India pitches for anti-terror treaty, UN reforms

New Delhi: Asserting that no country could be immune to the threat of terrorism especially with emergence ISIS, India today made a strong pitch for finalisation of the

Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the UN during a meeting with the President-elect of the global body.

During her talks with President-elect of the UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft, who is here on a two-day visit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj stressed on the need for UN Security Council reforms on the occasion of 70^th anniversary to reflect current geopolitical realities and increasing role of developing nations.

The Indian sides also strongly pitched for early finalisation of the CCIT, a treaty proposed by India in 1996 to ban terrorists and make it binding for countries to deny funds and safe haven to them.

"No country can be immune to the threat of terrorism especially with the emergence of ISIS. It is important that there should be a collective effort to deal with this menace," Swaraj conveyed to the UN President-elect, while referring to the terror organisation Islamic State of Iran and Syria (ISIS).

In this regard, she also conveyed India's expectations to achieve concrete forward movement under his presidency on the finalisation of the CCIT.

Lykketoft was unanimously elected by the UN General Assembly as the President of the 70th Session on June 15 and is scheduled to assume his new responsibilities with the commencement of the Session from September 15.

Earlier, Lykketoft was the Speaker of the Danish Parliament and has served as Finance Minister and Foreign Minister of Denmark.

"The minister had productive and good discussions with the visiting dignitary. It is also significant given that he will be playing a pivotal role as we discuss key issues during the 70th session of the UN," the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.

She also congratulated him on his election as President of the landmark 70th Session which is expected to address several important issues, including adoption and

implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN Security Council Reform, Review of UN Peacekeeping Operations, Climate Change, and Review of the Tunis Agenda (World Summit on Information Society).

Swaraj also conveyed to him that India was already in the process of implementing 11 out of 17 Sustainable Development goals which also match with government's flagship programmes such as 'Make in India' and 'Beti Bachao'.

Lykketoft, who is scheduled to call on the Prime Minister tomorrow,  conveyed that the theme of his Presidency would be 'the United Nations at 70 - A New Commitment to Action'.