Mr. President, In commending your leadership, I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report and Ambassador Rosenthal for his crucial part in forging an agreement on this valuable and balanced resolution. We support the text and hope that it will be fully implemented. My delegation aligns itself with the statements made by France on behalf of the European Union and by the EU coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove. Rather than repeating points already made, I would briefly refer to Italy’s experience and to the measures my country adopted to implement the UN Counterterrorism Global Strategy.
Mr. President, The scourge of terrorism took a deadly toll in Italy in the 1970s. To defeat it we learned that three things were necessary: a) a multi-disciplinary approach; b) specific legislative measures consistent with the rule of law and respect for human rights; and c) close international cooperation. These principles coincide with the core of the Global Counterterrorism Strategy. Over the first two years of this Strategy’s implementation, we have learned that better coordination is needed within the U.N. system. At the same time, the unstable nature of terrorism implies that both States and international organizations must constantly adapt their policies and actions. Only result-oriented policies can successfully implement the UN Counterterrorism Strategy. As a first step we support the institutionalization of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) and encourage the Secretariat to move in that direction.
Mr. President, My Government has undertaken several initiatives to tackle radicalization and extremism, especially among young people. In the context of a broader initiative, the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry for Youth and Sport set up a Youth Advisory Board for Religious and Cultural Dialogue in December 2006. Sixteen young men and women representing 11 different faiths and religious groups constitute a special committee aimed at fostering dialogue and tolerance. Seminars on youth radicalization have been organized with the participation – for example – of Mediterranean States, institutions and NGOs. In law enforcement, Italy has significantly intensified investigative operations and prevention in various areas, including financial activities connected to terrorism. Since 2001 Italy has had a “Financial Security Committee” (FSC): a coordinating body for all major agencies and financial institutions involved in the fight against terrorism. In this framework the Italian Government is also supporting bilateral and multilateral assistance.
Terrorism is a scourge of our age, a threat to our societies that rapidly adapts to new environments and exploits new technologies. This is why information technologies represent, and will continue to do so in the future, both an extremely important tool to confront terrorism and conversely an instrument that also benefits terrorists. To better address this threat, my country, like many other partners, is updating and implementing structures and strategies. Close monitoring of the Internet, countering the propaganda of hate, fostering respect for life, individual freedom and positive values: all these measures must be coupled with the closest attention to phenomena that encourage the recruitment of terrorists. International cooperation is of paramount importance. Consequently, we should be active in all forms of international judicial cooperation. With EU member States and other UN member States, Italy participates in activities that include joint investigations, intelligence exchanges, and judicial surrender in fulfillment of the EU Framework Decision on Arrest Warrant.
I also wish to underline the priority that should be given to assistance to the victims of terrorism. I would praise the very significant initiative taken by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to convene in the next few days a symposium focused on this issue with the support of a number of Countries as well as Italy.
Since 1990, the Italian Government has adopted laws and regulations with the aim to support the victims and their families. May 9th –anniversary of the assassination of Aldo Moro, the Italian Statesman killed by the Red Brigades – was proclaimed Day of Memory in honor of all the victims of terrorism, to underline that our society bear the clear responsibilities to help each victim fully in restoring his or her identity and well being; reminding everyone, especially the younger generations, that there is never a political or economic justification for violence and terror. Mr. President, Preventing and countering all forms of terrorism and radicalization should remain a short as well as a long term priorities for our Countries, while continuing to focus on the prompt implementation of all the relevant Security Council resolutions.
It is also a key issue to which the Italian Government will pay close attention during its Presidency of the G-8 in 2009. Thank you Mr. President.