UN urges nations to ratify anti-terrorism conf

New York, June 14: Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for ratification of the 22nd International Convention for Supression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism to strengthen the legal framework against terrorism.

Congratulating the states that have already ratified or acceded to the Convention, the Secretary-General said it will enter into force 30 days after the deposition of the 22d instrument, on July 7, 2007, nearly two years from its adoption by the member states. The international legal framework, together with this Convention, comprises 13 universal instruments.

''Nuclear terrorism is one of the most serious threats of our time. Even one such attack could inflict mass casualties and create immense suffering and unwanted change in the world forever. This prospect should compel all of us to act to prevent such a catastrophe,'' said UN Secretary General Spokesperson in a statement issued yesterday.

The Convention, among other matters, will encourage cooperation among states in order to defeat terrorism.

Preventing terrorism and becoming parties to the international anti-terrorism conventions and protocols are key elements of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted by the General Assembly last September.

UNI

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