Can’t afford double standards on terror: Sushma Swaraj

Moscow, April 18:

Terrorism poses the biggest challenge to international security and nations cannot afford to adopt double standards in the fight against it, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday at the 14th Russia-India-China (RIC) foreign ministers meet here.

“If we continue to adopt double standards in dealing with terrorism, it will have serious consequences not just for our own countries, but the international community as a whole,” she said.

Sushma Swaraj called on the RIC countries to lead the way in getting the international community together to counter terrorism through joint action, including at the UN.

Raising the issue of UN Security Council reform, Sushma Swaraj said that the issue demands greater urgency, and sought support of Russia and China for this.

“There has been some positive movement in this connection with a text being put for the first time on the table for inter-governmental negotiations. However, we need greater urgency on this issue. I seek the support of my Chinese and Russian colleagues for taking the IGN process forward,” she said.

On the slowdown of the global economy, the Indian minister said that as three large, emerging economies, India, Russia and China share similar approaches and could benefit “from coordinating our positions”.

The minister also sought active participation of all members in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit to be held in Goa in October this year.

“We hope to have a very successful BRICS Summit in Goa in October,” she said. (IANS)