SVG represented at Global Conference against terrorism

As the International Conference on Global Terrorism folded in Tehran, Iran, St. Vincent and the Grenadines reiterated the conviction that our world must be one of peace,{{more}} where all people can share the benefits of humanity’s progress in peace and harmony and without fear.

This was expressed by Minister of Transport and Works Senator Julian Francis before the plenary of the first summit of its kind, which was attended by more than sixty countries and representatives of the United Nations, among other international organizations.

Francis headed a four man delegation to the summit which included Dexter Rose, Ambassador of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Cuba and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sehon Marshall, Chairman of the National Telecommunications and Regulatory Commission, and Joel Jack, representing the religious community.

During the June 25 -26 event, held at the Conference Center in Tehran, Minister Francis held separate discussions with Iranian First Vice President Mohamed Reza Rahimi and with that country’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on a wide range of matters, including collaboration in education and medicine and Iran’s continuing contribution toward the timely completion of the Argyle International Airport.

The conference, addressed by the Presidents of Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kajikistan and Sudan along with host President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also heard a message from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon during the opening ceremony.

Several Caribbean countries including Cuba, represented by Vice President Esteban Lazo, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada all sent representatives at ministerial or diplomatic level to the meeting, which discussed ways in which the world can combat the scourge of terrorism.

Senator Francis noted in his address that global terrorism has forced governments to utilize finances that can otherwise be used toward programmes to combat poverty and to educating and developing our nations towards instituting security measures.

He recalled that the Caribbean area had not been exempt from terrorism as he recalled that Guyanese students along with the Cuban and North Korean fencing teams had lost their lives when a Cubana flight was blown out of the skies off Barbados in 1976. Noting that the acknowledged mastermind of this crime still walks free in Miami, the Transport and Works Minister described the two faces of terrorism, stating that some terrorists cannot be considered acceptable while others are accused and locked away without trial.

The four-man St. Vincent and the Grenadines delegation returned home on June 29.