Implement UN conventions to fight terrorism

Moscow, May 17: Brazil has backed the RIC (Russia, India, China) agreement reached at their trilateral meeting on condemning terrorism in all forms and manifestations, urging the international community to implement the UN conventions in fighting terrorism.

''The Ministers unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed for whatever purposes,'' a joint communique issued yesterday after the four-way meeting of Brazil, Russia, India, China (BRIC) Foreign Ministers said in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg. ''They reiterated their perception that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism,'' it said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavorv participated in the meeting along with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Chinese and Brazilian Foreign Ministers Yang Jiechi and Celso Amorim.

''They particularly highlighted the UN cooperation framework and the need for all member states to implement international conventions of the United Nations and UN Security Council resolutions on fighting terrorism,'' the communique noted.

''The Ministers emphasised the importance of the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in all its aspects and expressed their opinion that all member states should make concerted efforts towards expeditious finalisation of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN,'' it said.

The RIC Foreign Ministers at their trilateral meeting on May 15, had expressed their confidence that their anti-terrorism cooperation should be actively supported both within the framework of the UN system and regional organisations.

The BRIC Foreign Ministers also agreed on the need for multilateral efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space.

''They also agreed on the need for multilateral efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space,'' the communique said.

Mr Lavrov has entrusted India and Brazil to cosponsor a draft treaty banning weapons in outer space which Russia and China have already presented at the UN.

UNI