Transnational Crime

Released by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me begin by congratulating you on your election to chair this important committee.

In my nation, just over a year ago, and less than four miles away from where we sit today, two buildings symbolic of international trade and the growing ties between nations crashed to the ground, in an event that sent shock waves through this international city and around the world. Even before the dust settled, both literally and figuratively, a coalition of nations arose, committed to confronting those responsible for the horrific events that day -- events that took the lives of not only Americans, but citizens from 80 other countries around the globe -- and to ensuring that such events would not happen again. Together we moved quickly to confront the direct sources of attacks of September 11^th, and due to our efforts al-Qaida’s former safe havens in Afghanistan are in ruins and its members on the run.

As my President and senior leaders in my government have looked at how we must confront the on-going threat to the world, they have used descriptive phrases such as how we must “smoke them out” or “drain the swamp.” As these statements suggest, future generations will judge us not merely by the actions taken against the specific actors that have caused this horror, but even more fundamentally for them, whether this grim wake-up call brought us together to create a world that denies both al-Qaida and future threats safe haven, that denies evil any shadowy spaces in which to breed. This is why I deeply believe the underlying work of this committee and the people here today is the most important legacy we can leave, and that the momentum and spirit brought to specific tasks after 9/11 cannot waiver.

By the statements and analogies above, I am not referring to any specific geographic area or country, but the shadows and gaps in jurisdictions and effective law enforcement where these threats grow, and that can occur both in my nation and around the globe. These problems are critical to and at the very heart of our efforts against terrorism. Yet they are far more fundamental and are a baseline, a bedrock of the issues that we must address not only if we are to achieve any lasting victories against a range of threats, but also if we are to give hope of development and security to the innocent citizens of the world. Targeted intelligence and operations may remove specific terrorist, drug trafficking, or organized crime groups, but unless we address the environments that allowed them to thrive, we will have at best created a void that can be filled by other threats.

In addition, sustainable development cannot be achieved unless the rule of law and effective law enforcement form a foundation on which investment, economic development, and human rights can be built. Overall, we need to devote our energy to plans to address the flip side of globalization—the development of nimble, international threats that respect no borders—so that the great economic promise of global trade and development can be realized for the people of the world.

For this reason, support for law enforcement institutions must be mainstreamed into overall foreign policy efforts to achieve sustainable development. Building institutional capacities in environments such as Afghanistan is a tough, long-term process that doesn’t lend itself to quick results, particularly when such regions are in the midst of civil conflicts. It requires long-term sustained commitment from both host governments and the international community. Yet I am optimistic that there is a growing international appreciation for the linkage between development and law enforcement.

Over the past several years, we have seen a new consensus emerging in international relations that transnational criminals and corruption must not be allowed to hijack the benefits of globalization. The international community has responded with concrete initiatives and visible cooperation against specific threats. Successful international counternarcotics and anti-crime efforts have gradually narrowed the field of action for illicit syndicates that once operated with impunity. Efforts in response to specific threats such as the drug cartels and terrorism have helped to build the foundations for long-term international law enforcement cooperation. Collectively, we can take some pride in how far we have come together, with the realization of how important our continued and united effort will be to getting to where we need to go.

At this point I would like to extend some well-deserved praise to the UN’s Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention for its tireless efforts over the past year in support of a number of initiatives that are crucial to our collective efforts, particularly the negotiations to establish an international convention against corruption, which the United States enthusiastically supports. Painful experience has taught us that pursuing effective action against international crime is exponentially more difficult against the backdrop of official corruption.

ODCCP also deserves praise for its continuing work to assist and support the efforts of member states to ratify the Organized Crime Convention and its supplementary protocols. We must bring these weapons into our battle against transnational organized crime as soon as possible.

The issue of terrorism has obviously assumed a new urgency over the past year, and the U.S. greatly appreciates the groundbreaking initiatives that the UN has promoted over this period. The most important immediate step is to undertake the specific law enforcement measures outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1373, including the universal ratification and implementation of the 12 UN counter-terrorism conventions, in order to improve international mechanisms for cooperation against terrorism. It will remain the duty of member-states to take advantage of these mechanisms and carry out their responsibilities.

Clearly, the world community has taken some impressive steps, yet we must recognize that the fight is far from over.

The United States has been at the forefront of these efforts and committed to being a strong ally of the nations who stand beside us in our shared fight. Among other things, we offer a helping hand, providing tens of millions of dollars in law enforcement training and equipment to scores of governments all around the world.

In collaboration with host countries, the United States sponsors a network of International Law Enforcement Training Academies in Hungary, Thailand, Botswana and the United States, along with a new facility soon to be opened in Costa Rica. Last year, over 1,500 international law enforcement officers from 55 countries received training from our Academies, and over the next year, we expect that number to rise to over 2,500. This international cooperation will help build a growing network of like-minded officials throughout the world committed to this fight.

Money laundering is the lifeline for virtually all forms of transnational crime. The U.S. will continue to provide assistance to develop, enhance and ensure implementation of anti-money laundering regimes that meet the highest international standards. Many of the same illicit techniques and channels used by criminal groups to launder proceeds are similarly exploited by terrorists to finance their crimes, and I am proud to note that the world community, including the UN Global Program Against Money Laundering, has gone to extraordinary lengths over the past year to crack down on this particularly lethal threat to peace. I would like to specifically urge all countries with the resources to do so to contribute financially towards this valuable instrument. For its part, the U.S. expects to provide over $10 million to provide training and technical assistance for the purpose of thwarting terrorist funding. The need for universal action against illicit financial networks has never been more clear and compelling.

Many countries are working together on all of these fronts, and U.S. efforts to encourage such cooperation will continue and grow.

In closing, the tragic events that happened just minutes away from here were truly an attack on the civilized world and all that these United Nations stand for. In the wake of this event, we have a historic opportunity, and I believe, obligation, to leave our children a world not only free of the threat of al-Qaida, but one where evil has no place left to hide and where the hope of global development knows no boundaries. Thank you.