The foreign secretary's speech to United Nations security council foreign ministers' meeting on counter-terrorism.

"I greatly welcome the initiative of the French Presidency in calling this Ministerial meeting.

The Cold War was dangerous, at times frightening. But it had some certainties. Ground rules. Today's terrorists respect no rules, no one's life; not others' lives, not even their own. They respect no values, no religion. They are criminals cloaked in a cause; psychopathic killers who define themselves by the terror which they inflict on others.

Some call this "international terrorism". But that does not make it distant from our own lives, but immediate. In each of our nations, down our street, or the next. At least thirteen of the fifteen countries represented here in the Security Council have seen the killing of their innocent citizens by terrorists. In the United Kingdom, we've just lost a brave police officer, killed in the course of a terrorist-related arrest. Three children now with no dad. A devoted wife with no husband.

So we have to unite as never before in the face of this threat; and act.

First, we must ensure that the duties imposed by the UN's counter-terrorism law - UNSCR 1373 - are vigorously enforced in every Member State; expose the laggards; confront every danger effectively. The momentum from the UN's Counter Terrorism Committee must be sustained.

And, as a former Interior Minister, let me say this. The key challenge is not to set up new institutions, or figureheads, but to ensure that existing law enforcement arrangements work better.

Second, we have to expose the connection between the terrorists who respect no rules, and the states which respect no rules. It is the leaders of rogue states who set the example: brutalise their people; celebrate violence; provide a haven for terrorists to operate; and, worse than that, through their chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, again in defiance of all rules, provide a tempting arsenal for terrorists to use.

The world must be in no doubt. If the terrorists can, they will. If they can get their hands on nerve gases, or killer viruses, or, nuclear bombs, they will use them.

So third, action to stop rogue states' proliferation is as urgent as action to stop terrorism. Yes, wherever we can, we should use diplomatic means to get proliferators to comply, as we are with North Korea, patiently. But there comes a moment when our patience must run out.

We are near that point with Iraq. Let's remind ourselves. Before UNSCR 1441 was passed on 8 November last Saddam Hussein was already in breach of not one or two but 23 out of 27 mandatory obligations in nine separate UNSC Resolutions stretching back over 12 years.

So the moment of choice for Saddam is close. He must either resolve this crisis peacefully, by the full and active compliance with his Security Council obligations and full cooperation with inspectors, or face the "serious consequences" - the use of force - which this Council warned would follow when it passed 1441.

Fourth, we have absolutely, emphatically, to reject the lie that the actions of the international community in fighting terrorism and rogue states is "anti-Muslim". It is not. It is pro-Muslim, as well as pro-Christian, pro-Buddhist, pro-Jew, pro-Hindu, pro-Sikh, pro-humanity.

Down the ages, tyrants and terrorists alike have sought justification for their ends by claiming they have God on their side. Today is no different. And let's remember this. Al Qaida and the Taliban murdered thousands of Muslims in Afghanistan well before 11 September.

Almost every one of the hundreds of thousands killed by Saddam Hussein have been Muslim; and in contrast, in the four major international conflicts of the past 12 years - the Gulf, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan - it is innocent Muslims who have been saved by international military action.

Fifth, we must, of course, work relentlessly to eliminate the environment in which terrorism breeds. This can be done by firm security action and a political agenda. In Northern Ireland and Sri Lanka we see the hope which can be built after decades of killing and hatred.

So we must not give up in other theatres, least of all in the Israel/Palestine conflict. Only the terrorists will rejoice if grief at the endless killing gives way to total despair. A two-state solution is the only just response as this Council has determined.

This outcome would be a vindication of the UN's founding ideal: that reconciliation is possible between all nations and all faiths.

Mr Chairman, people of my generation would recognise that, at times over the past 50 years, the ideals of the UN have seemed beyond reach. The vile hostility of the Cold War stood in stark contrast to the noble principles of the UN Charter.

Yet the ideal survives. It prevailed through the era of superpower confrontation. And - with our collective effort - it will prevail over the twin threats of terrorism and WMD which haunt the world today."