“Global terrorism destroys global interests,” said John D. Negroponte, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations on Wednesday. Negroponte emphasized that the United Nations must postpone all other goals until “we make sure history records that we dismantled global terrorism in the early part of this century.”
When the United Nations convened late last September, the assembly’s agenda focused most on attacking the AIDS epidemic, Negroponte said. After the tragedy of Sept. 11, however, the members of the assembly unanimously agreed that the group’s new focus must center on the war on global terrorism, he said.
“If we do not succeed in defeating terrorism, we can not achieve human rights or democracy,” Negroponte said, “Global terrorism clearly is the new priority.”
In order to increase the average level of government control over terrorism worldwide, the U.N. General Assembly enacted resolution 1373 on Sept. 28, founding the new United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee, Negroponte said. In accordance with this resolution, each member country must submit a report containing the perceived level of ease with which terrorists could potentially finance their operations within each respective country.
“Terrorism can not function without money,” Negroponte said, quoting President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address.
By cutting off funds, Negroponte said, the United Nations can “move in to seize” the terrorism network itself.
“[Resolution 1373] is designed to turn every ministry … against terrorism’s finances and movement everywhere and anywhere in the world,” Negroponte said.
He also stressed the importance of rebuilding Afghanistan after the U.S.’ bombing campaign to oust the Taliban regime from power.
“We can’t leave Afghanistan in a lurch … We must restore the Afghan people to self-sufficiency and independence,” Negroponte said.
Negroponte said that the United States is the biggest donor of human aid to the Afghan people, contributing $187 million since Sept.11.
In addition to monetary aid and material supplies, Negroponte also said that the United Nations wanted to see long-term security take root in Afghanistan, including a new permanent government, the installation of a trained army and a working police force.
“We do not want to delegate [who the new government is], but we are gratified to see a new interim government,” Negroponte said.
The global war on terrorism, however, will be costly and long, according to Negroponte.
“We need to be patient. There won’t be any sudden catharsis,” he said.
Negroponte was, however, optimistic noting that many countries have shown their solidarity against terrorism both militarily and in the U.N. agenda.
“We do not stand alone in this war against terror … I am confident we will get it done.”
Negroponte’s speech was part of the 22nd Annual Oscar Iden Lecture series, sponsored by The School of Foreign Service and the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.
