Unofficial Transcript by Human Rights Voices

February 12, 2016 UN Headquarters, New York
General Assembly: The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy [items 16 and 117] (a) Report of the Secretary-General (A/70/674) and document A/70/675 (b) Draft resolution A/70/L.41. Part 1

PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: The General Assembly will now consider Agenda Item 16, Culture of Peace; and Agenda Item 117, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Assembly has before it a report of the Secretary-General circulated in Document A/70/674 entitled Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism and the draft resolution entitled Secretary-General’s Plan for Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, issued as document A/70/L.41.
The letter dated 22nd of December 2015 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly introducing the Plan of Action to Violent Extremism has been circulated as Document A/70/675. Members will recall that the assembly held a debate on Agenda Item 16 and adopted resolution 70/19 and 70/20 as its—at its 67th Plenary Meeting on the 3rd of December 2015, and adopted Resolution 70/109 at its 72nd Plenary Meeting on the 10th of December, 2015.
You will recall that the Secretary-General informed and briefed members informally on the 15th of January about the plan. Today we will take action on a short procedure resolution welcoming the Secretary-General’s initiative, and in doing so we have delivered a clear signal that the General Assembly is gravely concerned by the issue of violent extremism. I thank all members for their cooperation and constructive engagement in the preparation of this resolution. 
Today, sadly, violent extremism is on the rise across the world. All too often a number of your governments and your people have been confronted by waves of terrorist attacks, violence, and intimidation. The pain, the fear, and the destruction caused by these acts presents real and difficult challenges for all member states.
As a phenomenon, violent extremism is not new. In our age, the risk is that radicalized individuals gain access to and then proceed to use tools that can inflict mass killings and significant destruction. Already now some extremists are skillfully exploiting the Internet to spread, like never before, the message of hate and violence; messages that are so contrary to the commitment to peace that brings us together in this hall. Confronting and preserving violent extremism is fundamental for protecting our societies and our people, but to be truly effective our approach to prevention must stay faithful to the common values and our common humanity. And it must secure peace and security in a manner that respects human rights and the rule of law, and advances sustainable development.
I commend the Secretary-General for his timely initiatives and for preparing this plan of action to prevent violent extremism. Collectively, we must tackle this issue with the urgency it so obviously requires. Today’s debate is an opportunity to advance the global debate on this complex issue and to discuss how better to use the tools and resources we have to tackle the drivers of this phenomenon. I look forward to hearing your contributions. 
And we will now proceed to consider Draft Resolution A/70/L.41. I have not been informed of any explanations or vote, so may I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt Resolution A/70/41? 
It is so decided.
I have not received any explanations about attitude here, and we will now hear statements on the report of the Secretary-General. And I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
SAUDI ARABIA: Thank you, Mr. President. In Saudi Arabia’s capacity as the coordinator for counter-terrorism within the Organisation of Islamic Countries, Islamic Cooperation, and on behalf of the countries of the OIC I wish to thank you for convening today’s debate to afford an opportunity to the member and observer states of the UN to express their views on violent extremism and the UN Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. 
OIC believes that violent extremism and terrorism undermine our shared objectives of a peaceful and prosperous world, and that no country in the world is immune to the effect of violent extremism and terrorism. OIC, therefore, supports efforts at the national, regional, and international levels to prevent violent extremism and terrorism.
In this regard, the OIC welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General to develop a Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism and takes note of the plan of action. The OIC reaffirms its unequivocal rejection of all attempts to associate any country, race, religion, culture, or nationality with violent extremism and terrorism. While the OIC emphasizes that there is no agreed definition of violent extremism, it fully subscribes to the need to prevent this phenomenon. 
The OIC believes that a comprehensive preventive approach to violent extremism should address its local and external drivers in a balanced manner. Cooperative efforts at the international level must be conducted in full respect of the purposes and principles of the United Nations charter. The OIC has a principle position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations committed by whomsoever and wherever. The OIC recognizes that terrorism cannot be tackled by security or military means alone, and underlines the need to attach new attention to and devising concrete plans for addressing the various dimensions and root causes of terrorism. 
We also consider it important to address the root causes of the global phenomenon of terrorism, violence, and extremism, and the means to address them at the political, economic, social, and intellectual levels. In this vein, the OIC recalls the content of the General Assembly Resolution 68/127 and 70/109 on a World Against Violent Extremism wave.
On a comprehensive approach to tackle terrorism, the OIC believes that due attention and concrete plan of actions must address the following aspects and dimensions of the phenomenon of terrorism. The political and socioeconomic context that bring forth conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and violent extremism such as continued economic deprivation, exclusion, alienation, separation, and marginalization of people and the forced dismantling of political, legal, security, and sociocultural institutions. The deep impact and legacy of historical injustices done to colonized peoples or those under occupation where sufferings and the forced destruction of their national institutions, culture, and identity and the denial of their rights to self-determination. The potential of external actors penetrating terrorist and extremist groups for the purpose of serving their own political agenda, and the threat of non-Arab and non-Muslim fighters. The need to counter all types of radical extremist discourse including through the media and new communications technologies, particularly the Internet, in order to delegitimize the violent and manipulative acts committed in the name of religion, ideology, or claims of cultural superiority.
The OIC stresses the importance of integrating youth and women in the efforts and decision-making processes regarding violent extremism, underscoring that children and youth represent future of society and that the failure to protect their rights can contribute to an environment conducive to crime and violent extremism. In this regard, the OIC recalls and welcomes the Security Council open debate on the role of youth encountering violent extremism and promoting peace, organized under Jordan’s presidency of the Security Council in April 2015, which brought this important matter to the international community and served as a transparent and vital platform to discuss member states’ views on this matter.
The OIC expresses serious concern over the increase of intolerance and discrimination against Muslims, resulting in the upsurge of Islamophobia, a phenomenon which is an affront to the human rights and dignity of Muslims. In this connection, OIC recalls the Human Rights Council Resolution titled “Combating Intolerance, Negative Stereotyping, Stigmatization, Discrimination, Incitement to Violence and Violence Against Persons, Based on Religion or Belief”, HRC Resolution 16/18, as an important tool to counter radicalization, marginalization, and alienation, and calls for its effective implementation by the international community as a means to deprive terrorist groups of any justification for violent extremism on the grounds of ethno-religious stigmatization and discrimination.
In this regard, the OIC calls upon all states to prevent any advocacy of religious discrimination, hostility, or violence and defamation of Islam by incorporating legal and administrative measures which render defamation illegal and punishable by law and also urges member and observer states to adopt specific and relevant educational measures at all levels. The OIC recognizes the importance of interfaith and intercultural dialog as an effective mechanism to combat extremism and incitement to hatred based on religion, and in this regard also recognizes the efforts made by the King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue.
The OIC reaffirms the need for effective and comprehensive implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the need for a robust follow-up mechanism to be in place. The OIC considers it imperative to respect the views and positions of member and observer states and the necessity to develop consensus by taking them into account during consideration of the relevant agenda items of the General Assembly and other relevant processes.
	In conclusion, Mr. President, OIC member states support resolution A/70/L.41 adopted a short while ago, welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General and taking note of his Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. Towards this end, the OIC stands ready to engage positively with all member states, with all member and observer states, in studying the Secretary-General’s plan thoroughly and constructively. 
Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:  I thank the Distinguished Representative of Saudi Arabia, and I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of France.
FRANCE: President of the General Assembly, dear colleagues. First I'd like to endorse the statement made by the European Union. I wish to underscore that the Plan of Action for the Prevention of Violent Extremism presented on 15 January by the Secretary General is of great importance to France. Consequently, France is pleased that the General Assembly has decided today to unanimously support this initiative through the adoption of a brief but key resolution. 
This plan of action aims to better coordinate and join our efforts, member states of the United Nations, at the national, regional, and international levels for the prevention of radicalization. This is essential in combating terrorism. This plan shows the strategic role for guiding and coordinating that the United nations must play in this area. Specifically, since this debate also aims to address the substance of the matter, the seven priority areas identified by the Secretary General seem very relevant, especially as regards empowering youth. The recommendations to member states are also especially welcome, and we hope these will contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of the international community's action.
For France, preventing radicalization and violent extremism is a national priority. We are very engaged in this area. This threat is not summarized solely by the 254 French persons coming back from Syria and Iraq, but also involves more than 1,900 French nationals or residents involved in jihadist affiliates, including 597 on the ground. France has taken measures that are in line with the actions identified by the Secretary General. We have first and foremost focused on preventive measures in the context of a national plan to combat violent radicalization and terrorist affiliates. This was adopted in April 2014.
We have set up a hotline number for families and others who are worried about their family members and others. We have an Interministerial Committee for the Prevention of Delinquency and Radicalization. So far this committee has received 7,000 reports of persons presenting a risk of radicalization. We also have a center to welcome young people who are back from areas of conflict so that they are not subject to prosecution. We also have a website called Stop Jihadism. This was set up a year ago for young people who are at risk of radicalization and their family members. There is a Twitter account and Facebook page on this to help disseminate messages to counter propaganda on social networks. 
We also conduct activities to prevent radicalization over the Internet. We block websites and withdraw content, which advocates terrorism. Various Internet sites have already been blocked in France in applying our law of 13 November, 2014. We are engaging in constructive dialog with major Internet companies. We will continue to act in this area by taking into account the recommendations of the Secretary-General.
To conclude, today as we open this debate of the General Assembly, and this will continue in Geneva in April and New York in June with the Global Strategy Review, this is very timely here. And this will provide an opportunity for us to think together about how states can be involved and implement recommendations of the Secretary-General. France is pleased to participate in this exercise and to strengthen and make more effective our collective action to prevent violent extremism, which leads to terrorism. 
I thank you. 
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: I thank the Distinguished Representative of France. The Distinguished Representative of Austria.
AUSTRIA: Thank you very much, Mr. President. At the outset I would like to stress that Austria, of course, fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by His Excellency, the Representative of the European Union just before. Austria welcomes and supports the Secretary-General's Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism. We are heartened that the General Assembly was in a position to welcome this important initiative. We appreciate the balanced and comprehensive nature of the document, and we welcome its recommendations for concrete measures to be operationalized both within the UN system as well as nationally and regionally by member states. 
Austria commends the Secretary-General for taking the lead to promote efforts and the local and national levels to prevent violent extremism since such measures will have the most concrete result. We support the focus areas of the plan, particularly on youth, and commend the emphasis on measures to strengthen good governance, human rights, and the rule of law, all of which are indispensable in effectively preventing violent extremism and combating terrorism, as a couple of other speakers have stressed before me.
Austria looks forward to the implementation of the plan, as well as national and regional measures. We recognize that their effective implementation is the responsibility of each and every individual member state, with the participation of local communities and civil society. Austria has already put in place a number of measures aimed at preventing violent extremism with a particular focus on integration and social inclusion, on human rights and gender equality, as well as intercultural and interreligious dialog.
In the framework of Austria's National Action Plan on integration, such measures were developed in broad consultations including with communities and civil society. Their implementation is being monitored by an expert body. We encourage other UN member states also to implement the recommendations of the Secretary-General in his action plan, which we're endorsing today. Austria looks forward to supporting the Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism, also in relation to the upcoming review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. 
Thank you. 
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: I thank the Distinguished Representative of Austria and now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of the People's Republic of China. 
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: Mr. President, the Chinese delegation would like to thank you for convening today's GA Plenary Meeting. I would like to thank the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, for submitting the Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. In recent years, violent extremist forces, such as ISIS, have been expanding their presence in Iraq and Syria, and with increasing dangers posing serious threats to peace and stability in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. 
Under the current circumstances, terrorist forces have demonstrated new features. First, their organizations are more tightly knit. They control big areas, and they use these areas as bases to spread extreme ideologies, a means of terrorist attacks, and terrorists to the rest of the world. 
Secondly, the networks of international terrorist forces have been formed with expanding activities. Terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Boko Haram have been coordinating with each other from afar, and they have launched attacks from multiple regions and countries, causing enormous damages and harms. 
Third, terrorist groups scale up their use of new technologies such as the Internet and social media, and they plot, organize, and finance terrorist activities, and spread extremist and violent ideologies to poison the youth, attracting young people mired in difficult situations to join violent extremist groups.
Fourth, terrorism and regional hot spots are intertwined, and terrorist groups profit from regional hot spots, causing the escalation of terrorist activities, therefore, making the resolution of regional conflicts even more difficult, aggravating existing humanitarian crisis.
Mr. President, in fighting terrorism and violent extremism, the international community should stay united and strengthen coordination and form synergies. I would like to make the following points: first, to give full play to the coordination and leading role of the United Nations and the Security Council. The countries should fully implement the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the Global Anti-Terrorism Strategy of the GA. The international community should, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and other accepted norms of international relations, give full play to the coordination and leading role of the United Nations and form a united front to fight terrorism and scale up efforts to fight terrorism at the global level. Only through effective coordination can we defeat terrorist groups. 
Second, to adhere to unified criteria and standards. It's important to fight terrorism in all forms and manifestations, and double standards should be avoided. We should never link terrorism with any specific ethnicity or religion. Security Council has adopted resolutions on fighting terrorist groups such as ISIS and other terrorist groups have been put on the sanctions list, and the countries should be resolute in their fight against violent extremist groups, especially those on the list of the Security Council sanctions. 
Third, to counter terrorist activities. The international community should pay attention to fight against the terrorist organizations using Internet or social media to engage in terrorist activities, and they issue violent audio visual products and spread extremist ideologies and recruit people and raise funds and plot terrorist activities. Therefore, measures should be taken to fight against such crimes. Countries should strengthen the regulation of the Internet, strengthen cooperation, and the relevant agencies of the United Nation should coordinate in formulating measures to strengthen the regulation of the Internet. And member states should be coordinated in fighting the crimes carried out by terrorist groups using Internet.
Fourthly, the root causes of the problems should be addressed, and we should pay attention to the economic and social development, and promote the stabilization of the situations in turbulent areas. And the international community should pay more attention to the political sentiment of the conflicts. Mr. President, the Chinese government is resolute in its fight against terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms, and we will resolutely fight violent terrorism, which challenges the civilization and the humanity. We will actively participate in the 10th Review of the Global Anti-Terrorism Strategy and will work with international community in fighting terrorism and violent extremism, and maintain world peace and tranquility. Thank you, Mr. President. 
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Distinguished Representative of the Russian Federation.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION: President, I'd like to begin by thanking you for holding this meeting, and for the opportunity to exchange opinions on the Plan of Action to Combat Violent Extremism as presented by the Secretary-General. We studied it carefully and our analysis will continue with the participation of expert agencies because the issues raised in the document have a broad interdisciplinary nature. 
President, today the international community is dealing with an extremely dangerous trend; the rapid spread of ideas of violent extremism leading to terrorism. Such an ideology exacerbates conflict in different parts of the world. It creates a fertile breeding ground for drawing new recruits into terrorist ranks, first and foremost young people. 
The problem of violent extremism has already been considered many times in the UN's forum. Two months ago, on consensus, a General Assembly resolution was adopted on a World Against Violence and Violent Extremism. The subject has also been reflected in decisions of the Secretary Council because it is closely connected to the threats of incitement to terrorism and also foreign terrorist fighters. 
We are convinced that state should play the main and defining role in combating violent extremism, and accordingly in any international cooperation on this issue. Therefore, we note the connection in the plan to the principle of national responsibility. We assume that this should be more deeply emphasized. It is critical that the fight against violent extremism is built on the firm basis of international law, first and foremost the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereignty and equality of states. 
The plan, in essence, talks about the need to observe international law and the Charter in the use of force. We share the opinion stated in it on the interplay between countering violent extremism and settling conflicts. An important part of the work to counter violent extremism and terrorism and to prevent them and to fight them are the measures undertaken by law enforcement agencies. This direction, we believe, would be one that could be sensibly emphasized yet further. 
Of course, law enforcement is not the only way that states can fight violent extremism. As is fairly noted in the plan, working with young people in particular in educational establishments and the creation of conditions to involve them in social and economic life of society, including religious communities and leaders who can tell the difference between radicalism and true religion, and adequate provision of information by the media, all of these help to create the atmosphere to reject violence and extremism. 
There's one more objective: not allowing the use of the Internet and social networks for the proliferation of extremist content by terrorists. Utilization of civil society's potential is an important element in working to combat violent extremism. We think that this potential should be included when considering the specifics and traditions of states, without eroding their leading role in counter-terrorism. The role of civil society is something we see first and foremost in helping with the efforts of countries on the ground in working with vulnerable groups in the population. 
On the whole, in this very sensitive area of fighting violent extremism, we cannot use or impose any kind of one-size-fits-all approach, methods, or classifications. We must avoid a situation where international efforts and initiatives here are perceived as some kind of intrusive mechanism. 
President, the successful policy of fighting violent extremism can be helped by a correct understanding of the scope of this phenomenon and its reasons. The concept of violent extremism should have a close connection to terrorism, and with the well-established international laws and practices with regard to terrorist terminology. 
An important connection with the Security Council resolution is seen here, including the Resolution 2178 as mentioned in the plan. The UN's contribution to global efforts to fight this phenomenon should be as part of a context of helping to fulfill basic counter-terrorist decisions, first and foremost the decision of the Security Council and also the UN's Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. 
With regard to the reasons, then the analysis in the plan we think is incomplete. Events in Iraq and in Libya have shown clearly that the foreign intervention can lead to the destruction of state institutions and can leave behind complete chaos. It has created an ideal foundation for the growth of violent extremism and radicalization, which in turn has led to the proliferation of terrorism in the region and the appearance and consolidation of ISIL. These are, in principle, obvious circumstances and important ones, but which unfortunately haven't been reflected in the report. 
President, one of the key elements in the document is the call for the development of national plans to counter violent extremism. With that in mind, I'd like to inform you that the Russian Federation has taken consistent steps in the interest of effective protection of the state and citizens from the threat of extremism and terrorism. In November 2014, we launched a comprehensive strategy for countering extremism in the Russian Federation until 2025. We've approved regional plans and measures to implement it. We are ready for dialog with interested states and international organizations to share the experience we've gained. 
In conclusion, I'd like to express the hope that the forthcoming discussion of the plan and its recommendations, as part of the review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, will help us to find yet more effective and balanced answers to the threat of violent extremism. 
I thank you. 
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: I thank the Distinguished Representative of the Russian Federation and now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Egypt. 
EGYPT: Mr. President, at the outset I would like to extend our thanks to the President of the GA for organizing this important meeting on the Secretary-General to Prevent Violent Extremism, and I would like to thank the SG for preparing this plan. The violent terrorism leading to terrorism is one of the most dangerous challenges facing our world today with no exception. 
Egypt, for some time, realized that danger and proceeded by taking specific concrete actions including, inter alia, applying the calls of the Egyptian President since January 2015, renewing ideas, concepts, and rigorous address to eliminate sectarian and factional polarization as well as dogmatism and extremism.
Scholars of Al-Azhar and [Dua Kfah 1:22:48] have undertaken specific basic role. President Sisi, in the course of the high level sector of the 70th session, presented the initiative Hope and Action to spare youth falling into the trap of extremism and to make use of their potentials and energies. All the world, Muslims and non-Muslims must be convinced that violent extremism leading to terrorism is not connected with any specific culture or people. It exists in all states.
Our action to stave it off should be universal. It should not be confined to the Arab region or the Islamic states. All reasons leading to violent extremism must be taken into consideration, as well as national ownership and international law, specific practical law with necessary funding must be taken. In light of the aforementioned, I would like to focus on the following observations on the plan of action of the Secretary-General. 
One, the action plan focuses on the national and regional dimensions more than the international dimension. It pays more attention to some reasons inside states, which lead to violent extremism giving rise to terrorism. Despite the fact that the plan refers to long-winded conflicts that have not yet been settled as one of the reasons of violent extremism, the greater focus is on reasons such as non-good governance and violations of human rights, the rule of law marginalization, and discrimination. 
Among the signals for the above-mentioned statement is the fact that the plan does not clearly refer to the continued foreign occupation as one of the reasons behind violent extremism, let alone the indirect and weak allusion, Paras 33 and 35. 
Additionally, the plan has not contained a reference to all the reasons inside the states leading to violent extremism, which in turn gives rise to terrorism such as Islamophobia and other reasons. 
It is understood of this that what is meant is that the plan targets specific group of states, and this is categorically rejected. This is particularly so since we see the coming of foreign terrorist fighters from European states to Syria and other states. 
Let us be candid. If there is a serious desire to take action, the international community must realize that Israel's continued occupation of Palestine is one of the main reasons behind the proliferation of violent extremism leading to terrorism in addition to internal interference in the internal affairs of states, offending Islam and the Prophet (peace be upon him) on the pretext of freedom of expression, treating Muslim citizens as citizens of second class in some other states. 
In addition to what is mentioned, the plan of action gives the impression that there is focus on the future dimension, including avoiding conflicts without containing anything that stresses the need to settle current conflicts and ending occupation. The plan has not contained any reference to the need to implement Security Council resolutions, in respect for international law, the provisions and decisions of the ICJ. With regard to the necessary resources for implementation in Paragraph 46, the plan refers to the need to use available funding more effectively. 
Paragraph L58 refers to the proposal of the Secretary-General to establish a resilience project designed to prevent violent extremism. It is clear from the contents of the plan that the trend is to—for the adoption is in implementing projects to prevent violent extremism is to depend on current resources as well as voluntary contributions. This means deducting part of the funding set aside for combating terrorism and financing projects to prevent violent extremism, which is proposed for the UN Center to combat terrorism in the coming five years. This will adversely affect the efforts to combat terrorism. 
Hence, it is important to look into speedily establishing the proposed fund by the Secretary-General and for all states to agree to its reference points as well as to look into the best means to fund the Resilience Fund without adversely affecting the efforts to combat terrorism to implement the UN counter-terrorism strategy. Most recommendations presented by the Secretary-General rely on—and their applications on the regional and national levels, be that theoretical and primordial is some cases and some states adopt them. 
The main problem behind non-application of that is the shortage or absence of requisite funding. The plan has not mentioned the manner to overcome that and to provide necessary funding. Paragraph 58 states that preventing violent extremism will be treated as one of the priorities as part of the programs implemented by UN entities in cooperation with the member states, including incorporating the activities of the UN peacekeeping operations by mention that relates to preventing violent extremism, Paragraph 58B. The plan did not refer to the impact of this on the TCCs. 
In conclusion, I would like to state that the goal is not to adopt or reject the plan, rather to try on the ground to prevent violent extremism leading to terrorism. This requires convincing everybody to abide by the plan of action. Arriving at that will only be affected by taking into consideration the views and proposals of states to arrive at a consensus guaranteeing the universality of implementation accordance with international law and the principle of national ownership. 
Therefore, we are of the view that reviewing the UN comprehensive counter-terrorism is optimal opportunity to take all these views into consideration without adversely affecting the measures contained in the strategy. Otherwise, the alternative will be an unacceptable and incomplete plan of action by everybody and this will preclude its implementation.
Thank you, Mr. President, and I regret that I took long time.
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:  Egypt. I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Jordan.
JORDAN: Mr. President, at the outset permit me to extend my thanks to you for holding this open meeting today on the Secretary-General Plan to Prevent Violent Extremism. We welcome the adoption of the presidential resolution today, and we support it. We welcome the efforts of the Secretary-General and the UN Secretariat that led to formulating the Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism in light of a flexible and practical approach which emphasizes the important role of the UN to combat this abominable phenomenon, impact of which are not confined to the maintenance of international peace and security but other walks of life. 
We are of the view that this plan of action is practical and prudent and will help face—muster military and security efforts to confront terrorism. This is an important guideline for all states to elaborate their national plans and amend them in accordance with the requisites of national interests as well as the priorities of states corresponding with the national factors leading to violent extremism. 
Combating that extremism requires an inclusive approach by national institutions and interaction. This requires balanced tracks covering sociopolitical and political and educational stages and forms. We must focus on all the motives and factors attacking and leading to violent extremism. 
Jordan, with the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, has launched numerous international initiatives to foster the values of tolerance, coexistence, and dialog including the message of Amman, the initiative of an even word and the World Harmony Week. Jordan has expressed its conviction of focusing on the youngsters to combat terrorism and extremism. My country have taken the initiative in the Security Council, and for the first time held an open meeting on the role of the youth in combating violent extremism and fostering peace last April. It also tried to present a draft resolution adopting—on youth, peace, and security adopted last year. 
I would like to refer to the following points regarding the plan under discussion. Combating violent extremism is the purview of all states, of each state, and each state applies the plan according to its national priorities. Paying due attention to economical sustainable development is important in combating terrorism. The success of our efforts requires initiating inclusive approaches that keeps away from sectarian conflicts and close the gaps.
I would like to state that the continued Israeli-Palestinian conflicts and the failure to achieve just and permanent solution that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people will lead to more violence and hatred. There is a need also to arrive at a political solution to the Syrian crisis to prevent terrorism and extremism. There is a need not to link extremism with any faction or region or religion. Linking that with Islam will be only in the interest of the maverick terrorists. We should look into the main reasons to fund the plan. 
With regard the role of the United Nations as a natural partner in assisting states to apply their national plans, there is a need to establish machineries to monitor the security that the United Nations organs extending assistance. 
Jordan is looking forward to discussing the plan in detail in the forthcoming forum in Geneva as well as in the periodic review. 
Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:  I thank the Distinguished Representative of Jordan and now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Sudan. 
SUDAN: In the name of God, the compassionate and merciful. Mr. President. The Sudan aligns itself with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the members of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. We would like to deliver the following statement in our national capacity.
Mr. President, my country commends the efforts made by the President of the General Assembly and his office to hold broad informal consultations with groups and countries which led to consensus of the elements of the procedural draft resolution adopted today. This resolution takes note of the plan of action submitted by the Secretary-General and welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General to submit this action plan. The resolution also stressed the importance of extensive thematic deliberations to consider the plan of action during the consultations on the periodic review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy next June, and in other relevant forums including the conference convened by the government of Switzerland in cooperation with the UN which will be held in Geneva next April.
Mr. President, the Sudan has taken part in the informal consultations that preceded the consensus on the draft resolution in a constructive manner. We have been committed to reaching this consensus on the draft resolution related to a plan of action that addresses an alarming phenomenon that spares no one, namely violent extremism. 
My delegation would like to make the following observations regarding the action plan in order to contribute to the dialog on this plan which will take place over the next months and days. The plan of action stresses that the phenomenon of violent extremism lacks a clear and agreed definition. It cannot be linked to any religion, region, nationality, civilization, or group. This has been clearly and explicitly stated in the preamble of the draft resolution adopted by the General Assembly today. This is an essential point that we have reiterated in order to avoid any stereotyping when talking about terrorism and violent extremism.
It is not enough to refer to this point in the introduction of the plan of action. The plan of action should be consistent with this essential point, especially with regards to the conditions conducive to violent extremism. We should also avoid any potential contradiction between the notions of combating terrorism and violent extremism, and avoid any overlapping or misunderstanding.
The comprehensive approach to the phenomenon of violent extremism is one of the most important tools to combat this phenomenon. It is not useful to focus on the results of this phenomenon. It is also important to address its root causes and its main incubators through a comprehensive and balanced approach that does not only focus on the security and military aspects. It should also take into consideration all cultural and social aspects of this phenomenon. In this regard, my country stresses that the General Assembly is poised to deal with this phenomenon in all its aspects and dimensions.
Two, the plan of action was not balanced when addressing the conditions conducive to violent extremism. It focused extensively on the national aspect through an approach that is not comprehensive, that focused mainly on the issue of human rights without addressing any other dimension. 
The plan also failed to refer extensively to conditions conducive to violent extremism at the international level, especially regarding the denial of the rights of people under the yoke of occupation to self-determination. We cannot talk about violent extremism without mentioning foreign occupation, which is the main incubator of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as well as of violent extremism conducive to terrorism.
Three, it might be useful to take note of the experiences of limiting or preventing this phenomenon in countries that neighbor other countries that might be suffering from this phenomenon. In this regard, we note the initiatives of the Sudanese government to strengthen the culture of dialog and moderation in order to combat bigotry. The government has also created certain institutions to address this matter.
Four, the plan of action has addressed the conditions conducive to violent extremism in a certain country. The plan has made reference to a number of internal challenges that are important and essential. However, at the same time the plan failed to refer to any external elements, especially interference and the internal affairs of states, in a manner that runs counter to the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law in order to serve certain political interests. This would threaten the stability, unity, and territorial integrity of those affected states. This practice would also disrupt the welfare and development of their nations. Unilateral sanctions are one of the aspects that threaten international peace and security, and lead to international tensions.
Five, the plan of action addresses and important issue that requires concerted international efforts to combat this phenomenon and counter it. The plan of action should not refer to any elements that do not enjoy consensus and that might lead to disagreement and might distract member states from their main task. 
Therefore, my delegation expresses its concern over the two references in Paragraph 50B regarding the International Criminal Court. The international community should support the efforts of accountability in cases where national measures cannot address grave violations in manners including referral to the Security Council or rather the referral by the Security Council of these cases to the International Criminal Court or to an ad hoc tribunal. 
You are well aware of the relation, of the politicized relation between the Security Council and the International Criminal Court. The Sudan believes that these paragraphs—that due to these paragraphs the plan of action would led to political disagreement and would run counter to our aim for international concerted efforts to combat the phenomenon of violent extremism. This also applies to Paragraph 58B which calls for integrating the prevention of violent extremism into the mandates of special political missions and peacekeeping operations as well as in the activities of the UN country teams. 
This reference gives rise to a number of questions and concerns. It is not wise that the plan of action includes such references that run counter to international consensus to combat violent extremism and terrorism is all their forms and manifestations.
Mr. President, the resolution adopted by the General Assembly today stresses that the international community stands united to combat violent extremism. It also stresses the importance of continued constructive dialog, objective dialog, to address the shortcomings of the action plan and to build on the positive elements in this plan.
My country would like to reiterate its readiness to engage constructively and positively in the deliberations on the plan of action in different forums. We look forward to a world of peace, security, and stability as well as respect for the Charter and international law and none interference in the internal affairs of states through a political and economic international order characterized by justice, transparency, and impartiality, a system that seeks to achieve prosperity and development for all the nations of the world. 
Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: I thank the Distinguished Representative of the Sudan and now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Morocco.
	MOROCCO: President, may I begin by thanking you for convening this debate on the Secretary-General’s Action Plan to Prevent Violent Extremism. The Kingdom of Morocco believes that the prevention of violent extremism which leads to terrorism should be among the United Nations’ priorities in facing the global threat of terrorism. This threat has become global in scale and no state or society is spared.
	Morocco has not hesitated in supporting the Secretary-General’s Action Plan to Prevent Violent Extremism. Several factors have come together to feed violent extremism that leads to terrorism, particularly the consequences of the economic and financial crisis, which has led to unemployment of our young people; wars, which mean that millions of people are forced to move or become refugees; lack of good governance; deficit in democracy; lack of justice and rule of law; and xenophobic and islamophobic provocation. All of this requires member states to work together within the United Nations.
	The United Nations has a duty to help members to develop their action plans to prevent violent extremism while still enjoying their full sovereignty. Therefore, there’s an importance in stressing education and technical cooperation with member states in encouraging the South-South and Triangular Cooperation. With this in mind, we are pleased to see the cooperation programs drawn up through the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center.
	President, the prevention of violent extremism in all of its manifestations, in particular that leading to terrorism, is part of the Moroccan national strategy to combat terrorism. This strategy is based around security and consolidation of anti-terrorist laws, development of human 20:30 potential, religious reform, and de-radicalization. It also comes together with the national plan of action to prevent violent extremism. Religious reform has concerned, among other things, the training of young imams and preachers in the values and precepts of authentic Islam. In March 2015, His Majesty the King opened the Institute Mohammed VI for the Training of Imams and Morchidates, which is open to all of the countries of the world. There’s also been the launching of a de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and integration program for foreign terrorist fighters.
	Morocco is faithful to its will to share and exchange expertise with other African countries and has, therefore, begun religious cooperation with a number of African and European countries who have reached cooperation agreements with Morocco on the training of imams and other religious officials in this Institute of Mohammed VI. The Kingdom of Morocco spares no effort in bringing religious leaders of all confessions to debate the means that may mitigate the exploitation of religion for violent extremism which leads to terrorism.
	Thus, in Fez in April 2015, Morocco organized the first forum on the role of religious leaders in preventing incitement to hatred, which was approved by the adoption of the Fez Declaration, and that highlighted the relevance and the importance of inter-religious, inter-confessional cooperation in fighting all forms of discrimination, xenophobia, and incitement to hatred.
	Furthermore, very recently, from the 25th to the 28th of January, under the patronage of His Majesty Mohammed VI, Morocco organized a conference in Marrakesh on the protection of religious minorities in Muslim societies. In his opening speech for the conference, His Majesty underlined the importance of cooperation between representatives of all religions when it came to facing discrimination and intolerance. The conference was crowned with the Marrakesh Declaration, which called, among other things, for reviewing the religious curricula to highlight the virtues of cohabitation and tolerance and also co-existence between all different religions. This is the only way to counteract the hate speech coming from Daesh, Al-Qaida, and their associates.
	President, the Kingdom of Morocco has, from the outset, supported the adoption of a short and procedural resolution, including the initiative of the Secretary-General, and taking at least note of the plan of action. The draft resolution circulated on the 8th by the President of the General Assembly followed consultations with the member states, and it represents an opportunity for moving ahead and bringing together all positions to adopt it this morning on consensus.
	The fifth review meeting for the Anti-Terrorist Strategy, stipulated for next June, as well as the relevant fora, will offer us an opportunity—an appropriate opportunity—to examine other issues. The recommendations from the Secretary-General are relevant; in particular, on the question of young people, the fight against violent extremism, and the role of the media and the Internet, as well as in other sectors.
	Prevention of violent extremism is integrated in—or its integration into peace-keeping operations and special political missions may, however, make the specific mandate of these operations and missions more difficult. That said, the plan of action represents an important basis for fighting violent extremism, but above all for creating a space of consensus between all of the world’s countries in order to face this global phenomenon. Violent terrorism and violent extremism do not allow us to stay apart. We must come together, and the coming together of all forces and all intentions, and the demonstration of tolerance and acceptance is something that we have to do together – the whole of the international community, through the United Nations, which must lead us in this area.
	In conclusion, Chairman, Morocco is pleased to see the added value of the action plan, both to the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in implementing the parts of it that—and also with regard to the Security Council resolutions on the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, in particular Resolution 2178, which is connected to—or which links violent extremism to terrorism.
	I thank you, President.
	PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: I thank the Permanent Representative of Morocco for his statement and now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Kazakhstan.
	KAZAKHSTAN: Mr. President, the delegation of Kazakhstan would like to thank the United Nations Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Team, and other United Nation entities directly involved in establishing preventive mechanisms within the global approach of the United Nations to fight violent extremism which is conducive to terrorism.
	Kazakhstan welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General to address the phenomenon of violent extremism and his efforts in this direction. 
	Mr. President, we are all aware of the impact of terrorist groups operating in different parts of the world. It is thus necessary to mobilize regional structures, like the Shanghai Corporation Organization, Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, CSTO, League of Arab States, African Union, European Union, OIC, to maintain security in this vast area. Close coordination with Interpol is an absolute necessity. In addition, governments must come forward to share intelligence about terrorist groups, their movements, and funding sources for more sanctioned action. 
	At the same time, support and technical assistance, training, resources, and equipment need to be provided to weaker states to fight violence and extremism across their territories and at their borders. 
	Given the situation of violent extremism, my delegation would like to mention the proposal of President of Kazakhstan, His Excellency Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, to establish a United Nations-led counter-terrorism coalition with a unified mechanism to defeat the scourge and bring perpetrators and their supporters to justice. Such an entity will bring together and strengthen all the existing United Nation structures in a well-coordinated global effort.
	In our view, the current United Nation mechanisms, including the United Nation Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, should be made legally binding through relevant Security Council resolutions. Thus, the speedy adoption of a comprehensive document on the issue of international terrorism is most critical. We call on all delegations to support this bold and forward-looking approach, as well as to develop further the recommendation of the Secretary-General to prevent violent extremism as reflected in his plan of action. Kazakhstan believes that this strategy of the Secretary-General should represent an algorithm of coordinated actions of the international community to prevent the emergence and escalation of violent extremism. 
	We commend and support the plan of action as a whole and the resolution proposed for its adoption. We urge that no action should be taken which could lead to the destruction of foundations of statehood that facilitate the emergence and growth of extremist sentiments in society. Peace and security are interrelated. It is obvious that the world has not done enough to invest in sustainable development; therefore, Kazakhstan has proposed that member states allot 1% of their national defense expenditure to the United Nation fund for the SDGs.
	Kazakhstan hosted the regional conference on countering violent extremism on 29-30 June, 2015 as a follow-up to the summit on this theme held earlier in Washington. My country will convene this May a high-level forum entitled Religions for Peace, under the patronage of the President of the General Assembly. The forum aims to demonstrate how religious unity can be harnessed to combat the destructive nature of terrorism and violent extremism. Kazakhstan stands ready to join the multilateral action of the United Nation system and the member states aiming towards a peaceful and secure world.
	I thank you, Mr. President.
	PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: I thank the Distinguished Representative of Kazakhstan. We have heard the last speaker on these items for this meeting. We shall hear the remaining speakers at 3:00 p.m. sharp in this hall. The meeting is adjourned.