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SAARC leaders denounce terrorism in all forms

V Mohan Narayan & V S Chandrasekar

Leaders of SAARC countries on Saturday denounced terrorism in all its forms and demanded immediate steps for elimination of support, encouragement and financing of terrorist groups.

The leaders also made a special mention of the UN Security Council resolution in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attack mandating nations to take action against terrorist groups, including denial of safe havens and sought firm action on the measure.

In their speeches at the inauguration of the 11th SAARC Summit, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan made detailed references on the scourge of terrorism.

However, Bangladesh just made a passing reference saying SAARC has moved considerably forward in signing various conventions, treaties and agreements, including those on drugs and terrorism.

Pakistan also joined others in condemning terrorism, but sought to rake up the Kashmir issue by trying to make a distinction between terrorism and 'freedom struggle'.

Setting the tone, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, fighting LTTE on her soil, said, "Double standards cannot work anymore and will not resolve the long-standing problem of terrorism."

Recalling that India has been a victim of terrorism for two decades now, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said the recent experience of Afghanistan also showed graphically that 'tolerance, acquiescence or sponsorship of terrorism creates a monster out of the control of its own creator'.

Expressing his country's revulsion against the scourge, Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who took over the chairmanship of SAARC, said there was a need to collectively fight the growing menace, along with blocking drug trafficking and organised crimes that finance and support it.

"We need to expedite enabling legislation that will facilitate the implementation of the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism. This should be complemented with the effective implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1373, which all of us have supported," he said.

Maldives President Abdul Gayoom, in his speech, said the recent terrorist attack on Indian Parliament, the September 11 strikes in the US, Israel's attack on Palestine and the strike on Colombo airport have drastically changed people's perceptions of the present-day world.

"Terrorism must be condemned and eliminated whenever and wherever it appears. It endangers civilisation, destroys peace, subverts democratic ideals and disrupts economic activity. We must support and strengthen international efforts to combat terrorism, and effectively use the existing SAARC institutions and mechanisms in fighting this evil in our region," he said.

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