SPEECH BY JOSCHKA FISCHER
GERMAN FEDERAL FOREIGN MINISTER

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

United Nations Security Council
New York

January 20, 2003

Mr President, I would like to congratulate the French Council Presidency on initiating today's meeting. I would also like to thank the Secretary General and Ambassador Greenstock for their reports. The issue we are dealing with today is a top international priority, since the Sword of Damocles of international terrorism is hanging over all of us. Terrorism kills innocent people and is a crime. It threatens peace and security, it threatens democracy, development and freedom, it scorns national and international law and brutally attacks human rights. This is the message the horrific terrorist attack of 11 September 2001 sent to us all. What is more, the attacks on Djerba and Bali, and in Moscow and Mombasa, have made it clear to us that this threat remains unchanged.

No country is willing to live with this threat. We must therefore join forces to counter this brutal challenge with determination and prudence. The threat to our citizens has gained a new dimension. It is not possible to negotiate with terrorists such as Osama bin Laden and his network. They must be defeated. The terrorist network must be destroyed. At the same time, however, we must use political, humanitarian and economic means to root out for good the possible causes which lead people to support terrorism.

I would first of all like to briefly outline three fundamental considerations:

Firstly, the international terrorism of someone like Osama bin Laden poses a strategic threat to peace and the international order. This terrorism is aimed at forcing us to react rashly and to entangle us in a war among civilizations. That must not be our response. We must react in a way that weakens terrorism. There are no easy answers to this. The fight against international terrorism must take place at various levels. Intelligence, police, judicial, in extreme cases even military measures are indispensable. However, crisis prevention, conflict management, participation, poverty reduction, the promotion of education and a dialogue among civilizations are equally important. It is crucial to prevent acts of terrorism. But it is even better to prevent people from becoming terrorists.

Secondly, we can only win this fight through intensive international cooperation. Terrorism does not stop at borders. The impressive international coalition against terrorism which evolved following the attacks in New York and Washington must be preserved. Allow me, Mr President, to comment here on the current situation: we are greatly concerned that a military strike against the regime in Baghdad would involve considerable and unpredictable risks for the global fight against terrorism. We have no illusions about the brutal nature of Saddam Hussein's regime. Therefore, we all demand that Baghdad implement the relevant UN Resolutions in full and without any exceptions. However, in addition to disastrous consequences for long-term regional stability, we also fear possible negative repercussions for the joint fight against terrorism. These are fundamental reasons for our rejection of military action. What we need is a system of global cooperative security. Asymmetrical conflicts in particular must be countered with an international system of sanctions and verification mechanisms. And it is the United Nations which provides us with the appropriate global framework for this.

Thirdly, our fight must always be legitimized under international law. It must respect national and international law, human rights and the UN Charter. Human rights in particular should not be suspended under the pretext of combating terrorism. After all, this fight is not only about defending our security, but also about our fundamental values, namely freedom, democracy and human rights.

Mr President, The United Nations reacted quickly and resolutely to the events of 11 September 2001. Allow me to single out the Security Council's Counter Terrorism Committee here. It has done impressive work and its Chairman deserves our recognition. In this connection, my country is prepared to assist third states in developing suitable measures to combat terrorism and to coordinate this assistance with the Committee.

We also attach great importance to the General Assembly debates and convention projects on this issue. It would be desirable if the General Assembly could finally conclude its work on conventions on the comprehensive fight against terrorism and on nuclear terrorism.

Mr President, Germany will continue to participate actively and constructively in all efforts to fight and prevent international terrorism. This is one of our most important foreign and security-policy objectives. We are working towards this goal in very close cooperation with our international partners, particularly within the framework of the European Union.

As well as the prosecution of terrorists, we are particularly keen to tackle this danger at its roots. This includes devising possible solutions to simmering regional conflicts, as has been shown by the examples Afghanistan and the Middle East. It also includes the stabilization and development of countries stricken by crisis through useful assistance and cooperation.

Furthermore, we continue to pay particular attention to the risk of terrorists gaining access to weapons of mass destruction. However, this means that the international instruments of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation must not under any circumstances be weakened. Indeed, quite the reverse should be the case: they must be strengthened. Within the EU and G8 frameworks, we have launched various initiatives in this connection.

We also attach particular importance to the dialogue with other civilizations, particularly the Islamic world in this context.

Let me say once more: we cannot achieve these goals without the international coalition against terrorism. We must preserve and cultivate it – and it would be best if we do so within the framework of the United Nations. The momentum which today's meeting has created must be used. During the German Presidency of the Council, we plan to take up this issue once more in an open debate on 20 February.

Thank you.