Egypt was unanimously voted to lead the chairmanship of Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in the UN Security Council in January 2016.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a phone call from US Secretary of State John Kerry Friday evening to continue their consultations that started during the Climate Change Conference in Paris. They focused on developments of the situation in the region and discussed efforts to deal with the Syrian and Libyan crises.
The selection process resulted in Egypt being selected unanimously, without objection from any of the permanent member states, including the US, Russia, China, Britain, and France, nor from not permanent states.
Diplomatic sources said in press statements that the selection process is a new achievement for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after winning the non-permanent membership of the UN for the years 2016 -2017.
The sources confirmed that Egypt was chosen because of its wide expertise in the field of counter-terrorism. Amr Aboulatta, Egypt’s permanent delegate to the UN, will head the committee.
The Counter-Terrorism Committee was established in accordance with the Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) that was unanimously adopted on 28 September 2001 after the 11 September attacks took place in the US. It is considered one the most important committees in the UN to combat terrorism.
Some committee tasks include setting policies for counter-terrorism at an international level and overseeing implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.
The committee, including 15 members states, calls upon implementing a number of measures intended to enhance their legal and institutional ability to counter terrorist activities.
These include taking steps to criminalise the financing of terrorism, freeze without delay any funds related to people involved in acts of terrorism, 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.
Additionally, member states work to cooperate with other governments in the investigation, detection, arrest, extradition and prosecution of those involved in such acts, criminalise active and passive assistance for terrorism in domestic law, and bring violators to justice.
