A UN counter-terrorism meet failed to reach agreement on convention due to deadlock on certain issues, even as India asked member states to be flexible on their views for consensus for draft, when they talk again.
The UN counter terrorism meet concluded yesterday despite the fact nations had expressed optimism about it at the start of the meeting on Monday.
The Indian representative asked all member countries to show flexibility in the process — the objectives of which were accepted by all — so that the Committee could adopt the draft convention when it next met.
However, several delegations had expressed apprehensions in closed-door consultations throughout the week about the tone of the debate, saying it raised questions as to whether positions had changed, noted Maria Telalian of Greece.
Tasked with ironing out a draft comprehensive counter terrorism convention, Telalian said the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 concluded its 13th session without final agreement on a text.
Speaking on the occasion, the Indian representative urged all member countries to show flexibility in the process — the objectives of which were accepted by all — so that the Committee could adopt the draft convention when it next met.
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It appeared that the "culminating moment" had come in the negotiations. The Committee had grappled with issues, but now there was a text, put together in 2002 and advanced by the 2007 efforts of the facilitator, which included the concerns of some states, the Indian delegation added.
Closing the session, Committee Chairman H M G S Palihakkara of Sri Lanka said the meeting had been a further opportunity to renew engagement and maintain momentum in efforts to finalize the draft.
Encouraged by the continuing interest of delegations in seeing the text finalized as soon as possible, he stressed that negotiations had reached a "critical stage". Though encouraged by the engagement, he was also concerned that some sought to cling to "well-held" positions.
The time had come to move from those and reach a compromise. In the words of Ghana's delegate, it was time to take a leap of faith.
Basically it was outstanding issues surrounding article 18 of the text that had preoccupied the Committee since 2001, he added, saying that the key proposal on the table contained elements that sought to bridge the divergent positions.
The Coordinator's text, together with the useful clarifications, also had the potential to facilitate agreement.
The forthcoming General Assembly session was crucial, and delegations should remain actively engaged during the inter sessional period, mindful of the international community's expectations of a conclusion to the long negotiation process.