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Source: meadev.nic.in/speeches/jtstmt-indo-russia.htm
February 03, 2002 - New Delhi
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Igor Ivanov, paid an official visit to India on 3-4 February 2002. The Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation held discussions with the Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India Mr. Jaswant Singh on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
The External Affairs Minister of India and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation reiterated their countries' firm commitment, in accordance with the Moscow Declaration signed in November 2001, to continue close cooperation on the issue of international terrorism. Both sides agreed that international terrorism threatens not only the security of India and Russia, but also poses a serious threat to global peace and security and represents a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity. The sides agreed that there is no justification for terrorism, and this must be fought against without compromise wherever it exists. Russia and India firmly reject any attempts to identify terrorism with any particular religion. Those who seek to do so are as wrong as those who seek to use religion to justify acts of terrorism.
India and Russia affirmed that the international efforts to eradicate Al Qaida and Taliban movement in Afghanistan is an important element of the common struggle against terrorism and its sponsors everywhere in the world on the basis of international law. The existence of extensive ties between the Al Qaida and Taliban with terrorist organizations active in other parts of the world, including Chechnya, the Central Asian Republics and the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, calls for a campaign against terrorism that involves close cooperation by all members of the International community, and which is comprehensive, long-term, multi-dimensional, and executed consistently, resolutely, purposefully and without compromise. There is no place for either subjectivity, or double standards, in the combat against terrorism.
India and the Russian Federation reaffirmed the important role that the United Nations and the international community must play in the international campaign against terrorism. They welcomed Security Council Resolution 1373 of September 28, 2001 and the establishment of a Counter Terrorism Committee focussed on monitoring of implementation by States of their international obligations in the struggle against terrorism - primarily with the view to reliably curtailing any type of support - moral, material, arms supplies, through propaganda, shelter, etc. In this connection, the sides called for early completion of discussions under UN auspices, of the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and the Convention of the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. Adoption of these Conventions would greatly contribute to the strengthening of the international legal basis for effectively combating the menace of global terrorism.
During discussions on the situation in South Asia, the Russian side reiterated its strong condemnation of continued acts of cross-border terrorism against India, including the terrorist attack on Indian Parliament on 13th December 2001. Russia expressed its understanding and support regarding India's justified demands that these activities from Pakistan and territory controlled by it cease completely.
The two Ministers also noted the statement made by Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, on 12th January 2002 and Pakistan's recently declared commitment against terrorism. However, this commitment can only be judged by the concrete action it takes on the ground. In this context, the sides emphasized the need for Pakistan to cooperate in stopping infiltration of terrorists into India, across the international boundary and the Line of Control, and ending the continued terrorist violence in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, as also in other parts of India. The sides noted that sustained and irreversible steps in this direction will create a conducive environment for the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan in accordance with the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration.
Jaswant Singh
Minister of External Affairs
Government of the Republic of India
Igor S. Ivanov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Russian Federation
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