Iran Press/ America: Zahra Ershadi, speaking for the Non-Aligned Movement in the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee on Tuesday said that terrorism should not be equated with the legitimate struggle of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation.
She reaffirmed the importance of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the crucial role of the Office of Counter-Terrorism.
Ershadi voiced her firm rejection of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including those in which States are directly or indirectly involved.
"Terrorist acts endanger the territorial integrity and stability of States as well as national, regional, and international security," she said, highlighting its adverse consequences on the economic and social development as well as the physical and economic infrastructure of States.
"The brutalization of peoples remaining under foreign occupation should continue to be denounced as the gravest form of terrorism. As well, the use of State power for violence against peoples struggling against foreign occupation must be condemned," she underscored.
Calling on all States to combat terrorism, including by prosecuting or extraditing the perpetrators of terrorist acts, she emphasized the need to refrain from allowing the use of territories as sanctuaries and safe havens, as well as the importance of refraining from supplying arms or other weapons that could be used for terrorist acts in other States.
Further, she expressed her rejection of the use or threat of use of force, imposed by any State against any Non-Aligned Movement Member country under the pretext of combating terrorism.
In addition, she voiced concern over the acute and growing threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters. Calling on States to address this, she also condemned the misrepresentation of religions by terrorist groups to justify terrorism.
Reaffirming the importance of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, she highlighted the crucial role of the Office of Counter-Terrorism in bringing more coherence and effectiveness to the Organization’s counter-terrorism activities.
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