Americas

Americas

UN Security Council "gravely concerned" about ongoing terrorism threat

04 May 2012 23:02 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN Security Council voiced its concern in a presidential statement issued here Friday about the continued threat posed by terrorists and the risk that such groups could work with weapons of mass destruction, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The Security Council remains gravely concerned about the threat of terrorism and the risk that non-state actors may acquire, develop, traffic in or use weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery," said the statement.

The 15-member council released the statement at the close of an open meeting on Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts.

"The Security Council recognizes the urgent need for additional efforts to be made at the national, regional, and international levels, in order to prevent the illicit proliferation of all arms and related material of all types, including man-portable surface- to-air missiles, in some regions, and emphasizes that such proliferation could fuel terrorist activities," said the statement.

The presidential statement stressed the importance of international cooperation in order to combat terrorism and prevent such weapons from falling into terrorists’ hands.

The members of the council emphasized "the need for more enhanced cooperation and solidarity among member states, particularly through bilateral and multilateral arrangements and agreements to prevent and suppress terrorist attacks."

They reiterated their "call upon member states to strengthen cooperation at the international, regional, and sub-regional level, particularly through regional and sub-regional mechanisms and coordination and cooperation at the operational level."

The statement cited the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, pointing to the importance of its continued implementation "in an integrated manner and in all its aspects."

The strategy was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 as a common approach to combating terrorism that set out practical steps for member states individually and collectively.