Organised crime connected to terrorism: Meira

Highlighting the links between crime syndicates and terrorism, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said during her visit to Rome that international cooperation is needed to fight organised crime and drug trafficking.

She said this at a Sep 12-13 meeting of speakers of the Lower Houses of G8 and G5 countries along with Egypt in the Italian capital.

She spoke of the connection between organised crime syndicates and terrorism, and in this context mentioned India's experience of criminals and non-state actors being used as proxies in covert warfare by some neighbours, said a release issued by Lok Sabha secretariat Monday.

She said the Indian parliament has enacted a number of important laws, including the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act which, together, provide a sound legal framework to deal with drug trafficking.

"The speaker emphasised the importance of international cooperation in this area as it has assumed a global character," the release said.

The meeting -- with the theme "The contribution of parliaments in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime" -- is being hosted by Italy in its capacity as the president of the G8 and this is the first time that G5 countries participated in it.

"On the sidelines of the meeting, the speaker had discussions with the Italian Speaker Gianfranco Fini in which they exchanged views on the development of bilateral ties, the importance of parliamentary exchanges and issues of international significance such as terrorism and climate change," the release said.

She was in Italy at the invitation of Gianfranco Fini, president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Meira Kumar extended an invitation to the Italian speaker to visit India.

"The speaker also had useful bilateral meetings with Boris Gryzlov, president of the Russian Duma, and Bernard Accoyer, president of the French National Assembly."

"Both the French and the Russian speakers invited Meira Kumar to visit France and Russia, respectively," the release added.

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( 340 Words)

2009-09-14-13:55:12 (IANS)

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