Russia Seeks Unified UN List Of Terrorist Groups

19 September 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Russia has called on the United Nations to compile a single list of all known terrorist organizations and individual terrorists in order to intensify the international fight against terror.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in an address on 18 September to the UN General Assembly, said that despite UN sanctions against Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and other extremists, terrorists continue to obtain arms and other assistance.

He said terrorists are expanding the geographical area of their operations, and said Russia has experienced attacks by such groups.

Lavrov also criticized the United States for invading Iraq without UN approval more than two years ago.

He also expressed Moscow's opposition to the U.S. plan for a missile-defense system, saying Russia wants to avoid an arms race in space and will not be the first country to introduce armaments into space.

(AP/ITAR-TASS)