New York City, New York
24 September 2014
Thank you.
I am pleased with the leadership shown by the Security Council and you, Mr. Secretary Kerry, and of course Mr. President Obama, in calling this meeting and extending an invitation to other countries.
The threat posed by foreign fighters is a source of great concern.
The conflicts in Syria and Iraq are becoming an ever greater challenge for people around the world, including Canada.
The presence of a large number of foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq is of course not only aggravating an already dangerous regional security situation, but for us it involves the risk that individuals may return home with knowledge and experience gained in terrorist activities to motivate and recruit others and, potentially, to conduct attacks.
Canada is taking action on this.
In 2013, we brought forward the Combating Terrorism Act which created new criminal offenses of leaving or attempting to leave Canada for terrorist purposes.
Recent amendments to the Citizenship Act will also enable us to revoke citizenship from dual citizens, and to deny it to permanent residents who are convicted of terrorism offences.
We’re also using existing tools to take appropriate action to counter foreign fighter threats, including passport revocation, the listing of terrorist entities under the criminal code, and supporting capacity-building initiatives abroad.
And as we go forward, we are examining how to strengthen all of these and other tools.
Of course, terrorism and crime for terrorist purposes cannot – as has been recognized here – be prevented by security and law enforcement alone.
It’s also crucial that we support the prevention effort to combat violent extremism before people become foreign fighters.
And I should mention that, in Canada, our security and intelligence agencies work well, and work most particularly well with our Muslim communities in identifying such threats.
It’s also important, of course, that we track and squeeze off terrorist financing wherever possible.
Mr.Secretary, Canada is pleased to co-sponsor the resolution today and to support efforts to improve the international response to the foreign fighter phenomenon.
Of course, we will also continue to work with the government of the United States, the government of Iraq, and our other friends and allies in a range of humanitarian, political, and military assistance to those fighting this phenomenon in the region.
Thank you.
