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Udenrigsudvalget 2014-15 (1. samling)
URU Alm.del Bilag 15
Offentligt

SEIMAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

STATEMENT

ON THE FIGHT AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

8 October 2014

Vilnius

The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

Having regard to

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014) on threats to international

peace and security caused by terrorist acts, in which the international community pledged to

strengthen the fight against the spread of international terrorism and expanded the obligations of

Member States in connection with both internal and mutual cooperation in preventing the

recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters, arming them and financing of their activities and of their

travel;

Having regard to

European Parliament Resolution 2014/2843(RSP) on the situation in Iraq and

Syria, and the IS offensive, including the persecution of minorities, which considers the activities of

the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and of other extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, and

the illegitimate and arbitrary announcement by the IS leadership about the establishment and

expansion of the Islamic caliphate to be a direct threat to the security of European countries and

which calls on the international community to coordinate its efforts to protect all the civilians

affected by the conflict;

Having regard to

the Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government taking part in the

NATO Summit in Wales on 5 September 2014, which confirms the strong commitment of the

Organization to fight terrorism—a global threat that knows no border, nationality, or religion—in

accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter, and which calls on the

international community to join its efforts against the direct threat to citizens of all countries;

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Being of the opinion

that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious

threats to international peace and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable

regardless of their motivations, by whomsoever committed;

Recognising

that the spread of international terrorism poses a threat to the whole international

democratic community, which considers respect for human rights the highest value;

Being of the opinion

that international security is indivisible and that the international community

must ensure equal efforts to both preserve peace and security in the Middle East and address

geopolitical challenges in Ukraine;

Respecting

the internationally recognised borders and condemning the notion of any unilateral

changes of the borders of sovereign states;

Emphasising

respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction of nationality or

religion and stating that the security and humanitarian situation in Iraq and Syria is rapidly

deteriorating due to massive violations of human rights on the grounds of nationality, citizenship and

religion and that the continuously expanding conflict ousted millions of people from their homes,

thus affecting a large number of the most vulnerable victims of the conflict––women and children;

Condemns

the executions of foreign nationals carried out by the group of the Islamic State in Iraq

and the Levant (ISIL);

Stresses

that mass target killing and repression of ethnic and religious minorities, particularly

Christians, and aggressive “terrorist communication” within states and with the international

community in order to intimidate and attract foreign fighters are actions proving the criminal nature

of the terrorist movement and therefore must be unreservedly condemned;

Welcomes

the resolute initiative of the United States of America and appreciates its efforts to

establish a broad international coalition for the fight against the extremist group of the Islamic State

in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other extremist groups in Iraq and Syria;

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Expresses

strong support for the decisions of individual NATO and EU Member States to contribute

to stopping the expanding conflict and mitigating its consequences by both military and humanitarian

measures and emphasises the importance of coordinating national actions for preventing the spread

and growth of international terrorism;

Stresses

that active and unconditional military, diplomatic and political involvement of the states

neighbouring zones of conflict is key to preventing the ominous spread of extremism to neighbouring

states and to stabilising the situation in the region;

Notes

that the states have a duty to prevent foreign fighters from entering the territory of other states

and to terminate the provision of support to fighters through ensuring the proper protection of

borders;

Draws the attention, in particular,

to the fact that, aiming at long-term prevention of the spread of

international terrorism and reduction of radicalism, the measures used for combating terrorism must

not violate the norms of international law recognised by the democratic international community, in

particular the commitment to protection of human rights, and the principles of international refugee

law and international humanitarian law;

Calls on

the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to implement United Nations Security

Council Resolution 2178 (2014) by taking necessary measures to prevent the departure of people for

participating in terrorist activities abroad and to prevent financial and other support to such activities;

Urges

the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to contribute to the fight of the international

community against international terrorism and the group of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant

(ISIL) in Iraq and Syria through diplomatic and political means and through providing humanitarian

assistance, expertise and other necessary support.

Benediktas Juodka

Chair of the Committee