Condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestation, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a global strategy based on respect for human rights and the rule of law.
The strategy, approved on Friday by the 92-member Assembly, includes a plan of action, measures to prevent and combat terrorism and steps to build capacities of states to fight terrorism.
The strategy, originally prepared by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and modified at various levels, is to be launched at the high-level segment of its annual session beginning September 19.
It calls for the extradition or prosecution of any person who supports, facilitates or attempts to participate in the financing, planning or perpetration of terrorist acts or provides them safe haven.
But immediately after the strategy was approved without vote as several nations had reservations on different points, Arab and Israeli diplomats clashed over the failure of the strategy to take into account their concerns.
The Arab nations lamented that groups like the Palestinians, who were fighting for liberating their territories were not exempted by strategy. This prompted Israel to criticise Syria and Iran for their failure to rein in groups that commit terrorism against the Jewish state.
However, the arguments on both sides were on expected and known lines.
A major point of contention during the yearlong debate was defining terrorism. Several Arab and Islamic states, including Pakistan, argued, that the definition should exempt groups, which in their opinion are fighting for liberation. The Arabs had Palestinians fighting against Israel in mind and Pakistan terrorist groups in Kashmir that are sponsored by it.
Ultimately, Secretary-General Kofi Annan came out with a formulation -- not a definition -- describing any act of intentional maiming and killing of civilians as terrorism.
This was accepted though reluctantly by some member states.
The strategy expresses concerns that the member states feel about the scourge engulfing almost all parts of the world but is symbolic in nature as it is for member states to implement it and they cannot be forced to do.
This is because Assembly resolutions, unlike those of the Security Council, are not enforceable.
The Assembly called for an early conclusion of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism including legal definition so that it can serve as an effective instrument to counter the scourge.
It also agreed to consider calling an international conference to formulate international response to terrorism in all its manifestation and forms.
The strategy stresses on the need for international cooperation to fight terrorism, creating and strengthening counter terrorism measures by regional and sub regional groups, ensuring that an asylum seeker has not committed any act of terror.
It urges the United Nations to improve coordination in planning a response to a terrorist attack using nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological weapons in particular by reviewing and improving the effectiveness of the existing inter-agency coordination mechanisms for relief and victim support.
The strategy also calls for development of guidelines for necessary cooperation and assistance in the event of a terrorist attack using weapons of mass destruction.
It acknowledges the fact that member states might require assistance in stepping up efforts to improve the security and protection of vulnerable targets including infrastructure and public places and urges member states to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations counter terrorism cooperation and technical assistance projects.
The strategy wants the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime and the International Criminal Police Organisation to help states to help them comply with international norms and obligations to combat money-laundering and financing of terrorism.
However, it wants the States to ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism are in conformity with human rights, refugee and international humanitarian laws.
Once the strategy is approved, the Assembly will review the progress in two years' time to ensure that it remains as the Assembly president put it -- a living document.
