Gujral calls for a universal extradition treaty

Prime Minister I K Gujral on Wednesday called upon the International Criminal Police Organisation -- better known as Interpol -- to bring about a universal extradition treaty and a common code of conduct to check international crime and corruption.

"The measures are necessary to prevent criminals from taking shelter in foreign countries and laundering wealth acquired through corrupt means," Gujral said.

The prime minister was inaugurating the 66th International Criminal Police Organisation (better known as Interpol) general session in New Delhi.

This is the first time the general assembly is being held in India. The week-long conference, organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation, is being attended by more than 500 delegates from 136 countries.

Taking strong exception to certain countries letting 'criminals become acceptable' by giving them shelter, Gujral said 'a crime is a crime,' irrespective of where it has been committed.

"Such problems can be overcome only through the efforts of international organisations like Interpol," he said.

Gujral praised the general assembly's decision to review measures to check money laundering. He said taking advantage of the advanced communication technology, criminal networks had expanded far and wide.

"Information revolution has lent a new dimension to the crime, making it difficult for individual countries to deal sternly with criminals," he said.

The prime minister also referred to the growing problem of drug trafficking and white collar crimes.

Interpol president Toshinori Kanemoto said financial constraints were coming in the way of expanding organisational operations. He urged member nations to clear their arrears. Further, he said all the 177 members should have greater interaction among themselves.

Kanemoto said the organisation was modernising its operations -- shortly, all member countries would be linked through a computer network.

Among the issues on the assembly's agenda are drug trafficking, money laundering and according legal status to Interpol's red corner notices.

Interpol secretary general R E Kendall welcomed Gujral's call for checking corruption.

UNI