[Mb-civic] CBC News - UN APPROVES TREATY TO PREVENT NUCLEAR TERRORISM

[CBC News Online]

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UN APPROVES TREATY TO PREVENT NUCLEAR TERRORISM
WebPosted Wed Apr 13 18:21:43 2005

UNITED NATIONS--- The United Nations General Assembly has approved a
global treaty aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism. The treaty
obliges governments to punish those who possess or threaten to use
nuclear material.

        The resolution was adopted by the 191-member world body
        without a vote.

"By its action today, the General Assembly has shown that it can, when it
has the political will, play an important role in the global fight again
terrorism. The nuclear terrorism convention, when it enters into force,
will strengthen the international legal framework to combat terrorism,"
said U.S. deputy UN ambassador Stuart Holliday.

Russia launched the campaign more than seven years ago. On Wednesday,
Ambassador Alexander Konuzin said the decision marked "the first time
that an anti-terrorist convention has been developed on the basis of
preventing - that is not after the fact, but before the terrorist acts
[are carried out] which are criminalized by this convention."

        The pact will be open for signature on Sept. 14, in New York,
        during a high-level summit, and needs ratification from 22
        nations to become international law.

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