10 February 2025
Thank you, Mr. President,
I would like to thank USG Mr Voronkov and CTED Executive Director Ms Gherman for their detailed briefings and insightful remarks.
Mr. President, allow me to make the following five key points:
First, we continue to be very concerned, even more due to reasons of geographical proximity, about radicalization in the broader Middle East. In this regard, religious and ethnic communities in the Middle East should be given particular attention, as they are among the main targets of terrorism. In particular, the situation in Syria remains of grave concern. The instability following the fall of the Syrian government on 8 December presents a security vacuum that could be exploited by Da’esh and other terrorist groups.
In this regard, urgent efforts are required to ensure that stockpiles of advanced weapons, including unmanned aerial systems (UAS), do not fall into the hands of terrorists. In parallel, humanitarian assistance must be provided, not only because of the dire humanitarian conditions -particularly in detention facilities and camps in the northeastbut also as a sine-qua-non for an effective counter-terrorism effort. The adoption of Resolution 2761 provides us with a complete institutional framework.
Despite the seismic changes in Syria, Greece reiterates its support for UNSC Resolution 2254 (2015). In this spirit, we reaffirm the need for a political roadmap, which will include constitutional reform, free and fair elections and inclusive governance. This is the only way towards the eradication not only of Da’esh, but of terrorism in general.
Second, we should not disregard terrorist acts at sea and their serious implications for maritime security. Disruption of supply chains, serious limitations to freedom of navigation, as well as the destabilization of entire maritime regions, are just a few of the consequences of terrorism at sea, which highlight our responsibility to combat this serious threat.
Third, the protection of cultural heritage must also remain a priority. Da’esh and its affiliates have systematically targeted historical and religious sites in an attempt not only to erase cultural identities and fuel ideological narratives, but also to fund their activities through the trafficking of looted cultural artifacts. We stress the importance of implementing measures to safeguard cultural property, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, including 2347 (2017), which condemns the destruction of heritage as a tactic of war and a means of financing terrorism.
Fourth, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda must be central to our counterterrorism response. In this regard, we welcome the clarification in resolution 2734 (2024) that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) constitutes a form of terrorism.
Fifth and last, children remain among the most vulnerable victims of terrorism, facing the risk of recruitment, radicalization, and exploitation. In accordance with Security Council resolution 2427 (2018), children affected by armed conflict must be treated primarily as victims, with dedicated efforts to provide rehabilitation, ducation, and reintegration programs.
Mr. President,
In concluding, Greece reiterates its full support of UN counter-terrorism efforts and is committed to upholding the principles enshrined in the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The reality we face necessitates a comprehensive and coordinated international response that integrates security measures with initiatives that address the root causes of terrorism, while always protecting and respecting HR and IHL provisions.
I thank you.