BENAULIM (GOA), Oct 16 - Strongly condemning the recent terror attacks in India and other BRICS nations, the five-nation powerful grouping today asked all countries to prevent �terrorist actions� from their soil and called for expeditious adoption of an India-backed global convention by the UN to fight the menace effectively.
A declaration adopted at the annual summit of grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa called upon all nations to adopt a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation, recruitment, movement of terrorists including foreign terrorists and blocking sources of financing terrorism.
It asked all nations to work together to expedite the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the UN General Assembly without any further delay.
�We strongly condemn the recent several attacks, against some BRICS countries, including that in India. We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed that there can be no justification whatsoever for any acts of terrorism, whether based upon ideological, religious, political, racial, ethnic or any other reasons.
�We agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating international terrorism both at the bilateral level and at international fora,� the Goa declaration issued at the end of the Summit said. It also asked the countries to adopt a �holistic� approach in successfully combating terrorism.
The BRICS said sources of terror funding like organised crime by means of money-laundering, drug trafficking, criminal activities, dismantling terrorist bases, and countering misuse of the internet including through social media by terror entities should be focus areas.
�Successfully combating terrorism requires a holistic approach. All counter-terrorism measures should uphold international law and respect human rights,� the declaration said.
Stressing UN�s central role in coordinating multilateral approaches against terrorism, the BRICS urged all nations to undertake effective implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and reaffirmed its commitment on increasing the effectiveness of the UN counter-terrorism framework.
In the declaration, the BRICS said it reaffirmed commitment to the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) international standards on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation.
The FATF is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering. In 2001 the purpose expanded to act on terrorism financing.
It also called for swift, effective and universal implementation of FATF on combating terrorist financing, including effective implementation of its operational plan.
In the declaration, the bloc also called for strengthening of international and regional cooperation and coordination to counter the global threat caused by the illicit production and trafficking of drugs, especially opiates.
The declaration said the bloc agreed that emerging challenges to global peace and security and to sustainable development require further enhancing of its collective efforts. BRICS also welcomed the Paris Climate Agreement and its imminent entry into force on November 4. � PTI
