Russia proposes UN resolution on anti-terrorism

Russia proposed on Thursday a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for establishing a new list of individuals and groups involved in terrorist activities and considering sanctions on them.

The measure was circulated only to the other four permanent council members -- China, Britain, the United States and France. Russia also occupies a permanent seat on the 15-nation council.

The resolution, a copy of which was obtained by Xinhua, requests the council's counter-terrorism committee to consider how to create a new list of "individuals, groups and entities involved in or associated with terrorist activities."

It also asks the committee, which is currently chaired by Russia, to consider punishments against people on the list, including an arms embargo, freezing financial assets and expedited extradition.

The resolution calls for full cooperation between nations to find and bring to justice the perpetrators and organizers of terror attacks such as the large-scale hostage taking in Beslan, southern Russia.

Diplomats here said the resolution is aimed at getting Western and Muslim countries' support in pursuing Chechen terrorists abroad. Russia has accused the United States and European states of using "double standard" in the war against terror.

Addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Russian ForeignMinister Sergey Lavrov called on Western nations not to harbor Chechen terrorists.

"Harboring terrorists, their connivers and sponsors undermines the unity and mutual trust among participants in the anti-terrorist front," he warned, adding that relevant UN resolutions oblige states granting political asylum to examine personal records of every asylum applicants.

Source: Xinhua