International

Almaty Declaration vows to eliminate terrorism

ALMATY JUNE 4. Pledging to eliminate terrorism from the face of Asia, leaders of 16 countries, including the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, today signed a declaration which was strongly advocated by New Delhiafter the December 13 attack on Parliament.

The nations, attending the first summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building measures in Asia, also adopted the Almaty Act, which recognised that terrorism was a trans-national threat and had to be eradicated from the continent through united efforts. The Declaration on Eliminating Terrorism and Promoting Dialogue among Civilisations said ``we pledge to be particularly vigilant, in order to ensure that the global fight against terrorism does not become a war targeting particular cultures, religions or nations.'' The Act ``condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and any support or acceptance of it and the failure to condemn it directly.''

It identifies ``separatism as one of the main threats and challenges to security and stability'' in the region.

``Member states will not support any separatist movement on the territory of another member state,'' the text says.

The text notes that signatories of the CICA ``will unite in their efforts to prevent terrorism either being prepared, launched and financed from the territory of a state, and we refuse to offer protection or a home to terrorists.''

The Act recognises the rights of ``peoples living under foreign occupation'' but bars member countries from backing separatist movements acting on the territory of other CICA members.

It also devotes a considerable portion to the threat posed by terrorism and illicit arms and drug trafficking.

The security conference also adopted a declaration asking the United Nations to play a ``central role'' in developing a framework for meeting the challenge of terrorism.

``No consideration whatsoever can be invoked to justify terrorism,'' said the Declaration on Eliminating Terrorism and Promoting Dialogue among Civilisations.

``We are fully committed to fighting terrorism and strengthening bilateral, regional and international cooperation, in accordance with the U.N. Charter, required to meet this challenge.

We emphasise the central role of the United Nations, its General Assembly and Security Council, in developing the framework for this,'' the declaration said.

The 16 signatories are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

— UNI, PTI, AFP

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