Database
on Basic Documents of Japan-ASEAN Relations
Department of
Advanced Social and International Studies,
ASEAN-Japan Joint
Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism
The Governments of
Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao
People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of
Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the
Kingdom of Thailand, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, member countries of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan (hereinafter
referred to collectively as “the participants”);
Mindful of the
2001 ASEAN Declaration on Joint Action to Counter Terrorism, which, inter alia, undertakes to strengthen cooperation at bilateral,
regional and international levels in combating terrorism in a comprehensive
manner and affirms that at the international level the United Nations should
play a major role in this regard;
REAFFIRMING their
determination to prevent, suppress and eliminate all forms of international
terrorism in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, international
law and all the relevant United Nations resolutions or declarations on
international terrorism, and reaffirming that the United Nations should play a
major role in combating terrorism;
Reaffirming their
unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all
its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever
committed, as criminal and unjustifiable;
Recognising that the threat of terrorism remains a global
security concern and determined to address the threat posed by terrorists to the
peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region;
Rejecting any
attempt to associate terrorism with any religion, race or nationality;
Recalling the
Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring ASEAN-Japan Partnership in the
New Millennium signed on 12 December 2003 in Tokyo, in which the parties
reaffirmed the spirit of cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the
shared recognition of the importance of counter terrorism cooperation;
SHARING the view
that successfully eliminating terrorism requires a comprehensive approach that
includes addressing its underlying causes;
Acknowledging the
remarkable achievements made by the ASEAN member countries in the fight against
terrorism and welcoming the enhanced counter-terrorism measures taken by the
ASEAN member countries in preventing the recurrence of terrorist attacks;
RECOGNISING the
principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-intervention in
the domestic affairs of other states; and
Encouraged by the
strong cooperation between the Member Countries of ASEAN and Japan on security,
intelligence and law enforcement matters, and desiring to strengthen and expand
this cooperation to fight international terrorism through the ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), as the leading ASEAN body for combating
terrorism, and other mechanisms;
Solemnly declare
as follows:
Objectives:
1.
ASEAN and
2.
The participants emphasise that the purpose of
this cooperation is to enhance the efficacy of those efforts to combat
terrorism.
Scope and Areas of
Cooperation
3.
The participants stress their commitment to implement the principles
laid out in this Declaration, in accordance with their respective domestic laws
and their specific circumstances, in any or all of the following activities and
to review them at an appropriate existing meeting;
i)
Strengthen exchange of information and law enforcement cooperation on
the activities of terrorists and terrorist organisations;
including through extradition and mutual assistance in criminal matters to
bring terrorists to justice;
ii)
Ensure the early conclusion and implementation of all relevant
counter-terrorism conventions and protocols and the full compliance of all the
relevant United Nations Resolutions on international terrorism, including
Security Council Resolutions 1267, 1269, 1373,1390, 1455, 1456 and 1540 in
accordance with article 25 of the United Nations Charter;
iii)
Strengthen necessary measures to counter and prevent the financing of
terrorists and terrorist organisations and the use of
alternative means of remittance such as illegal money transfer;
iv)
Implement
appropriate measures so that terrorists will not use charitable organisations and groups to cover their activities;
v) Strengthen immigration
controls to prevent the movement of terrorist and provide assistance to address
border and immigration control challenges;
vi)
Develop cooperation to enhance national transport security, including
aviation security, maritime security and container security as agreed in the
framework of ARF, ASEAN+3 and the ASEAN and Japan Transport Ministers Meeting;
vii)
Strengthen capacity-building efforts through training and education;
consultations between officials, analysts and field operators; dispatch of
experts, seminars, and conferences, and joint projects as appropriate;
viii)
Continue to develop cooperative projects with the Southeast Asia
Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) in
ix)
Develop multilateral cooperation on fighting against terrorism in the
international fora;
x)
Develop detailed cooperative measures in the areas identified above; and
xi)
Continue to support development projects that aim at reducing poverty
and socio-economic disparity and injustices, as well as promoting the elevation
of standard of living, in particular of underprivileged groups and people in
underdeveloped areas;
Participation
4.
The ASEAN member countries are called upon to become as a matter of
urgency parties to all 12 United Nations conventions and protocols relating to
terrorism.
5.
The participants are called upon to designate their respective agency to
coordinate with law enforcement agencies, authorities dealing with countering
terrorist financing and other concerned government agencies, and to act as the
National Focal Point for the purposes of implementing this Declaration.
Disclosure of
Information
6.
The participants expect that no confidential information, documents or
data received in connection with this Declaration shall be disclosed or
distributed to any third party, at any time, except to the extent agreed in
writing by the participant that provided the information.
Implementation
7.
All the participants are urged to promote and implement in good faith
and effectively the provisions of the present Declaration in all its aspects.
ADOPTED
by the Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member Countries and