Signing of the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings

April 20, 1998

1. The International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings was signed by Ambassador Hisashi Owada, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, on behalf of the Japanese Government, on April 17 (Japan Time: 18), in New York (U.N. Headquarters).
   
   
2. Following the U.N.'s deliberation based on the "Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism" adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in December 1996, this convention was adopted by the General Assembly on December 15, 1997. The convention criminalizes such acts as the setting of explosive substances in places of public use, obliges parties to the convention to establish jurisdiction over such offensive acts and to extradite alleged offenders to relevant parties to the convention, with a view to preventing criminals from escaping the criminal proceedings.
   
   
3. Japan has been positively contributing to constructing an international framework for the suppression of terrorism by concluding treaties on anti-terrorism. The signing of this convention is meaningful in proving Japan's efforts against terrorist bombings.
   
   
4. As of April 16, 19 countries including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, U.K. and U.S.A. had signed the convention. It is to enter into force on the 30th day following the date of the 22nd country's conclusion; however, as of April 16, no country has completed the formalities, and it has not yet taken effect.