Egypt to lead Counter-Terrorism Committee at UN Security Council

Egypt has been chosen to head the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) starting January 2016, the MENA news agency has reported Saturday.

The CTC was established by UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001), adopted unanimously on 28 September 2001 in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States.

The committee, comprising all 15 Security Council members, is tasked with monitoring implementation of Resolution 1373 (2001), which requested countries to implement a number of measures intended to enhance their legal and institutional ability to counter terrorist activities at home.

A diplomatic source told MENA that in consensus between all members of the Security Council, Egypt will take lead of the CTC from the Republic of Lithuania, in which was heading the committee since January 2014.

In October 2015, Egypt secured a non-permanent UN Security Council seat with 179 votes.

Egypt has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council four times: in 1949-1950, 1961-1962, 1984 and 1996-1997.

Following the announcement, the spokesperson for the Egyptian foreign ministry, Ahmed Abo Zeid, said Egypt will work “vigorously” to defend and support African and Arab priorities at the Security Council.

Source:Ahram Online