Describing terrorism as "one of the most serious threats" to global peace, India on Tuesday made a strong pitch for early adoption of a convention mooted by it over a decade ago to tackle the menace, days after its two key cities were rocked by serial blasts which left more than 50 people dead.
"I would particularly underline the need for concerted efforts by all of us to work towards early finalisation and adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International
Terrorism, a draft for which was presented by India at the United Nations as far back as 1996," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at the 15th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) here.
He said, "If we did not send a strong message that ourmovement stands resolutely for international cooperation in bringing the perpetrators, organisers financiers and sponsors of all acts of terrorism to justice."
"An act of terrorism anywhere is a threat to peace and stability everywhere," he said.
Mukherjee termed terrorism "one of the most serious" threats to global peace and said it "negates the fundamental principles of justice" and can have no justification.
Referring to the recent serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmadabad and the terror attack at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, he said the terrorists' intention, quite clearly, is to rupture India's resilient social fabric. "But India's resolve and capacities are strong enough and can withstand all these terrorists can do."
Dismissing terrorists' claim to act on behalf of religion, Mukherjee said "in truth they have no religion, because the essence of religions is peace and universal brotherhood, and not violence and the violation of human rights."
He said the NAM has been successful when the member nations have shown unity, commitment and perseverance.
"The history of our movement is a testimony to that. With unity and commitment, there is no doubt that we will achieve our goals and objectives."
Recalling that nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects has been a long standing priority of NAM, Mukherjee said that India shares the belief of its friends in NAM that all states should commit to early negotiations on the complete and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons.
At the same time, he made it clear that India firmly believes that all states have the right to develop peaceful uses of nuclear technology in accordance with their obligations.
Mukherjee said NAM has a vital role to play when the world is undergoing rapid transformation as the Movement provides an independent point of view on international issues and functions as a platform from which its members collectively address key issues of common concern.
The NAM needs to overcome the social and economic difficulties arising out of the simultaneous impact of crises in food, fuel and finances as well as threats to its political and security systems.
"These and other challenges facing the international community make it more imperative than ever before that our Movement collectively projects the central and universal values that bind us and focusses on issues that unite us," the minister said.
Mukherjee said: "We must focus on matters that concern the lives of our people, particularly the poorest among them.
"In this context, our energies should be devoted to sustainable development, the eradication of poverty, hunger and disease; environment protection; energy security; social justice; fighting pandemics such as HIV/AIDS; disaster management; and the long overdue reform of international institutions, including the UN and the Bretton Woods Institutions."
Earlier in his inaugural address, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamedinejad said Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Asia were in the grip of a "flame of war" which had made lives of the people of the region "bitter and painful"
He claimed that the UN has failed to implement its own efforts at nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament contending that international treaties do not have mechanisms to check nuclear proliferation by permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Ahmadinejad said that the world was entering a 'new phase' in which NAM could turn into an alternative to the United Nations Security Council.
"NAM could now, more than ever, play a significant role in this new phase and settle global differences, block discrimination, create justice and eventually become flag-holder of world peace," he said.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama expressed concern over the spread of the scourge of terrorism to parts of the world. "Collective action is vital," he said pointing out that terrorism was no longer confined to one soil and emanates at "unexpected locations."
"I urge all members that this is a threat we all have to address at this important summit," Bogollagama said.
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