“We have to drown out shrill appeals to intolerance and extremism with sound calls for compassion and moderation,” said Secretary-General Ban.  In social media networks, which terrorists and extremists increasingly were exploiting to radicalize people and spread hate, the terrorist narrative must be replaced with messages of peace, development and human welfare, he said.

Citing challenges in Mali and the broader Sahel region, where, he said, terrorism was feeding off extreme destitution and undermining development through violence, intolerance and human rights abuses, he welcomed the Council’s resolve to tackle the challenges there head on and said he counted on all its members, and all in the international community, to unite in advancing that important work.

In its agreed statement, the Council stressed that terrorism could only be defeated by a “sustained and comprehensive” approach involving the participation and collaboration of all States and international and regional organizations.  It recognized that the scourge would not be defeated by military force or security forces, law enforcement measures and intelligence operations alone.

In that connection, it underlined the need to address the conditions conducive to terrorism’s spread, including strengthening efforts to prevent and peacefully resolve conflict, promote the rule of law, protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, good governance, tolerance and inclusiveness.

The statement reaffirmed that Member States should refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, and from providing any form of support, “active or passive”, to entities or persons involved in or associated with terrorist acts, including by suppressing recruitment of terrorists and eliminating their weapons supply.

The need to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism was underlined, as was the use of sanctions as an important tool in countering the phenomenon, in the context of fair and clear procedures for placing individuals and entities on sanctions lists and for removing them.  Additionally, note was taken of the Secretary-General’s recommendation to appoint a counter-terrorism coordinator.

When the floor was opened for statements, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, whose delegation holds the Council presidency this month, said her country “has led from the front” to combat terrorism, in a comprehensive approach based on “three Ds:  deterrence, development and dialogue”.

She urged special emphasis on creating employment opportunities for people in regions scarred by terrorism so that terrorists “cannot lure them to their side”.  The endeavour overall was a long haul, she said, encouraging Member States to brace for it, prepare for it.  A “lopsided or uni-dimensional approach will not work as we try to defeat this hydra-headed monster”.

“Pakistan’s enemy is our enemy,” declared the Senior Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, offering her condolences for the victims of the latest attacks in that country and agreeing that it was indeed on the “front line” of a threat that was more diverse and more fragmented, but, equally, was more determined than ever.

A military response was “sometimes unavoidable”, she said, while at the same time urging recognition of the link between instability and terrorism, and poverty.  In Yemen, she noted, access to justice, jobs and services must be expanded, and in Somalia, support must continue for police training, improving access to health care and humanitarian assistance.  Financing was the “lifeblood” of terrorists, and thus, effective standards must be enforced to dry it up.

The language of today’s interventions was strong as speaker after speaker held that terrorism was, as China’s Vice Minister described it, the “arch enemy of all mankind”.  So, too, was the expressed commitment to decisive action in the context of a comprehensive approach and sustained international cooperation to contain the ongoing threat, which weighed on all nations and all peoples.

With the phenomenon mutating, adapting, exploiting new tools and technologies and benefiting from ever-available funding sources, speakers stressed the need to blunt the scope and magnitude of the assault with foolproof policies and practices, and strict adherence to existing instruments.  The link between development and security was highlighted, as fragile States were seen as especially vulnerable to terrorism, and unemployed young people at greater risk of recruitment.  Several supported the Secretary-General’s suggestion to appoint a counter-terrorism coordinator.

Closing the meeting, Pakistan’s representative said it had been a full and comprehensive debate that lived up to the importance and scope of the topic.  Condemnation of terrorism had been unequivocal, and determination to address and combat it had been strong and unambiguous.  The importance of a comprehensive approach for more effective counter-terrorism efforts had been a recurring theme.

Also speaking at the Ministerial or Cabinet level were representatives of Luxembourg, Morocco, Russian Federation, United States, Argentina, Togo, Azerbaijan and Rwanda.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Guatemala, Australia, Republic of Korea, France, Brazil, Egypt (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Conference), Senegal, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Malaysia, Turkey, Syria, Bangladesh, Iran (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement), Indonesia, Japan, India, Israel, South Africa, Venezuela, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Canada, Uganda, Armenia, Spain, Afghanistan, Botswana, Switzerland, Norway, Tunisia, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Côte d’Ivoire (on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Saudi Arabia.