For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 25, 2002
Statement by the President
Enactment of Implementing Legislation
for International Terrorism Conventions
Earlier today I signed into law the implementing legislation for
two very important United Nations international conventions against
terrorism: the International Convention for the Suppression of
Terrorist Bombings and the International Convention for the Suppression
of the Financing of Terrorism. I thank the Congress, especially the
Judiciary committees, for its hard work in passing this legislation,
which will strengthen our campaign against global terrorism. The
Senate gave its advice and consent to ratification of these Conventions
last December. Now that this legislation has been enacted, the United
States will deposit its instruments of ratification at the United
Nations and become a party to these two Conventions.
These two Conventions strengthen international efforts to defeat
terrorism of global reach. They underscore -- along with ten other
international terrorism conventions -- the broad moral consensus that
violence against innocent civilians is a criminal act and must be
punished. These Conventions also require parties to them to take
practical steps to bring terrorists and their supporters to justice.
The Terrorist Bombings Convention creates a new and important mechanism
for nations to cooperate in investigating and prosecuting terrorist
crimes. The International Convention for the Suppression of the
Financing of Terrorism strengthens our continuing efforts to cut off
the flow of funds to terrorist groups.
In Canada this week, I will be discussing with leaders from other
industrialized nations ways we can ensure that all countries take
stronger legal measures against terrorism. In particular, I urge all
countries to join us in becoming party to these Conventions and fully
adhering to U.N. Security Council Resolutions to stop terrorism,
particularly U.N. Security Council Resolution 1373, which denies safe
haven to terrorists and prohibits terrorist financing, recruitment,
and access to weapons and other support. I will continue to work with
other leaders around the world to build a consensus that terrorism,
whatever the excuse, is unacceptable. Working together, America and
the other freedom-loving nations of the world are moving towards a day
when our children can live free from the fear of terrorism and free to
achieve their dreams.
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