By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- Calling a visit to the site of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center "moving," the president of the Security Council said November 28 that the experience reinforced the council's commitment to fight terrorism.

Security Council President Ambassador M. Patricia Durrant of Jamaica talked with journalists after the 15 council members visited the site, often referred to as "ground zero." More than two months after two hijacked commercial airliners crashed into the Twin Towers, collapsing them and killing thousands of civilians, workers at the site continue to remove debris, search for bodies, and put out fires that continue to burn.

The ambassadors were invited to visit the site by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

"It was a very moving experience for those of us who had not previously been and for those who had also been before," Durrant said. "Clearly we came away with a very strong impression of the fact that these persons who were involved in these heinous acts were able to make, in such a short time, such an impression on so many lives not only of the people here in New York but across the world."

"It certainly reinforced the commitment of the Security Council to carry out the resolutions which we have adopted in regard to international terrorism," the Security Council president said.

"We reiterated the sympathy of the members of the council with the victims both here in New York and the families across the world that have been so terribly affected by the events of September 11," she said.

Members of the Security Council currently include the five permanent members -- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States -- along with ten non-permanent members -- Bangladesh, Colombia, Ireland, Jamaica, Mali, Mauritius, Norway, Singapore, Tunisia, and Ukraine.

The day after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1368 calling on all states to work together urgently to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the attack and to hold accountable those responsible for aiding, supporting or harboring the terrorists as well.

On September 28 the council unanimously passed resolution 1373 that specifically addresses the financing and support of international terrorism. That resolution calls on all nations to freeze the funds and financial assets of terrorists; to refrain from providing any form of support whether active or passive to terrorists; and to enhance cooperation among law enforcement agencies. The council also established a "counter-terrorism committee" chaired by British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock to monitor compliance with the resolution.

On November 12 a ministerial-level council session adopted another resolution calling on all nations to intensify their anti-terrorism efforts.