Interpol agrees to a universal extradition treaty

India on Friday scored a major victory at the International Criminal Police Organisation (better know as Interpol) conference, initiating it into adopting two resolutions -- one, to accord legal status to Interpol red corner alerts; two, to create a universal convention on extradition.

While the Central Bureau of Investigation, which represents the organisation in India, suggested according legal status to Interpol notices for arresting absconding criminals, the proposal for creating a universal convention on extradition was made by Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral when, on October 15, he inaugurated the 66th annual general assembly.

Interpol sources said both the resolutions were adopted unanimously by member countries. The delegates would now present the resolution to their respective governments, requesting them to provide legal status to such alerts.

In the past, the proposal had been ignored by several nations.

CBI sources said the unanimous passage of the resolution marked a major victory for India, particularly for them. The Bureau, in fact, had, several months, ago written to Interpol secretariat suggesting that according legal status to red corner notices be placed on the 66th general assembly agenda.

The request, with a detailed note prepared jointly by India and the secretariat, was circulated among all the 177 member nations.

The Interpol general assembly authorised its Secretary General R E Kendall to approach United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan for setting up the extradition treaty.

UNI