Europe backs India's convention on terrorism

BERLIN, AUG. 6. India has been assured of European support for its major initiative in framing a comprehensive convention on international terrorism with Germany and other nations saying the proposed treaty could send a signal to terrorists as well as states ``soft'' on terrorism to desist from disruptive activities.

``Berlin would do all it can to mobilise international support for the holistic approach in tackling terrorism,'' German officials told their Indian counterparts in a recent meeting here.

The Indian delegation has been visiting Washington, London and Paris and will visit other world capitals to garner support for the global convention which will come up for discussions for the first time in the 54th session of the United Nations General Assembly starting in New York next month.

The draft convention pledges to take effective measures to prevent acts of international terrorism including those which are committed or supported by states, directly or indirectly.

``After initial hesitation, the western countries including the U.S. are beginning to support us,'' an Indian official said.

The German side said the new convention was a ``good idea'' in the light of several major conventions on the subject of terrorism either not being signed or implemented or ratified.

The Indian team reinforced the views held by the former U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, that sectoral conventions, despite some advantages, had their limitations which can be overcome with a planned global convention on deal with terrorism.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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