| “My
request to you is for the G-11 to emphasize the strong
bond that unites us all in responding to the challenge
of terrorism. All terrorist attacks whether on Amman,
Islamabad, London or Colombo, are acts that must be
vehemently condemned. There can be no differentiating
between them. Terrorism anywhere is terrorism”,
said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the G11
Summit in Jordan today.
President Rajapaksa
added that: “Unfortunately, some in the developed
world tend to view certain terrorist organizations with
a degree of tolerance. At times, these |
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terrorists are viewed as rebels or fighters against
discrimination, as long as they do not create violence
in those countries. Also some countries have permitted
terror organizations to have front offices, institutions,
lobby groups and charities based on the premise of democracy.
By this, they have shown their indifference to terrorism.
“As a group which has a common understanding and
similar issues to grapple with, we, the members of the
G – 11 must work towards eliminating terrorism
from the face of this earth. It is the poor and the
disadvantaged of our countries who suffer most. We have
an obligation to them, to make their lives free of violence
and anxiety,” he said.
The G11 Group was launched last year at the time of
the UN General Assembly sessions in New York. Its members
are Jordan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Indonesia (Middle
East and Asia), Morocco and Tunisia (Africa), Georgia
and Croatia (Europe) and Honduras, Paraguay and Ecuador
(Central and South America). Jordan is the current Secretary
General of the G11.
The objective of the G11 Group is
to increase cooperation and knowledge sharing among
participants who are from the lower-Middle Income countries.
The proposals in the “white Paper” finalized
at the G11 Summit in Jordan are expected to be presented
to the G-8 meeting in Germany next month.
Here
is the text of President Rajapaksa’s address to
the G11 Summit:
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