SAARC leaders agree on collective action against terrorism
[Thursday, April 05, 2007 - 07.25 GMT] 

The need to collectively overcome the challenge of terrorism was stressed by the leaders of the SAARC countries, who also confirmed that the countries of
South Asia must work together to deal with this challenge to secure the region's collective prosperity.

This is said in the Declaration of the Fourth SAARC Summit, which concluded in New Delhi yesterday.

The inclusion of the need for collective action by the SAARC countries to combat terrorism in the region was done at the initiative of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who stressed on this at his opening address to the SAARC Summit on April 3.

The SAARC leaders reaffirmed their commitment to implement all international conventions relating to combating terrorism, to which SAARC Member States
were respectively parties, as well as the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional
Convention dealing with the prevention and suppression of financing of terrorism.

The other challenges identified as needing collecting action to overcome and secure the region's collective prosperity are poverty, disease and natural disasters.

The following are the sections of the SAARC Declaration that deals with the need to combat terrorism;

22.The Heads of State or Government stressed the need to collectively overcome the challenges of poverty, disease, natural disasters and terrorism. They confirmed that countries of South Asia must work together to deal with these challenges in order to secure the region's collective prosperity.

25.The Heads of State or Government underlined that terrorism is a threat to peace and security in the region. They condemned the targeted killing of
civilians and terrorist violence, in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and against whomsoever committed. The Heads of States or Government
affirmed that terrorism violates the principles of the Charters of the United Nations and SAARC and is a clear and present threat to international peace and security. They reaffirmed their commitment to implement all
international conventions relating to combating terrorism, to which SAARC Member States were respectively parties, as well as the SAARC Regional
Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention dealing with the prevention and suppression of financing of terrorism. While urging continued efforts to combat terrorism, the Heads of State or Government also called for urgent conclusion of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

26.The Heads of State or Government agreed to work on the modalities to implement the provisions of the existing SAARC Conventions to combat terrorism, narcotics and psychotropic substances, trafficking in women and children and other trans-national crimes. They expressed their commitment to take every possible measure to prevent and suppress, in particular,
financing of terrorist acts by criminalizing the provision, acquisition and collection of funds for such acts, including through front organizations and also to counter illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, trafficking in
persons and illicit arms. They reiterated the need for law enforcement authorities of Member States to enhance cooperation in the prevention, suppression and prosecution of offences under these Instruments. They noted the initiative of India to prepare a draft of SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and welcomed the offer of Sri Lanka to hold a meeting of Legal Advisers to examine the idea of a draft convention, before the Second Meeting of SAARC Interior/Home Ministers scheduled to be held in October 2007 in India. They also directed them to ensure regular follow-up and implementation of the decisions taken.

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Last Updated Date: April 05, 2007 - 07.25 GMT