L'Aquila: In a major victory for Indian diplomacy, the G-5 countries have strongly condemned international terrorism and demanded that the United Nations (UN) members should conclude and adopt a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) as early as possible.
''The global scourge of terrorism needs strongest collective action by the international community to prevent terrorist acts and punish perpetrators, financiers and others involved in such acts. In order to provide a comprehensive international legal framework, the UN member states should conclude and adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism,'' said the Political Declaration adopted by the G-5 countries.
''The G-5 endorsed the idea and we are now talking to other groups. We hope that this convention would be done by next year or so,'' Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon told the visiting Indian media delegation.
India, which faces the problem of cross-border terrorism, has been pressing for such a convention.
Since long, the issue is being discussed in the UN.
Though most countries agree on such convention to deal with terrorism, the differences lie in what should be described as terrorism.
''However, now are we getting closer to an agreed definition of terrorism,'' Menon said.
India faced a number of terror attacks in recent years, including the Mumbai terror attack on December 26, 2008 which claimed about 300 lives.
Though New Delhi has provided concrete evidence to Pakistan about involvement of its citizens in the heinous attack, Islamabad has failed to take detectable action against those involved in the attack, he said.
With increased threat perception about terror attacks being faced by the countries in recent months, India wants an early conclusion of the UN Convention on International Terrorism, Menon added.
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