CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Mr. President,

11 September made the threat of international terrorism dramatically clear. It has added a new dimension to the central role of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security.

The terrorist attacks on that day were directed against all of us. Our thoughts and sympathy go to the American people and the bereaved families and to friends from many parts of the world. The international community must stand united in condemning and combating terrorism. As we have stood united here in the Council and in the General Assembly.

We must maintain and strengthen the broad-based coalition against terrorism irrespective of race, religion or nationality. And the United Nations is the key to achieving this goal.

Mr. President,

Our immediate aim is to prevent further terrorist attacks and to bring the guilty to justice. Our actions are directed against a group of extremists who are exploiting a world religion for their own evil aims. They are committing their crimes under the pretext of fighting for a legitimate cause.

International terrorism is complex and diverse. We can only defeat it through a sustained and comprehensive approach. At the same time we must do our utmost to bring humanitarian assistance to those who are caught in between, those who have long suffered at the hands of the terrorists and their supporters. We must destroy the breeding grounds of terrorism. To do this, we must employ all the means at our disposal: political and legal, military and financial.

The United Nations must take the lead in drawing up a long-term, comprehensive strategy for combating international terrorism. The Secretary-General may find it useful to appoint a Special Representative to support the efforts to that end.

Mr. President,

Political leadership – our leadership – is urgently needed in the battle against international terrorism. We must explain to our people why there are no easy solutions. We must explain why easing the pain of the moment may endanger the long-term cure. We must explain that unless we follow through on our decisions and our actions, we will play into the hands of the terrorists.

We must also continue to demonstrate that we are fighting terrorism on our own terms, upholding the values, the rights and the freedoms that the terrorists so despise.

Mr. President,

The Security Council has acted swiftly and decisively in the face of the terrorist attacks.

Resolution 1368 made it clear that the attacks constituted a threat to international peace and security and recognized the right to self defence. The pursuit of terrorists and their backers in Afghanistan is being carried out in the exercise of that right. We fully support this.

Resolution 1373 is targeted at those who finance terrorism. In implementing the resolution we have already taken a number of concrete steps to eliminate potential financial resources for the terrorists. We are taking an active part in the work being done in the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee. We are considering how we can best support countries that may require assistance.

Mr. President,

Terrorism is a global threat to peace and security and must be combated as such.

That is why the Security Council must remain at the core of our response.

That is why this meeting is both important and timely.

That is why Norway will continue its active role in the Council’s work against international terrorism.

Thank you.