Fiji participates in UN High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of member states

Permanent Secretary for Defence and National Security, Mr. Osea Cawaru led a delegation to attend the UN High- level Conference of Heads of Counter Terrorism Agencies of Member States at the United Nations Headquarters in New York last week.

The Permanent Secretary was accompanied by the Assistant Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu; Manager Security & Defence Tiale Vuiyasawa and officials from the Fiji Office of the Permanent Representative to the UN (PRUN). The Fiji PRUN His Excellency Satyendra Prasad also joined the delegation during the opening on the first day of the Conference.

The conference was convened by the United Nations General Secretary, His Excellency Antonio Guterres.

With an overarching theme of strengthening international cooperation to combat the evolving threat of terrorism, the conference aimed to build a new partnership for multilateral cooperation to strengthen the international community’s counter-terrorism efforts.

Speaking at the Conference, Mr Cawaru highlighted Fiji’s valuable contribution to peacekeeping efforts and maintaining peace and security since 1970s.

“Fijian peacekeepers are serving in one of the most volatile regions in the world and they have witnessed some ugly and bad experience. I would like to underscore in this connection, the importance of the United Nations thoroughly understanding how the daily business are conducted in all the regions. The capacity in thoroughly understanding all the regions in the United Nations in Fiji’s view is crucial”, Mr Cawaru said.

Conference participants included Member States represented by Heads of Counter-Terrorism agencies, regional organisations, civil society organisations, and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact Entities.

Mr Cawaru has also assured the international community of Fiji’s support to fight terrorism and promote peace globally.

“I wish to reiterate and reaffirm Fiji’s strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestation, committed by whomever, whoever and for whatever purpose.”

The UN SG stressed that it is all members’ responsibility to unite to build a world of peace and security, dignity and opportunity for all people, everywhere, so we can deprive the violent extremists of the fuel they need to spread their hateful ideologies.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in 2006. The strategy is a unique global instrument to enhance national, regional and international efforts to counter terrorism.

The UNGA will review the Strategy every two years, making it a living document attuned to Member States’ counter-terrorism priorities and conduct this conference every two years following the review.