Statement by the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, after signing the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, 1999, on September 8, in New York

Terrorism, particularly cross-border and state-sponsored terrorism, is a menace to the civilized society. India has been a victim of terrorist violence and killings for the past two decades. Democratic, open and pluralistic societies like ours are particularly vulnerable to this menace.

The Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, 1999, which I have just signed, was adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December, 1999.

It recognizes that terrorists depend on financing and other assistance for planning, preparation for, and for carrying out terrorist acts against innocent victims worldwide and is designed to cut off the sources of funding for terrorist activities.

It requires States to criminalize the provision or collection of funds for acts defined as offences by previous anti-terrorism conventions or as further activities under their domestic law, as well as to cooperate with other States parties in investigations and extradition of offenders in respect of such offences.

Funds known to be allocated for terrorist purposes would have to be frozen or seized.

The Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism is a useful supplement to the eleven existing anti-terrorism conventions, which cover such issues as terrorist bombings, hostage taking and hijackings.

However, the challenge of terrorism can be effectively countered only by international cooperative action under a comprehensive legal framework.

To achieve this objective, India has proposed a draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism which will be considered by the Working Group of the Sixth Committee at the current General Assembly session.

We hope that it will receive full support from the Member States, reflecting the deliberations at the Millennium Summit.

Source: http://www.pmindia.nic.in