Foreign Minister hails BIMSTEC Convention on combating terrorism

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at the 11th Session of the Bay of Bengal Initiative Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi, yesterday commenting on the BIMSTEC Convention on cooperation in combating international terrorism, transnational organised crime and illicit drug trafficking stated that “this is indeed a Convention that is most relevant to the times that we live in and that the finalisation of this Convention is a compelling message that member States would be able to convey to the purveyors of violence, destruction and death”.

He stated that: “In short we are telling them ‘you can run but you cannot hide’”.

The Minister noted that the Convention would deny the freedom that terror groups possess to commit crimes, and urged member States to sign up to this Convention expeditiously. He also touched on some other core areas of activity that the BIMSTEC is involved in, such as transfer of technology, energy security and climate change.

The Minister sought the support of member States for Sri Lanka’s offer to host the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Colombo.

At the request of Foreign Minister Bogollagama, BIMSTEC Ministers discussed the impact of the global financial crisis on the region, which led to a exchange of views led by Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.