General Assembly restarts work on comprehensive anti-terrorism treaty
As the United Nations General Assembly today restarted negotiations on a comprehensive international treaty on terrorism, the chairman of the committee drafting the text urged countries to muster the political will and compromise necessary to bridge the divide on the few key remaining provisions.
Rohan Perera of Sri Lanka, the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Measures to Eliminate Terrorism, said it was imperative to build upon and consolidate the work already accomplished by the group.
Meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, the Committee this morning began a weeklong session with several particularly difficult topics left to tackle, including those dealing with a definition of terrorism and its relation to liberation movements, possible exemptions to the scope of the treaty, in particular regarding the activities of armed forces, and how to advance the level and types of international cooperation to combat terrorism.
Another issue yet to be fully agreed upon in the negotiations is the relationship between the sectoral treaties, which deal with specific acts of terrorism, and the comprehensive treaty, as well as future instruments that might be negotiated on terrorism.
This afternoon, the Committee approved a work plan that set aside most of the session for informal consultation among delegates to resolve differences on those issues.
Negotiations on the 27-article draft began in February 2001. The text seeks to define terrorism, urges the establishment of domestic legislation and jurisdiction, and ensure that States parties do not grant asylum to any person involved in a terrorist act.
The text also addresses questions of liability, extradition and custody. Among other provisions, States parties would offer the greatest measure of assistance in connection with investigations or criminal or extradition proceedings, including assistance in obtaining evidence. The convention would enter into force 30 days after ratification by 22 States.