Terrorism: APEC for U.N. role

By Amit Baruah

SHANGHAI, OCT. 21. Reflecting the concerns of countries such as China, Russia and Indonesia, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) today called for a `major' United Nations' role in combating terrorism.

Unequivocally condemning in the `strongest terms' the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., the APEC leaders from 20 nations expressed ``deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of a large number of nationalities and their families and to the people and Government of the United States of America''. There was no support - not even a reference - to the ongoing U.S.-led military operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan in the APEC Economic Leaders' statement on counter- terrorism. While not unexpected, the absence of support reveals the divisions in the ranks of the APEC members on the U.S. response.

By issuing an anti-terrorism statement, the APEC, an economic grouping set up in 1989, has departed from past tradition of not speaking on overtly political issues.

``Leaders consider the murderous deeds as well as other terrorist acts in all forms and manifestations, committed wherever, whenever and whomsoever, as a profound threat to peace, prosperity and security of all people, of all faiths, of all nations,'' the statement said.

This makes it clear that the APEC leaders' concerns go far beyond the September 11 events and expect that the larger world community would deal with terrorism on a global scale, not restricting it to current U.S.-driven concerns.

On a role for the U.N., the statement said ``Leaders deem it imperative to strengthen international cooperation at all levels in a comprehensive manner and affirm that the U.N. should play a major role in this regard, especially taking into account the importance of all relevant U.N. resolutions''.

``Leaders commit it to prevent and suppress all forms of terrorist acts in the future in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other international law, pledge to implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1368 and 1373 faithfully and immediately, strongly support all efforts to strengthen the international anti-terrorism regime, and also call for early signing and ratification of all basic universal anti- terrorist conventions, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism,'' it said.

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