The States Parties to this Convention,
Having in mind the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations concerning the maintenance of international peace and security and the promotion
of good-neighbourliness and friendly relations and cooperation among States,
Deeply concerned about the worldwide escalation of acts of terrorism in all its forms
and manifestations,
Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United
Nations of 24 October 1995,
Recalling also the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, annexed
to General Assembly resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, in which, inter alia, “the
States Members of the United Nations solemnly reaffirm their unequivocal condemnation
of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever
and by whomever committed, including those which jeopardize the friendly relations
among States and peoples and threaten the territorial integrity and security of States”,
Noting that the Declaration also encouraged States “to review urgently the scope of
the existing international legal provisions on the prevention, repression and elimination
of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of ensuring that there
is a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of the matter”,
Recalling further General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 and the Declaration
to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism,
annexed thereto,
Noting also that terrorist attacks by means of explosives or other lethal devices
have become increasingly widespread,
Noting further that existing multilateral legal provisions do not adequately address
these attacks,
Being convinced of the urgent need to enhance international cooperation between States
in devising and adopting effective and practical measures for the prevention of such
acts of terrorism, and for the prosecution and punishment of their perpetrators,
Considering that the occurrence of such acts is a matter of grave concern to the international
community as a whole,
Noting that the activities of military forces of States are governed by rules of international
law outside the framework of this Convention and that the exclusion of certain actions
from the coverage of this Convention does not condone or make lawful otherwise unlawful
acts, or preclude prosecution under other laws,
Have agreed as follows: