Database
on Basic Documents of Japan-ASEAN Relations
Department of
Advanced Social and International Studies,
2001 ASEAN Declaration on Joint Action to Counter Terrorism
We, the Heads of State/Government of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) gathered in
Recalling the agreement among Heads of State/Government during the Second
Informal Summit in December 1997 in
Reaffirming our primary responsibility in ensuring the peaceful and
progressive development of our respective countries and our region,
Deeply concerned over the formidable challenge posed by terrorism to
regional and international peace and stability as well as to economic
development,
Underlining the importance of strengthening regional and international cooperation
in meeting the challenges confronting us,
Do hereby,
Unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms the horrifying terrorist
attacks in New York City, Washington DC and Pennsylvania on 11 September 2001
and consider such acts as an attack against humanity and an assault on all of
us;
Extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the people and Government
of the
View acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed
wherever, whenever and by whomsoever, as a profound threat to international
peace and security which require concerted action to protect and defend all
peoples and the peace and security of the world;
Reject any attempt to link terrorism with any religion or race;
Believe terrorism to be a direct challenge to the attainment of peace,
progress and prosperity of ASEAN and the realisation
of ASEAN Vision 2020;
Commit to counter, prevent and suppress all forms of terrorist acts in
accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other international law,
especially taking into account the importance of all relevant UN resolutions;
Ensure that, in observing the above, all cooperative efforts to combat
terrorism at the regional level shall consider joint practical
counter-terrorism measures in line with specific circumstances in the region
and in each member country;
Recommit ourselves to pursue effective policies and strategies aimed at
enhancing the well-being of our people, which will be our national contribution
in the fight against terrorism;
Note that, towards this end, ASEAN had established a regional framework
for fighting transnational crime and adopted an ASEAN Plan of Action that
outlines a cohesive regional strategy to prevent, control and neutralise transnational crime;
Approve fully the initiatives of the Third ASEAN Ministers Meeting on
Transnational Crime (AMMTC) held in October 2001 to focus on terrorism and deal
effectively with the issue at all levels and endorse the convening of an Ad Hoc
Experts Group Meeting and special sessions of the SOMTC and AMMTC that will
focus on terrorism;
Warmly welcome
In strengthening further ASEAN's counter-terrorism efforts, we task our
Ministers concerned to follow-up on the implementation of this declaration to
advance ASEAN's efforts to fight terrorism by undertaking the following
additional practical measures.
1.
Review and strengthen our national mechanisms to combat terrorism;
2.
Call for the early signing/ratification of or accession to all relevant
anti-terrorist conventions including the International Convention for the Suppression
of the Financing of Terrorism;
3.
Deepen cooperation among our front-line law enforcement agencies in combatting terrorism and sharing "best
practices";
4.
Study relevant international conventions on terrorism with the view to integrating
them with ASEAN mechanisms on combating international terrorism;
5.
Enhance information/intelligence exchange to facilitate the flow of
information, in particular, on terrorists and terrorist organisations,
their movement and funding, and any other information needed to protect lives,
property and the security of all modes of travel;
6.
Strengthen existing cooperation and coordination between the AMMTC and
other relevant ASEAN bodies in countering, preventing and suppressing all forms
of terrorists acts. Particular attention would be paid
to finding ways to combat terrorist organisations,
support infrastructure and funding and bringing the perpetrators to
justice;
7.
Develop regional capacity building programmes
to enhance existing capabilities of ASEAN member countries to investigate,
detect, monitor and report on terrorist acts;
8.
Discuss and explore practical ideas and initiatives to increase ASEAN's
role in and involvement with the international community including
extra-regional partners within existing frameworks such as the ASEAN + 3, the
ASEAN Dialogue Partners and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), to make the fight
against terrorism a truly regional and global endeavour;
9.
Strengthen cooperation at bilateral, regional and international levels
in combating terrorism in a comprehensive manner and affirm that at the
international level the United Nations should play a major role in this regard.
We, the Leaders of ASEAN, pledge to remain seized with the matter, and
call on other regions and countries to work with ASEAN in the global struggle
against terrorism.
Adopted this Fifth Day of November
2001 in