Thaindian News

Perth, Oct 30 (IANS) The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here Sunday called for “accelerated efforts” to conclude negotiations on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

In its CHOGM 2011 communique, the 54-nation grouping has endorsed New Delhi’s position that seeks a quick conclusion to the negotiations on the CCIT at the UN, Indian officials noted.

The CCIT seeks to criminalise all forms of terrorism and deny terrorists, their financiers and supporters access to funds, arms and safe havens.

The communique said the CHOGM is commited to “a stable and secure national and international environment, as a foundation for sustainable growth and resilience for Commonwealth countries and the broader international community”.

It also mandated member-nations to unequivocally prevent the “use of their territories for the support, incitement to violence or commission of terrorist acts, implementing the necessary legal framework for the suppression of terrorist financing, and preventing the raising and use of funds by terrorists, terrorist front organisations, and transnational terrorist organisations”.

The communique also took a view on the scourge of piracy in the Indian Ocean, stressing that it could be effectively tackled in the absence of political stability and security in Somalia. It called for international support to combat piracy through enhanced maritime security.

It has sought improved legislation to tackle cyber space security threats, and backed the review of Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

It finally urged nations to “tackle the root causes of conflict, including through the promotion of democracy, development and strong legitimate institutions”.