The Hindu : Front Page : SAARC nations resolve to unite in fighting terror

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Monday, Aug 04, 2008
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SAARC nations resolve to unite in fighting terror

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Leaders reiterate commitment to strengthen the legal regime

PHOTO: AFP

FOR JOINT INITIATIVES: Leaders of the SAARC nations at the summit in Colombo on Sunday. Seated from left are: Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Sri Lanka’s parliamentary Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Fakhrudeen Ahmed, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley. —

COLOMBO: The 15th SAARC Summit concluded here on Sunday, expressing deep concern over the serious threat posed by terrorism to the peace, stability and security of the region and emphasising the need for “strongest possible cooperation” in fighting terror and trans-national organised crime, especially in the area of information exchange.

The Colombo Declaration, titled “Partnership for growth of our people,” adopted at the concluding session, dwelt at length on terrorism and issues such as trade promotion and measures to face the challenges posed by climate change.

The concluding session was followed by a retreat of the Heads of the State at the Parliament House on the outskirts of Sri Lankan capital.

The leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthen the “legal regime against terrorism” by implementing all international conventions relating to combating terrorism to which the member-States are parties, as well as the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism.

The growing linkage

The Declaration said that the leaders recognised the growing linkage between terrorism and illegal trafficking in narcotic and psychotropic substances, humans and firearms and underscored the need to address the problem in a “comprehensive manner.”

While recalling the United Nations Security Council Resolution 13 73 (2001), the leaders emphasised the importance of taking actions against provision, collection and acquisition of funds for the purpose of committing terror acts.

The leaders recognised the value of the proposed U.N. Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

The draft, tabled by India, is pending finalisation due to lack of consensus among the member-States on some aspects, including an acceptable definition on what constituted terrorism.

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