India calls terror global scourge, seeks more efforts against it

UNITED NATIONS: Describing terrorism as a " global scourge", India has said the increasingly lethal and sophisticated nature of attacks across the world has rendered countries extremely vulnerable and sought more efforts to raise the level of preparedness to tackle the menace.

"Terrorism is a global scourge and has emerged as one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri said.

Speaking at a convention in Vienna in his capacity as Chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, Puri said while the international community has made progress in countering terrorism during the last decade, "much more needs to be done."

"Terrorist attacks in different parts of the world, their lethality and their enhanced sophistication continue to serve as a constant and grim reminder of our collective vulnerability to the terrorist threat."

Gaps remain in the international legal framework against terrorism and the level of preparedness to counter terrorist activities too varies in different parts of the world. "We need concerted global efforts and the necessary political will of member states to squarely face the challenge of terrorism," Puri added.

He noted that while combating terrorism, it is important to ensure that the counter-terrorism measures comply with obligations of member states under international human rights, refugee and humanitarian laws.

Puri said the year 2011 marks an important milestone in the global counter-terrorism efforts as it coincides with the 10th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as the establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC).

The CTC will be organising a Special Meeting open to the wider UN membership as well as international, regional and sub-regional organisations on September 28, 2011.

"We have also strengthened our cooperation with other international, regional and sub-regional organisations and have improved our coordination with other bodies within the UN system," Puri said.

At the Vienna convention which focused on the public-private partnership on enhancing tourism security, Puri noted that the impact of terrorist attacks on any tourist destination cannot be under-estimated.

The "tourism industry remains a vulnerable target for terrorists," he said.