Sixty-sixth session

Agenda item 118

The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

Saudi Arabia: draft resolution (A/66/L.8)

Terrorist attacks on internationally protected persons

The General Assembly,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming its role under the Charter, including on questions related to international peace and security,

Recalling the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, contained in General Assembly resolution 60/288 of 8 September 2006, as well as Assembly resolutions 62/272 of 5 September 2008 and 64/297 of 8 September 2010, which reaffirmed the Strategy,

Recalling also the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents,

Renewing its unwavering commitment to strengthening international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,

Convinced that respect for the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations is a basic prerequisite for the normal conduct of relations among States and for the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Concerned at the failure to respect the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives,

Noting the note verbale dated 7 April 2011 from the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General regarding hostile actions committed against diplomatic missions in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and recalling the obligations of States regarding the protection, security and safety of diplomatic missions, consulates and personnel on their territories,

Emphasizing the duty of States to take all appropriate measures required by international law in a timely manner, including measures of a preventive nature, and to bring offenders to justice,

Noting the letter dated 14 October 2011 from the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General3 regarding a disrupted plot to assassinate the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States of America, and noting also the statements of the Gulf Cooperation Council of 12 October 2011 and of the Council of the League of Arab States of 13 October 2011,

Noting also the letter dated 11 October 2011 from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, reporting an Iranian plot,

Noting the letter dated 11 October 2011, from the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council,

Alarmed by the new and recurring acts of violence against diplomatic and consular representatives, which endanger or take innocent lives and seriously impede the normal work of such representatives and officials,

Deeply concerned by the plot to assassinate the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States of America:

1. Reiterates its strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, as it constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security;
2. Strongly condemns acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as against missions and representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, and emphasizes that such acts can never be justified;
3. Deplores the plot to assassinate the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States of America;
4. Encourages all States to take additional steps to prevent, on their territories, the planning, financing, sponsorship or organization or commission of similar terrorist acts and to deny safe haven to those who plan, finance, support or commit such terrorist acts;
5. Calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply with all of its obligations under international law, including the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, particularly with respect to its obligations to provide law enforcement assistance, and to cooperate with States seeking to bring to justice all those who participated in the planning, sponsoring, organization and attempted execution of the plot to assassinate the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.