On April 1, in New York, the Ad Hoc Committee of the UN General Assembly finished the work on the Draft International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. The Convention is the first treaty adopted in the United Nations on Russia's initiative. For the first time an antiterrorist convention has been developed by the international community for preemption, that is before the commission of terrorist acts with the use of nuclear material and other radioactive substances. And generally this is the first universal treaty, aimed at preventing terrorist acts of mass destruction.

In the conditions when Al Qaeda and other terrorist structures seek to possess nuclear capability, the adoption of this treaty is of exceptionally great importance, primarily for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Speaking of the content characteristics of the Convention, it aims in the first place:

- to provide a legal basis for effective counteraction against acts of nuclear terrorism, including their suppression and the elimination of consequences;

- to ensure the antiterrorist protection of both the peaceful and military atom, and to suppress terrorist acts involving the use of self-made nuclear devices;

- to ensure the inevitability of persons guilty of acts of nuclear terrorism being brought to justice, on the basis of the "either extradite or try" principle.

The adoption of the Convention has crowned the complicated negotiating process that had stretched out nearly eight years. We are grateful to all the countries which have shown an understanding of the importance of the issues governed by the Convention and made far from simple compromises for themselves. This enabled achieving the consensus adoption of the treaty, which is particularly important.

I am convinced that the new Convention will facilitate rallying states in the struggle against the challenges terrorists have been throwing down to our civilization. Its adoption is opening up additional possibilities for the building-up of UN-led antiterrorist cooperation, including the speediest agreeing on the Draft Comprehensive Convention Against International Terrorism, initiated by India.

In the coming days the Convention will be adopted by the UN General Assembly. It is borne in mind to open it for signature during Summit 2005, the meeting of leaders of the UN member states in New York, timed for the 60th anniversary of the Organization.