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News in Brief; G-8 Leaders Create Counterterrorism Action Group:

01 June 2003

Following is a White House fact sheet released June 2 on the Group of
Eight (G-8) adoption of an action plan to establish the
Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG). CTAG will build counterterrorism
capacity worldwide through training and other assistance to countries
with the will but not the skill to combat terror. CTAG will also help
the United Nations Counterterrorism Committee promote implementation
of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1373.

(begin fact sheet)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Evian, France)

June 2, 2003

FACT SHEET

Action to Enhance Global Capacity to Combat Terror

Presidential Action

Today, President Bush led the G-8 in adopting an ambitious Action Plan
to enhance counterterrorism (CT) capacity globally.

The G-8 will establish a Counterterrorism Action Group of donor
countries to expand and coordinate training and assistance for
countries with the will but not the skill to combat terror.

The Threat and the Challenge: The international community has been
united in fighting international terrorism since the attacks in the
United States on September 11, 2001. Subsequent attacks in Indonesia,
Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco underscore the need to build capacity
to fight terror worldwide.

Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG): The G-8 Leaders established the
Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG) to expand counterterrorism
capacity building assistance. The CTAG will include the G-8, as well
as other states, mainly donors. A representative from the U.N.'s
Counterterrorism Committee (UN/CTC) will be invited to CTAG meetings,
as will other regional and functional organizations, as appropriate.
The CTAG will analyze and prioritize needs, and expand training and
assistance in critical areas:

-- Terrorist financing,
-- Customs and immigration controls,
-- Illegal arms trafficking, and
-- Police and law enforcement.

The CTAG will also help the UN/CTC to promote implementation of U.N.
Security Council Resolution 1373, the cornerstone of the UN's
counterterrorism effort, which calls on member states to strengthen
their counterterrorism capacity and performance. The CTAG will work
with the UN/CTC to:

-- Identify relevant international best practices, codes, and
standards in combating terrorism;

-- Target counterterrorism assistance to priority countries as they
take steps to meet their UNSCR 1373 obligations; and

-- Work with International Financial Institutions to strengthen
counterterrorism financing measures.

Building a United Front: The G-8 agreed to engage more countries, more
effectively, in the War on Terror. The Action Plan calls for increased
outreach efforts to non-G-8 countries, as well as international,
regional and functional organizations. The CTAG will:

-- Seek to address unmet regional assistance needs (by the 2004
Summit); and

-- Encourage regional assistance programs through donor-sponsored
training centers (by the 2004 Summit).

(end fact sheet)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)