India will push for adoption of a draft for Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly which began early this week. The Minster for External Affairs Mr. S M Krishna is leaving for New York later tonight to participate in the high-level session. The CCIT draft was presented in 1996, and New Delhi has urged all Member States to make concerted efforts for finalization and adoption of the convention. The Foreign Secretary Ms. Nirupama Rao told reporters that it is a major priority for India to significantly improve international cooperation in counter terrorism efforts. She said the aim of the session was to reinforce the international community's efforts to face contemporary global challenges of poverty eradication. Emphasizing on the global efforts for mitigation of impact of economic crisis, Ms Rao said that the focus of the talks will be on global escalation of food and energy prices, climate change and sustainable social and economic development.<br/><br/>The Foreign Secretary also stressed on prioritizing reforms in the United Nations including expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent membership categories. Replying to a question, she called for a reform in institutions of international governance along with the financial majors to match the contemporary realties.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, a high level meeting on climate change is being organized on the sidelines of the General Assembly. The meeting hosted by the UN Secretary General on Tuesday will provide political direction and momentum to the ongoing multilateral negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate change (UNFCCC). It will be an important forum for India to articulate it’s position on the climate change issue and the constructive approach that the country is committed to playing in the multilateral negotiations under the UNFCCC leading to the 15th Conference of Parties in Copenhagen in December 2009.