Don’t distinguish between good and bad terrorists: Prez

Tribune News Service 
New Delhi, June 19

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday delivered his first major foreign policy speech highlighting the challenges of terrorism and multilateralism at a leading Greek think-tank in Athens.

Addressing the Hellenic Foundation for Europe and Foreign Policy on ‘India and Europe in a Changing World’, President Kovind advocated “robust, rules-based, multilateral institutions” and “connectivity projects that are viable, sustainable, respect the sovereignty and territory of nations”.

The President’s address comes just weeks after Modi spoke strongly in favour of international laws and commitments at the Shangri La dialogue in Singapore.

“India and Europe must work together to ensure that the multilateral mechanism remains resilient and serves future generations – as well as accommodates new actors with a merit-based claim for a seat at the table,” President Kovind said. “As a responsible power, India seeks to be a rule framer and rule custodian,” he added. 

The President also underlined radicalisation and terrorism as global concerns with India and EU facing pockets of instability and extremism to the west and east, respectively.

“Promotion of terrorism by state and non-state actors; extremism in a variety of forms and rooted in senseless hate; the proliferation of sensitive weapons; the use of regular communication and financial channels by terror groups – these pose a challenge to not one nation or the other but to all humanity,” he said. He urged India and EU to ‘persuade the world to not distinguish between so-called “good” and “bad” terrorists and ‘to shame and sanction state sponsors of terrorism’.

Earlier, the President, who is on a state visit to the Hellenic Republic, laid wreaths at the Phaleron Indian Cremation Memorial. Remains of 74 soldiers of undivided India who had sacrificed their lives in the campaign in Greece during World War II were laid to rest here.