Let us outlaw terrorism - UN

2005-03-11 13:00

Madrid - United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for a world treaty on terrorism that would outlaw attacks targeting civilians and establish a framework for a collective response to the global threat.

"Now the time has come to complete a comprehensive convention outlawing terrorism in all its forms," he said at a major conference on democracy, terrorism and security on Thursday.

No country is exempt from attack, he stressed, and the way forward is co-ordinated action by like-minded governments.

"Perhaps the thing that is most vital we deny to terrorists is access to nuclear materials," he said. "Nuclear terrorism is still often treated as science fiction. I wish it were....

Nothing justifies killing civilians

"Were such an attack to occur, it would not only cause widespread death and destruction, but would stagger the world economy and thrust tens of millions of people into dire poverty," he said.

Endorsing recommendations developed over months and presented this week by conference panelists, Annan said tactics such as blocking travel or the finances of suspects was key.

But when military force is required, the Security Council "will not hesitate" to use it, he said.

The conference will present a "Madrid Agenda" of guidelines on Friday which they hope governments will endorse and, where applicable, put into law.

Annan spoke only hours after former world leaders appealed to the United Nations to come up with a definition of terrorism. The issue has long been one of the most delicate, in part because governments often use violence to accomplish goals.

The United Nations has struggled with the issue, lacking agreement on just what constitutes terrorism. Some states want one to exempt "freedom fighters," while others insist any definition must cover governments and their soldiers.

Delegates insist a common understanding on what terrorism is would permit the United Nations and other world bodies to fight it jointly and help create laws that would allow for the perpetrators to be prosecuted.

"There is no cause under the sun that could justify the deliberate killing of civilians," said Anand Panyarachun, former prime minister of Thailand. "The killing of civilians is unjustified under any circumstance."

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict typifies the dilemma in defining what constitutes terrorism. The Palestinians have argued, for example, that they are justified in resisting Israel's military occupation by using suicide bombs against civilians, while the Israelis say such tactics are unacceptable.

Annan's address came as part of a session timed to commemorate the first anniversary of the Madrid train bombings in which 191 people died.

Annan said he wanted to express solidarity with the victims of the Madrid attack and to affirm the United Nation's determination to work with governments and people around the world to try to prevent such bloodshed.

- AP