Dr. Sergey V. Cherkas, Deputy Director, RCSC, in his welcome address, threw light on the increasing role of the UN in combating terrorism, one of the most dangerous threats the countries across the world faces one way or other, particularly Russia and India, and underlined the points of the Plan "Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century". Making the presentation, Dr. Cherkas cited UN's counter-terrorism activities and described some of the key issues pertaining to the risks of nuclear terrorism. He also projected some questions for discussion at the Seminar, for example collaboration between Russia and India in the field of fighting against terrorism.
Tracing India's dire experience to the national loss of great leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and the terrible terrorist onslaughts that followed in the country, Mr. K. L. Malhotra, General Secretary, Indian Council for UN Relations, referred to the potential sources, particularly the which are orchestrating and engineering the chief designs of terrorism.
Pointing out the essential need of mobilizing world opinion against the terrorist hazard, Mr. S. S. Chaman, Secretary-General, Indian Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (IAFFC), reiterated the role of dialogue to be initiated by right-thinking people of the world cutting across all barriers in line with the consciousness of humanity. Mr. Chaman underscored the need of a new policy perception in this context.
Making his presidential observation, Dr. K. K. Panda, Eminent Scholar, Former Registrar, Delhi University, noted that what is needed now is to precisely define terrorism, for the powerful and the affluent with the vested interests under false pretexts interferes in other countries which are economically weaker. Citing overall transformation of the situation in terms of terrorist onslaughts, Dr. Panda referred to the excesses committed by some forces, particularly after the attack on the World Trade Centre. Forewarning the grave consequences of global terrorism assuming nuclear posture, he stressed that the UN has to be more vibrant, potential and rigid in eliminating this atrocious situation. He made a clarion call on adhering to very the spirit of Beslan Appeal. Dr. Panda highlighted India's positive stand on Resolution 1373 of the UN Security Council.
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