In Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's address to the UN on Monday, India's aim
will be a push towards a stronger consensus to combat terrorism in the form of
the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism or CCIT.
"Terrorism is undoubtedly the single-biggest threat to
international peace and security," Ministry of External Affairs
spokesperson Vikas Swarup told NDTV on Friday. The convention would give
"legal teeth to prosecuting terrorist acts", he said.
Launched in 1996 by India, the CCIT provides a legal framework which would make
it binding for all countries to deny funds and safe haven to terror groups.
But the pact has been deadlocked over differences on defining terrorism and
terrorists as certain countries, including the US, deem some violent uprisings
as "liberation movements" or are worried about their foreign
interventions.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said there was
wide support for CCIT.
However, the initiative has seen "a lot of
progress" and there was a wide agreement on most of it, Mr Swarup said.
To forge that last mile of consensus, India is considering
all options, including "voting", the country's Ambassador to the UN
Syed Akbaruddin told reporters.
Though he did not elaborate on elements of Ms Swaraj's address, Mr Swarup said
"you can expect a continued focus from India on the theme of
terrorism".
Ms Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif's speech at the United Nations General Assembly, in which he
focused elaborately on Kashmir.
Mr Akbaruddin said that in the meetings that Minister of State for External
Affairs M J Akbar held on the sidelines of the General Assembly session,
"there was resonance" of India being a victim of terrorism.
Mr Akbaruddin said a reform of the Security Council will also be the focus of
India in the current UN General Assembly session.
Source: NDTV
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