Double Standards Would Serve as Connivance of Terrorism
Terrorism, in whatever form or manifestation, endangers the life and safety of innocent people, thus constituting a gross violation of human rights, said Sha.
The Chinese ambassador said adopting double or even multiple standards in this respect would serve as connivance of terrorism. It would lead to grave consequences, he noted.
He said, "If the same acts against me are labeled as terrorism and against you praised as defending human rights, the world will be in chaos. To put it bluntly, the essence of double or multiple standards is still one standard, namely, the standard of one country. "
Intl' Humanitarian Law & Human Rights Respected
Sha stressed that in combating terrorism, international humanitarian law and human rights must be respected. The scope of the fight should not be broadened arbitrarily. Terrorism should not be linked up with specific ethnic groups, religions or countries.
Counter-terrorism efforts should target both its symptoms and its root causes, seeking long-term and fundamental solutions while coping with immediate problems, he added.
Cooperation of Intl' Community Urged
Sha called on the international community to ponder seriously over how to promote democracy at the international level and overcome development-related problems. A final solution to the issue of terrorism would come only after all its fundamental causes were removed, he said.
(People's Daily March 21, 2002)
