Missed opportunity

UN secretary-general Kofi Annan is reported to have said: "World leaders should adopt a comprehensive treaty against terrorism as soon as possible...".

The Reuters report continued: "He urged UN members to put aside wrangling over the definition of terrorism that has for years obstructed agreement on an anti-terrorism treaty".

These words brought to mind a great opportunity missed by the UN General Assembly when it almost unanimously agreed to condemn international terrorism.

On December 7, 1987, the General Assembly passed a resolution condemning terrorism and urging "effective and resolute measures for the speedy and final elimination of international terrorism".

The resolution was passed by 153 votes to two, the two being the US and Israel, with Honduras abstaining.

The US voted against the resolution because it was not prepared to affirm the right of people to struggle against racist and colonialist regimes and foreign military occupation.

If it had supported the resolution, it would have legitimised the resistance of Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, Palestine and elsewhere.

The title of the resolution condemned "Terrorism Wherever And By Whomever Committed," as carried in UN press release GA/7603, December 7, 1987.