Mumbai attack to dominate Security Council meet Tuesday

United Nations, Dec 9 (IANS) Meeting in the wake of the Mumbai outrage, members of the powerful Security Council are expected to call for a strong and united stand on international terrorism.

In fact the horrific attack in Mumbai by terrorists, who are said to have come from Pakistan, is expected to dominate the proceedings of the Security Council Tuesday morning (New York time) that is holding its monthly thematic debate on 'Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorists.'

'The subject is accurate and timely because of the tragic events in Mumbai that has shown us the scourge the terrorism on the international scale,' said Ambassador Neven Jurica of Croatia, which holds Security Council presidency for the month of December.

Croatia is also chairman of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon is expected to attend the debate. India would be represented by Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed.

'The main goal of this debate is to revitalize and strengthen international solidarity in combating terrorism - one of the major threats to international peace and security -including the strengthening of the UN leading role in global counter-terrorism efforts,' Jurica said.

Observing that fighting terrorism requires a flexible multi-dimensional approach, Jurcia said: 'We believe the Security Council needs to send a strong message confirming our determination and unity in our fight against terrorism.'

At the end of the debate, the Security Council is expected to issue a presidential statement calling, among other things, reaffirmation of international solidarity in combating terrorism and using more energetic counterterrorism efforts by member states.

Earlier Croatia, had in a letter to the members of the 15-member Security Council, strongly condemned international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

'We must send a strong message confirming our determination and unity in the fight against terrorism under the umbrella of the United Nations, which plays a central role in its suppression. Equally important, terrorism must once and for all be dissociated from any nation, religion or belief, civilization or culture,' the Croatian ambassador said.