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The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee, chaired by Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the UN, in response to the initiative of the Permanent Mission of France, held an open briefing on 10 February with participation of  French Minister of Justice Christiane Taubira  on “Importance of the rule of law in countering the current terrorist threat.”

“Terrorists thrive on lawlessness and impunity which means that to be effective in our fight against terrorism, we must also go after them with the full force of the law,” underlined the Permanent Representative of Lithuania in her opening statement.

According to the Lithuanian Ambassador, the recent deadly attacks in Paris reminded us once again that terrorists could strike at any place, at any time. “Their ideology of hate and death attracts recruits from around the world. As terrorist threats shift and change worldwide, we too must adjust and change, and act faster and more forcefully on all fronts and at all levels – nationally, regionally, and internationally. The entire UN Counter-Terrorism machinery must urgently shift into higher gear in order to tackle the threat of terrorism in a more synergetic, effective, coherent, and comprehensive manner,” said the Ambassador. The Ambassador added that UN resolutions oblige member states to choose the counter-terrorism measures that do not violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

Lithuania chairs the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee for the period 2014-2015.

The press release on the results of the open briefing: http://www.un.org/en/sc/ctc/news/2015-02-06_ctc_open_briefing.html 

The opening statement by CTC Chair, Ambassador R.Murmokaitė can be found here: http://www.un.org/en/sc/ctc/docs/2015/opening_remarks_CTC_Chair_10_February_2015.pdf

Photo: UN/Devra Berkowitz