Japan and Austria agreed Friday on the need to sign an international treaty to stop the flow of funds linked to terrorism. The countries said they hope to sign by the end of the year and work for an early ratification of the treaty.
Benita Maria Ferrero-Waldner, visiting Austrian foreign minister, told Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka that Austria and other European Union countries are working on steps to cut the financial resources of terrorists, and want to cooperate with Japan for ratification of the treaty, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Tanaka agreed, saying that establishing an international framework is necessary to block money laundering, which is often linked to funds supporting terrorism, the official said.