Terrorist safe havens should be eliminated in every part of the world, said IBSA foreign ministers
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Grace Naledi Pandor in their meeting under IBSA forum in New York City on Friday deplored continued terrorist attacks across the world.

In their meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York City, they condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever.

They concurred that terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought and terrorist safe havens eliminated in every part of the world.

They called upon the international community to establish a genuinely broad international counter-terrorism framework in accordance with the principles of international law and support the United Nations' central coordinating role in international counter-terrorism cooperation.

They recalled the responsibility of all states to prevent and counter-terrorism, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, the financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories.

The IBSA foreign ministers reiterated their resolve to step up joint efforts for the expeditious adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UNGA.

IBSA foreign ministers also decided to hold a standalone meeting of IBSA foreign ministers in the first quarter of 2024 in Brazil.

The foreign ministers of IBSA in their meeting held on the sidelines of UN General Assembly also tasked the Sherpas to elaborate a proposal on IBSA institutional development.

While maintaining that values and principles of IBSA serve as a bridge between developing and developed countries, IBSA foreign ministers affirmed the strategic significance of IBSA in safeguarding and advancing the interests of the Global South on the global stage, including at the multilateral and plurilateral bodies.

They also agreed to strengthen and expand the IBSA Fund, an internationally recognized initiative of South-South cooperation, with 42 projects in 37 countries. They tasked the Sherpas to elaborate a proposal to that effect.

They noted with concern the escalation of geopolitical tensions in various parts of the world and emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy for peaceful resolution of conflicts.

They called for strengthening of global arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, including efforts within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament.

The IBSA foreign ministers also called for a comprehensive reform of the UN, while emphasizing that advancing the reform of the Security Council should remain an urgent and top priority.

"The Ministers expressed frustration with the paralysis observed at the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UN Security Council reform which lacks transparency in its working methods and have not produced tangible progress in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA),” a joint communique issued by IBSA foreign ministers said.