STATEMENT BY DAVID LIANG, DELEGATE TO THE 72ND SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 109, ON MEASURES TO ELIMINATE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, SIXTH COMMITTEE, 3 OCTOBER 2017

1        Mr. Chairman, Singapore associates itself with the statement delivered by the Kingdom of Cambodia, on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report on this agenda item.

2        The scourge of terrorism remains a serious threat to global peace and security. Terrorism results in profound human suffering, disrupt the social fabric of states, and undermine the rule of law. All terrorist acts run contrary to principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and cannot be justified under any circumstances.  

Mr Chairman,

3        The face of terrorism is ever-changing. Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) from conflict zones, and the increase in attacks by self-radicalised “lone wolfs” present new and unique challenges to our security agencies. Dealing with the scourge of terrorism requires a coordinated and comprehensive strategy at both the national and international levels.

4        Domestically, each country would have to take strong and coordinated actions to stem the threat.  After all, the global fight against terrorism is only as strong as its weakest link.  Singapore is committed to doing our part.  Singapore has adopted a multi-pronged, comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.  On the security front, we have been training and equipping our security forces with new skills and tools to combat the ever-changing methods and tactics of terrorist groups, including their use of social media.  We have formed new emergency response teams to react quickly and decisively in the event of a terrorist incident, in a manner that aims to minimise causalities. 

5        We also recognise the importance of a strong community response as the first line of defence.  That is why the SGSecure movement was launched in September 2016 to sensitise, train and mobilise the community in the fight against terror. As a multi-racial and multi-religious society, Singapore places great emphasis on the principles of mutual-respect, tolerance, and moderation. To this end, we continue to work hand-in-hand with religious and inter-faith organisations to counteract the spread of extremist ideologies, including through de-radicalisation programmes to rehabilitate and counsel individuals indoctrinated by radical ideology.

6        On the international front, we need a strong, sustained, and coordinated global response in combating terrorism. Singapore remains committed to supporting the global effort against terrorism. We have taken part in the multinational coalition against terrorism through our involvement in “Operation Inherent Resolve”. Beyond this, we are party to 14 universal counter-terrorism agreements and are committed to implementing them. We are also committed to working with our friends and partners in the region on a coordinated approach towards fighting terrorism and violent extremism.  For instance, Singapore acceded to the 2007 ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism, and we have established close cooperation with our regional partners.

7        Singapore also remains committed to detecting and combatting money laundering and terrorism financing. We have worked closely with the member jurisdictions in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to identify best practices and introduced relevant domestic legislation. The FATF has recently assessed that Singapore has a strong legal and institutional framework in place to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, but we have not rested on our laurels. In April this year, we established the government-industry partnership called the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Industry Partnership (ACIP) to further strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in this crucial aspect. In August, we also conducted a Terrorist Financing Investigation & Prosecution workshop with the assistance of US authorities.

Mr Chairman,

8        My delegation is of the view that the UN has an important role to play in coordinating a global response to terrorism. While each country must do its part to combat terrorism taking into account its local context and national legal framework, a concerted and coordinated approach is necessary to ensure that there are no gaps in our efforts. 

9        Our delegation supports the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which enters into its eleventh year in 2017.  We welcome the establishment of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and the appointment of Mr. Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov as the Under-Secretary-General of the Office.  Last year, the General Assembly recommended that the Sixth Committee, at the seventy-second session of the General Assembly, establish a working group with a view to finalizing the process on the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) as well as discussions concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the UN.  We note that the Working Group has had its challenges in making progress regarding the draft Convention for some time. At a time when terrorism has become a pressing issue for all countries from all regions, it is not tenable to continue with a business-as-usual approach.  We call on all parties to redouble their efforts in order to find a breakthrough in these discussions. 

10      Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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