Mr. Chairman, 

 

Thank you for giving me the floor. On behalf of my delegation I would like to thank the Madam ASG Controller and the Chair of theAdvisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for presenting the reports on 'Revised Estimates Relating to the Office of Counter-Terrorism'under agenda item Proposed Programme Budget for the Biennium 2018-2019, by the Secretary General and the ACABQ respectively.  

 

2. We appreciatethat on the basis of the report of the Secretary General contained in A/72/117, the ACABQ has recommended appropriation of an additional amount to the tune of total US$1,097,700 (net of staff assessment) from the programme budget for the biennium 2018-19 for the Office of Counter-Terrorism created in June 2017. 

 

3. The additional appropriation is crucial for funding the post of Under Secretary General heading the newly created Office and an additional post at P-3 level. We hope that there would consensus among the Member States to approve this proposal.  

 

4. With this proposed additional appropriation, the total allocation from the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2018-19 would be US$ 3,076,400of which the non-post component would be US$ 237,500. It is also noted that during the biennium 2018-19, estimated extra-budgetary resources amounting to US$ 35.6 million including 35 posts, would be utilized to support activities carried by the Office.  

 

Mr. Chairman, 

 

5. Today when terrorist networks are increasingly using platforms such as social media and cyber space to create trans-national network, we cannot create artificial barriers through political boundaries or bureaucracy in our efforts to tackle this menace. There was never a stronger rationale for 'a whole of UN' action on terrorism, increased coordination and more cooperation amongst all stakeholders,than today. 

 

6. The creation of the Office of Counter-Terrorism is a much awaited first step in our efforts to enhance coordination of the UN's CT efforts and to align our collective actions with the changed global reality. The office must possess certain convening power to engage member states at a higher political level and to cooperate with other international organizations dealing with counter-terrorism for fulfilling its mandate effectively. Creation of the post of the Under Secretary General heading the Office of Counter-Terrorism is an important step to achieve this goal. 

 

7. We welcome additional appropriation of resources and reallocation of existing budgetary and extra-budgetary resources from the Department of Political Affairs for the Office of Counter-Terrorism.However, availability of resources from regular budget dedicated for substantive actions to implement the ambitious mandate of the new entity remains disproportionately low. Much of the activities to be undertaken by the new Office in line with the four pillars of the Global Counter-terrorism Strategy would have to be funded from extra-budgetary resources.  

 

8. Terrorism is a scourge that no country in this world is immune from. The collective political will of all Member States needs to be translated into effective strategy for coordinated action by the UN system. This newly created entity, therefore, merits commensurate appropriation of resources particularly from the regular budgetfor substantive activities. This would go a long way to maintain continuity, objectivity, transparency and oversight by the Member States of this important agenda. 

  

9. Going ahead we would look forward to enhancement of allocation of predictable and non-earmarked financial resourcesfor this Office for effective implementation ofits mandate. 

 

Thank you Mr. Chairman.