Geneva,
September 27, 2012
Thank you, Madame President.
The United States thanks Algeria for its close cooperation in discussions of this and previous resolutions on the topic at the Human Rights Council. We share the grave concerns raised regarding kidnapping for ransom by terrorists, abhor such actions, unequivocally condemn impunity for hostage-takers, and firmly support efforts to end the practice of ransom payments.
Although the United States will join consensus on this text, we remain concerned that the Human Rights Council is not an appropriate forum to address these counterterrorism issues. We reiterate our strong commitment to pursue further discussion of this issue in the UN Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee at the UN Security Council and other suitable UN and multilateral venues such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum, whose primary purpose and expertise is to develop among states effective methods and means to counter terrorism.
Therefore the position of the United States is to join consensus on the resolution entitled “Human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking” informed by the views noted above.