International Terrorism—UN Strategy

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has unveiled “a global counterterrorism strategy that places renewed emphasis on the victims of terror attacks.”^[1] In the strategy, Mr. Annan states that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, is unacceptable and can never be justified.”^[2] He builds on the “five Ds,” which he first outlined in Madrid last year, which are: dissuading people from resorting to terrorism or supporting it, denying terrorists the means to carry out an attack, deterring States from supporting terrorism, developing State capacity to defeat terrorism, and defending human rights.”^[3]

In the strategy, Mr. Annan states that “terrorism is unacceptable,” and that terrorist groups “use terrorist tactics because they think those tactics are effective, and that large numbers of people, or at least those in whose name they claim to act, will approve of them.”^[4] However, as we pointed out on April 19, the international community still lacks a universal definition of what constitutes terrorism. Acknowledging that shortcoming, Mr. Annan “call[s] on all Member States to become parties to … universal instruments related to the prevention and suppression international terrorism, which … emphasize that the international community does not tolerate terrorist activities and is prepared to fight them.”^[5] He also calls on Member States to conclude “a comprehensive convention on international terrorism.”^[6]

Concluding such a convention would “create a basis for a truly global response” to terrorism.^[7] He wants the strategy to be “living” and “regularly updated.”^[8] The United States would like the same thing. According to Michael P. Jackson, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, combating terrorism is “not a problem just for the United States, it’s not just a problem for any one country, it’s a long and sustained conflict, which we have to be disciplined to manage.”^[9] Mr. Jackson is in Vienna, attending meetings “with high-level representatives of the European Union, Russia and other countries.”^[10] Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales will be attending the meetings as well.^[11]

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[1] Peter Heinlein, UN’s Annan Unveils Counterterror Blueprint, Voice of America, May 2, 2006.
[2] Kofi Annan, Address On The Launch Of Uniting Against Terrorism: Recommendations For A Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, UN.org, May 2, 2006.
[3] Id.
[4] Kofi Annan, Uniting Against Terrorism: Recommendations for a Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy §. II(A), UN.org, May 2, 2006.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Id. § VII.
[8] Id.
[9] Veronika Oleksyn, International Cooperation Key to Terrorism Fight: Top U.S. Security Official, Associated Press, May 3, 2006.
[10] Id.
[11] Id.