United Nations counter-terrorism experts are to meet in Nairobi from Monday to examine ways that countries can better secure their borders against terrorists and potential terrorist acts as well as how the UN system can assist in this effort.
A statement from the UN Information Center said on Sunday that the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) will hold a three-day meeting with more than three dozens organizations to focus on issues hindering counter terrorism efforts in national boundaries.
The statement said the talks are expected to emphasize stronger national efforts, as well as bilateral and regional cooperation, to deny safe haven to terrorists, improve border and customs controls, enhance information sharing and exchange best practices.
"The CTC is intended to focus on such issues as hindering terrorist movement across national boundaries, bolstering the ability of countries to detect illicit arms shipments and preventing the abuse of the refugee and asylum system," the statement said.
The meeting, whose theme "Prevention of terrorist movement and effective border security," will be the committee's fifth joint one with international, regional and sub regional organizations.
Previous gatherings were held in 2003 in New York and Washington in 2004 in Vienna and in 2005 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Leading the discussions during the five thematic workshop-type sessions will be the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Customs Organization.
"The session on law enforcement will deal with its role in border security, the challenges faced in preventing terrorist movement at airports, seaports, and land border crossings, as well as new initiatives in protecting national boundaries," it said.
The statement said deliberations on aviation security are expected to center on new and emerging threats facing international civil aviation, and efforts to improve countries' abilities in this area.
Meanwhile, the UN said the maritime security session will highlight measures that have been developed to prevent and combat terrorism on the high seas and their connections with UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions relating to counter- terrorism, particularly resolution 1373 (2001) resolution 1540 ( 2004).
"Ensuring cargo security and the standards established to achieve this will be the focus of another meeting while a final session will be devoted to preserving the institution of asylum and refugee protection in the context of counter terrorism," it said.
The visit is part of CTC's attempt to establish direct contact with member states to assess how the obligations of Security Council resolution 1373 are implemented, as well as to evaluate the nature and level of assistance needed by countries to fulfill those requirements.
According to resolution 1373, countries are obliged to deny all forms of financial support for terrorist groups, suppress the provision of safe haven, sustenance or support for terrorists; share information with other governments on any groups practicing or planning terrorist acts; and cooperate with other governments in the investigation, detection, arrest and prosecution of those involved in such acts.
It also enjoins them to criminalize active and passive assistance for terrorism in domestic laws and bring violators of these laws to justice, and to become party as soon as possible to the relevant international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.
The 15-member CTC was established by the Security Council in the wake of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. to monitor implementation of resolution 1373 (2001).
Source: Xinhua
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