BRICS nations reject 'double standards' in countering terrorism

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa called for expeditious adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism

The BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have rejected "double standards" in the global fight against terrorism and called for the expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the U. N. framework.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto Franco Franca, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa Naledi Pandor met here Thursday for the annual BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations meeting on the margins of the high-level U. N. General Assembly session.

A press statement issued after the meeting said that the ministers expressed strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed. They “rejected double standards in countering terrorism and extremism conducive to terrorism.”

The ministers called for expeditious finalisation and adoption of the long-delayed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework and for launching multilateral negotiations on an international convention for the suppression of acts of chemical and biological terrorism, at the Conference of Disarmament.

The ministers recognised the threat emanating from terrorism, extremism and radicalisation. They also expressed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing networks and safe havens.

India proposed a draft document on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the UN in 1986 but it has not been implemented yet as there is no unanimity on the definition of terrorism among the member states.

“They reiterated that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group,” the statement said, adding that the ministers reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to contribute further to the global efforts of preventing and countering the threat of terrorism on the basis of respect for international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations, and human rights, emphasising that States have the primary responsibility in combating terrorism with the United Nations continuing to play central and coordinating role in this area.