Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the 72nd General Assembly Sixth Committee Session “Measures to eliminate international terrorism”

Mr. Chairman,

As far as this is the first time that Ukrainian delegation takes the floor under your Chairmanship, I would like to congratulate you on the assumption of this position and wish every success in your work.

Ukraine aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and would like to raise a few remarks in its national capacity.

Multilateral cooperation is vital to dealing with rampant threats, posed by international terrorism and violent extremism. It requires accord, resolute commitment and mobilized actions of the entire international community.

This is where the United Nations and its Security Council, which made the fight against terrorism a key priority, can play a crucial role in promoting respective international cooperation.

In this context, we once again welcome the implementation of the Secretary-General’s initiative to reform the UN CT architecture that led to the creation of the Office of Counter-Terrorism. This has to enhance coherence and leadership, mainstream CT efforts within the UN system and contribute to the balanced implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy as well as the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.

We encourage the OCT to work closely with the SC subsidiary bodies, in particular the CTC and its Executive Directorate, with the aim of identifying new trends, challenges and gaps in the CT field, monitoring states’ implementation of respective obligations, and facilitating the delivery of technical aid.

UN agencies and bodies can exert additional efforts in assisting states in tackling the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), curbing terrorists’ financing and weapons supply, promoting respect for human rights and the rule of law in CT activities, and enhancing international judicial cooperation, so that no terrorists can escape justice.

Addressing the root causes of terrorism spread, countering terrorist ideologies, especially with the use of ICTs, are other important topics, the UN should pay closer attention to. In this vein, I would like to commend the development of Counter-Narratives Framework by the Security Council as well as the recent initiative of the UK, France, and Italy together with major tech companies to launch the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.

Fighting against terrorism, implementing antiterrorist legislation in our view should be a day-by-day activity of any state.

For its part, Ukraine is actively contributing to the global and regional efforts aimed at stemming the FTFs’ flow, by countering their recruitment and transit in line with relevant SC resolutions. With the help of our international partners we exposed and localized the activity of four ISIL transnational logistics networks operating in Ukraine, which had been engaged in searching for, recruiting, training, financing and transporting fighters. Seventeen “transfer points” used for the temporary accommodation of FTFs had been dismantled, and over 60 members and supporters of ISIL, some of whom were on INTERPOL lists, had been detained.

As a member of the UN Security Council Ukraine made its own investment in the advancement of new CT standards by raising the issue of the protection of critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks. This resulted in the adoption of the resolution 2341.

Mr. Chairman,

Our common goal should be bringing to liability not only direct perpetrators of terrorist acts, but also organizers and mentors, whoever it is, especially if such activities are raised to a level of a state practice.

Just one example. Over past years, Ukraine has acquired bitter experience of countering terrorism in the east of the country that has been fueled by external support for terrorist groups and organizations.

The Russian Federation, using terrorism as one of the tools of its hybrid aggression against Ukraine, has violated most of fundamental CT obligations.

First, obligation to refrain from providing any form of support to terrorists — Russia failed to comply by creating puppet terrorist organizations of the DPR and LPR, allowing its nationals, left-wing political parties and even state organs to make funds, financial assets and services available for the benefit of terrorists. What would normally be qualified as a serious crime under the Russian legislation, prompting full-scale responses of Russian authorities, remains unnoticed by them;

Second, obligation to eliminate the supply of weapons to terrorists — blatantly failed by purposefully transferring arms, heavy weaponry and ammunition to the east of Ukraine through the uncontrolled sections of the Ukrainian-Russian state border. These military assets are delivered either openly, or under the guise of so-called “humanitarian convoys”. Current weapons’ stocks acquired by terrorists often surpass armaments of many states on the European continent;

Third, obligation to suppress recruitment of FTFs and their movement — flagrantly failed by facilitating the process of Russian and foreign citizens’ enrolment into terrorist ranks, their training in camps located in various regions of Russia, their unimpeded travel to Ukraine and return to Russia. It is evident that this country, possessing powerful law enforcement machine, deliberately makes no effort to stop the inflow of terrorist fighters into the occupied areas of Ukraine and encourages instead manpower recruitment and transfer into the territory of Ukraine through state-controlled channels;

Four, obligation to prohibit terrorist incitement — ostentatiously failed by launching a massive media campaign to whitewash the image of terrorists, who, together with the Russian military, continue to intimidate and kill local population in Donbas, and destroy what’s left of its infrastructure. In this light, Russia’s call for a SC document on the prevention of terrorists’ glorification sounds rather cynical.

Mr. Chairman,

A growing proliferation of states-sponsored terrorism throughout the world is detrimental for the global counter-terrorist efforts.

Though the practice of implementation of international counter-terrorism conventions as well as ILC and academic debates all come to the common point that it is hardly possible to hold state accountable for financing of terrorism, the international community should spare no effort in advancing this just cause.

Ukraine has already pioneered the way for it under the Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. After 2 years of exhausting, but unfruitful consultations, half-year negotiations on the creation of arbitration body, Ukraine had to bring the case before the ICJ. In its order of April 19, 2017, the ICJ found that Ukraine’s case is plausible, thus a state can answer for its violation of the Convention.

One of our most important tasks on this track, Mr. Chairman, is also finalizing the process on the draft Comprehensive convention on international terrorism, which would supplement the existing international legal counter-terrorism framework.

The issue of bringing to account not only individuals and organizations but also those states responsible for organizing, financing, encouraging, providing training or otherwise directly or indirectly supporting terrorist activities should be duly reflected in the draft Convention.

I thank you.

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Remarks of the delegation of Ukraine in the exercise of the right of reply to the comments made by the delegation of the Russian Federation

(October 3, 2017, New York)

Mr. Chairman, distinguished colleagues,

I would like to remind you of the following.

What is happening right now in the east of Ukraine is a direct continuation of Russian aggression against my country, which stated in February 2014 with the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

This very General Assembly recognized this fact in its resolution 71/205.

Yet, it was not enough for Russia as it decided to further destabilize Ukraine by establishing and supporting terrorist organizations in Ukraine’s Donbas.

Russian citizens are at the helm of the terrorist organizations and within their ranks; they are armed with modern Russian weapons and financed both by Russian governmental and non-governmental entities.

Do we need any other pieces of evidence pointing to this country’s involvement?

For over 3 years, Ukraine has put into spotlight numerous facts of Russia’s support of terrorists in Ukraine. Respective communications are being circulated on a regular basis for the attention of UN member states. They are also included in our submission to the ICJ and we are ready to provide additional materials during the written phase of the Court’s proceedings.

Mr. Chairman,

In each and every document or statement in the General Assembly or in the Security Council we, states, stress that terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever, wherever or by whomsoever committed. We also pledge to bring to justice perpetrators and sponsors of these crimes.

Yet, Russia, an undeniable aggressor, keeps believing in impunity for its actions. Thus, I would like to remind the Russian Federation that the absence of provisional measures of the ICJ does not mean that Russia will not be held accountable for the violation of the Convention of Suppressing of Terrorism Financing.

We will use all peaceful means to protect our nation until Russia will return Crimea, withdraw from Donbas and pay in full for its aggression.

I thank you.