JOIN USCalling terrorism as one of the most potent threats to international peace and security, India Monday asked the world to show the necessary political will to agree on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
"Terrorism remains one of the most potent threats to international peace and security," Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said in address to the UN general assembly asking the world community to adopt a 'zero tolerance' approach towards terrorism.
Efforts should be focused "dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism including its invidious network of epicentres, training facilities and financing," he said.
"It is high time we demonstrated the necessary political will and agreed on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to strengthen the normative framework against the increasingly sophisticated and globalised terrorist challenge," he said.
Referring to incidents of violence across the world over a film mocking Prophet Muhammad, Krishna said "unfortunate recent events have highlighted the need for enhanced dialogue among faiths and civilisations".
"Mutual respect for deeply held religious sentiments is the bedrock of tolerance and coexistence," he said asserting: "Violence cannot lead to greaterunderstanding. It is necessary to uphold norms of peaceful international discourse."
"India is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society. Our civilisational ethos has been underpinned by peaceful coexistence and tolerance, values that Mahatma Gandhi placed at the core of India's national life," Krishna said.
Expressing grave concern over "the menace of piracy and armed robbery at sea," he said "Apart from major economic and commercial consequences of this scourge, it has serious humanitarian implications for the large number of seafarers held hostage by the pirates."
"The need of the hour is once again concerted international action, under the UN auspices, with special attention being paid to address the welfare of seafarers and their families," Krishna said.