GROUP OF EIGHT NATIONS AND UN SEEK TO HARMONIZE COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS

GROUP OF EIGHT NATIONS AND UN SEEK TO HARMONIZE COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS New York, Apr 17 2008 3:01PM The senior United Nations counter-terrorism official is in Tokyo today for a meeting to discuss how the world body and the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations can better coordinate their efforts on the issue.

Mike Smith, Executive Director of the UN Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), is conferring with the G8's Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) on how the two bodies can improve their technical assistance in this field, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

Established in 2003, CTAG aims to boost political will and promote the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373, which was adopted in the wake of the September 2001 attacks on the United States. It also calls on countries to adopt measures to enhance their ability to counter terrorist activities nationally, regionally and globally.

CTED was created as a special political mission in 2004 to assist the Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee in monitoring 1373's implementation.

Following his talks with the G8 group, Mr. Smith will hold bilateral discussions with Japanese officials.

Earlier this week, he visited Beijing where he met with Chinese authorities, and will travel to Moscow following the Tokyo meeting for consultation with Russian officials.
2008-04-17 00:00:00.000

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