Following is the text of the ambassador's remarks:
June 27, 2002

Mr. President,

Nine months after the establishment of the Counter Terrorism Committee, the United States would once again like to thank Sir Jeremy Greenstock for his continued vigorous and committed leadership to the CTC. We would also like to thank the Vice Chairmen for their contribution as well as the Mission of the United Kingdom, which has a very dedicated team of professionals who are supporting the Committee's work

From the beginning, Sir Jeremy has insisted on serious and energetic implementation of Resolution 1373 and monitoring by the Counter Terrorism Committee. We believe he has been imaginative and effective both in building and maintaining consensus within the Committee and in informing Member States of the work and progress of the CTC.

As a result of these efforts the CTC members and experts, and the Secretariat, the CTC has largely completed its successful review of the initial reports and is now embarked on the second round of reviews.

With the second stage of the CTC's work now underway, we would like to reiterate the importance of all states abiding by their obligations under 1373, including submission of timely, responsive, and complete reports. Only in this way can we have a benchmark of the world's counter-terrorism capacity.

The review of the second round of reports will, to a large extent, determine the level of impact that the CTC will have in the fight against terrorism and whether it will be anything more than an ongoing world audit of the capacity of Member States to combat terrorism. The Committee must be prepared to be professionally critical and tough-minded, but also constructive. It needs, above all, to focus its attention on those States which lack the capacity and/or the will to implement 1373.

To this end, in its second set of responses to Member States, the Committee should identify the gaps in implementation: what each of these States needs to do to bring itself into compliance with Resolution 1373, and what should be each State's priorities. Where a particular State needs technical or other assistance with the implementation of 1373, we believe that the CTC should undertake efforts to ensure that such a State receives the assistance it needs.

We are pleased to see that the CTC informally agreed to such procedures earlier this month.

Regardless of how successful the CTC is in identifying the States that lack capacity to implement 1373, its ultimate success will in large part be determined by whether those States and organizations that have the resources to help are willing to do so. To this end, we urge Member States with the capacity to do so, to provide assistance to countries that seek help in full implementation of 1373. A substantial number of countries capable of providing assistance such as training have yet to list themselves in the CTC directory of assistance providers.

Perhaps some of the countries with expertise do not usually think of themselves as potential assistance providers. I have in mind sophisticated financial centers in particular. It would be desirable for such states to consider carefully their capacity to provide assistance such as technical training.

We are pleased to see that the CTC now has two experts to coordinate its efforts to mobilize States and organizations to provide assistance and to match those willing to help with those in need.

We also agree with the importance that Chairman Greenstock continues to place on the role regional and sub-regional and functional organizations can play in the fight against terrorism. These organizations are well placed to undertake collective efforts to implement 1373. They can also assist, and some have already begun assisting, the CTC in monitoring the efforts taken by countries in their respective regions to implement the Resolution. Thus, we welcome the Committee's intention to encourage these organizations to develop action plans to implement 1373 and to facilitate the sharing of principles and best practices, and expertise, within their region and areas of competence.

It is important to remember that Resolution 1373 and the Committee established to monitor it have no time limits; they will continue until the Security Council is satisfied with the implementation of the resolution. The high level of energy and determination that those involved with the Committee have shown to date will need to be maintained.

Before closing, I am pleased to report that yesterday the United States deposited with the United Nations the instruments of ratification of the Terrorist Conventions on Bombing and Financing. In so doing, the United States expressed its consent to be bound by these two treaties, the last remaining United Nations terrorism conventions to which it had not yet become a party.

One of the tangible results of the adoption of Resolution 1373 and the work of the Committee has been an increase in momentum among Member States towards ratification of all 12 United Nations terrorism conventions. We hope this momentum will continue and urge all States, which have yet to do so, to take the steps necessary to ratify these instruments.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.