FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM HAS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE: SHEKHAWAT
Sunil Gatade

Press Trust of India, India
Oct 6 2005

Yerevan (Armenia), Oct 6 (PTI) Asserting that the fight against
terrorism has to be comprehensive and sustained, India today said
the elements who “instigate or assist” the menace in any form need
to be isolated as much as those who perpetrate it.

Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, here on a two-day visit on
the last leg of his three-nation tour, also said the UN needed to
be reformed urgently as the present system suffered from “democracy
deficit” and wanted the reforms, including expansion of the Security
Council, be carried out expeditiously to “judiciously reflect the
present global scenario”.

Addressing the National Assembly of Armenia, the Vice President
dwelt at length on the issue of terrorism, saying democaracies are
“haunted and threatened most by terrorism”.

He said the fight against the scourge has to be comprehensive and
sustained. “We need to isolate the elements who instigate, support
or assist terrorism, in any form, as much as those who perpetrate it.”

The Vice President, who earlier held detailed discussions with
Armenian President Robert Kocharian, said India greatly appreciated
Armenia’s support to its candidature for a permanent seat in the UN
Security Council.

He also thanked Armenia for its principled and consistent support to
India on the issue of terrorism and said that to accomplish the task
of development without any distraction or hindrance, an international
environment of peace conducive to growth was needed. PTI