ABSTRACT
During the Cold War the United Nations had never taken measures against international terrorism. The Security Council proved to be impotent by failing to adopt any resolutions condemning specific terrorist activities. These patterns have dramatically changed during the 1990s, and mercurial changes in EastWest relations have allowed for the organisation by the Security Council of collective responses under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to deal with incidents of international terrorism. The General Assembly has also been able to adopt conventions for the prevention and elimination of terrorism. Thus, the revival of the Security Council, since 1990, has enabled its member states to confront the challenges of terrorist activities in the world through the mobilisation of the UN system for peace enforcement. However, these responses have not been without difficulties and controversy over their justification and the Cold War confrontation over the meaning of international terrorism and what constitutes a terrorist attack did not abate.
