India, Russia, China for strict observance of UN sanctions

In an apparent reference to Pakistan-based terror outfit Jamaat-ud Dawa, blamed for Mumbai attacks, India, Russia and China today pressed for "strict observance" of sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council against persons and entities by the countries concerned.

Foreign ministers of the three countries, who met here under the format of Russia-India-China (RIC), viewed with concern the situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan region and vowed to forge a closer cooperation in the fight against the global menace of terrorism.

At the two-hour-long meeting, Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov joined external affairs minister SM Krishna in condemning the attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul on October 8 and pressed for  bringing to justice perpetrators of all such assaults.

During the meeting, the three foreign ministers also discussed collaborative ways of meeting other global challenges like economic recession and climate change besides stepping up cooperation trilaterally in the areas like trade, healthcare, agriculture and disaster mitigation.

A joint communique issued after the meeting said the ministers stressed the "need for strict observance of the sanctions regime against persons and entities listed by the UNSC Committee (under resolution) 1267."

This may be seen in the context of JuD, which was proscribed by the UNSC in December last year for its involvement in the Mumbai attacks but its chief Hafiz Saeed continues to be a free man.

India has been emphasising that Pakistan should  implement the UNSC resolution against JuD and Saeed in letter and spirit.

Pakistan, however, insists that Saeed has no involvement in any case of terrorism.

The ministers "stressed that all concerned must implement relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, particularly UNSC Resolutions 1267, 1373 and 1540 and international conventions and protocols against terrorism as well as contribute to implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism," the joint communique said.

During the meeting, India and Russia particularly emphasised the need for Pakistan to do more on fight against all kinds of terrorism, instead of being selective.

The Chinese side, however, defended Pakistan, claiming it was the "frontline nation" in fight against terror, sources told PTI.

At a "press interaction" during which no questions were entertained, Krishna said the three sides were of the view that their cooperation in fight against terrorism and other trans-national crimes will provide stability to the region and world.

Lavrov said the three countries need to be united in confronting terrorism and drug trafficking.

The Chinese minister said the three countries would make joint efforts for security and stability of the region.

The  communique said the meeting strongly condemned terrorism in all forms and manifestations, underlining that there is no justification for any act of terror anywhere.

It said the ministers agreed that "concerted trilateral action against international terrorism, trans-national crimes and drug-trafficking would promote stability and all-round development in today's inter-dependent world".

Expressing concern at deterioration of security situation in Afghanistan, the ministers agreed that terrorism must be combated firmly by the international community.

In the context of strengthening international cooperation against terrorism, the ministers asked all the UN member states to urgently conclude and adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, the communique said.

On the problem of terrorism in the region, the Russian foreign minister referred to the current situation in Afghanistan and said "we cannot stand aloof of what is going on in a friendly country".

He said Russia, India and China should make joint efforts for restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The foreign ministers discussed ways to boost trilateral trade and economic cooperation with an objective of making the  meetings of the RIC forum meaningful for the business communities "so that new opportunities may be grasped".

Reviewing the situation arising out of global financial crisis, the three Foreign Ministers felt that the international architectures were not in tune with current realities and favoured a reform with representation to developing world.Krishna, Yang and Lavrov stressed that future global economic governance should feature in "balanced representation, equality and result-orientedness and ensure the voice and representation of emerging market and developing countries."

The three countries advocated that future G-20 Summits should be held by rotation in developed countries and developing countries based on the principle of transparency and equity.

"The ministers emphasised that one of the ultimate goals of governance structure reform for international financial institutions is equitable distribution of voting power between developed countries and developing ones," the communique said.

They also called for early implementation of the quantified targets on the governance structure reform of the international financial institutions endorsed by the G-20 Pittsburg Summit last month.

The three countries also pressed for speedy shift in IMF quota share of at least five per cent to emerging market and developing countries and an increase of at least 3% of voting power in the World Bank for developing and transition countries, while avoiding erosion in voting shares of developing countries.

Yang said the global economic situation continues to be fragile and that India, China and Russia, all major emerging economies, should collaborate to ensure that the international financial system is "more just and equitable".  With regard to the UN reforms, China joined Russia in noting that it attaches "importance to the status of India in international affairs" and understands and supports its "aspirations to play a greater role" in the world body.

The three ministers pressed for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations with a view to making it more effective so that it can deal with the current global challenges more effectively.

On climate change, India, Russia and China affirmed their willingness to contribute to the success of the upcoming Copenhagen Conference while maintaining their position of "common but differential responsibilities".

The communique said the three countries expressed readiness to strengthen international cooperation and make active efforts to jointly tackle climate change.

"The three countries stressed that the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen presents an important opportunity for strengthening international cooperation in addressing climate change in accordance with the principles and provisions of  the UN Framework of Cooperation in Climate Change and the Bali Action Plan, taking into account the principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities," it said.

On trilateral front, the foreign ministers decided to explore and exploit potential in energy sector to establish "mutually advantageous relations" in this field.

Russia is a dominant supplier of oil and gas while India and China are energy deficit but significant suppliers of manufactured products and services.