in the games that nations play. While non-state actors such as terrorists think global, we  representatives of States alas, are thinking only nationally

The dangers of discriminating among terrorists - good or bad or yours and mine - are well known. Terrorism is an international threat that should not be allowed to serve national strategy. We need to move beyond discouraging state sponsorship of terrorism and take the next step of building effective inter-state cooperative mechanisms to combat it. If cooperation is to thrive, Inter-Governmental organizations such as the UN need to be strengthened to deal with the substance of these threats.  

Mr. President,
 

We welcome the adoption of resolution 71/291 and the appointment of Under Secretary General Voronkov. We hope that the creation of the Office of Counter Terrorism will encourage an 'all of UN' approach while addressing the scourge of terrorism. It is possible that some aspects of this approach may appear overly ambitious given the turf battles common at such fora. However, we must not set ourselves a low bar. We have, admittedly, a long journey ahead. Our future however will be defined by the steps that we take on this journey. If we falter, we will have only ourselves to blame. 
 

I thank you Mr. President.