BUCHAREST, Dec 4 (Hina) - The Ninth Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has concluded its two-day meeting today by agreeing on a Ministerial Declaration and adopting a broad-ranging
Action Plan on counter-terrorism measures.
BUCHAREST, Dec 4 (Hina) - The Ninth Ministerial Council of the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has
concluded its two-day meeting today by agreeing on a Ministerial
Declaration and adopting a broad-ranging Action Plan on counter-
terrorism measures.#L#
The Declaration harshly condemns all forms of terrorism.
The Declaration reiterates the fight against terrorism is not a war
against any religion or nation and points out the devotion to the
preservation of human rights and freedoms.
The Declaration also expresses the OSCE's determination to protect
all member countries' citizens from all forms of terrorism and
terrorism related evils, organised crime, illegal drugs, weapons
and people smuggling, while at the same time safeguarding their
security, and economic and social structures.
The ministers also hailed announced OSCE reforms, and expressed
determination to raise OSCE's measures and mechanisms to a higher
level.
Special attention was paid to the strengthening of cooperation in
economy and environmental protection, and OSCE's scope of
activities regarding police work.
The Ministerial Council has put in charge the OSCE's Permanent
Council to continue working on reforms in the Organisation and to
prepare a report by the next Ministerial Council.
It was stressed that arms control and measures for the
establishment of trust remained the key factors in the security
concept.
In the end, the Ministerial Declaration confirms it is necessary to
establish relations among countries based on sovereign equality,
mutual respect, cooperation and the support to democracy.
Also adopted was the Bucharest Plan of Action for Combating
Terrorism.
The Plan of Action stipulates that the 55 member-countries are
united in combating terrorism, the evil of our time.
All OSCE member countries are obliged to strengthen development,
bilateral and multilateral cooperation with all relevant
organisations. They are also committed to adopt all 12 conventions
and a UN protocol on terrorism as soon as possible.
The Bucharest Plan of Action for Combating Terrorism also provides
a wide framework for action by the OSCE states in combating global
terrorism.
The Plan of Action envisages short-term measures for combating
terrorism, such as the accelerated implementation of existing
political and military agreements and obligations, and a series of
long-term measures aiming at eradicating the causes of terrorism
completely.
Acknowledging the circumstances (social, economic, political,
etc.) which suit the budding of terrorism, the Plan of Action
proposes countermeasures, such as the strengthening of the rule-
of-law, the promotion of human rights, tolerance, the
establishment of a multi-cultural society, in which media should
play a significant role.
The Plan also envisages coping with negative social and economic
factors. In this process the countries must identify issues from
economy and environmental protection which jeopardise security,
such as corruption, illegal economic activities, high unemployment
rate, widespread poverty and large social and economic
differences.
The Plan also envisages the prevention of armed conflicts and the
promotion of peaceful solutions, particularly the strengthening of
national legislation dealing with anti-terrorist measures.
OSCE member countries are expected to prevent the financing of
terrorism, are obliged to process persons suspected of terrorism
and terrorism related activities, as well as share all relevant
information with countries or organisations interested in certain
persons or groups suspected of terrorism.
The OSCE member countries are also obliged to prevent the movements
of terrorists by more efficient border control and control over the
issuing of identification and travel documents. They will also have
to make sure that persons who took part in terrorist activities
cannot be granted asylum and that they be promptly arrested, tried
or extradited to third countries.
At the end, the Plan of Action says the United Nations is the general
framework for combating terrorism, and the OSCE could assume the
role of coordinator for inter-regional initiatives.
US Secretary of State Colin Powel spoke at the plenary session on
Tuesday. He stressed that some member countries must do more in
fighting terrorism, particularly regarding the freezing of
finances and the strengthening of border control.
Israeli Foreign Minister Simon Peres called on the Palestinian
leader, Jaser Arafat, to stop terrorists within his ranks, not
because of Israel, but for the well-being and future of the
Palestinian people and their independent state.
Romania's year-long chairmanship over the OSCE ended with the
Ministerial Conference in Bucharest, and Portugal will be the
country chairing the OSCE in 2002.
(hina) it sb