14 December 2001

Declaration of Bishkek Conference on Terrorism

The countries participating in an international conference on terrorism held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, issued a declaration December 14 that calls on the international community "to closely cooperate in the struggle against acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

The conference, which focused on the specific needs of Central Asian countries, was co-sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UN ODCCP)

The declaration stresses that terrorism is a global problem and states that there must be "no safe haven for perpetrators of such crimes and their accomplices." It also rejects "the identification of terrorism with any particular religion or culture."

Participating states expressed their determination "to combat terrorism while fully respecting human rights and the rule of law."

As neighbors to Afghanistan, "the Central Asian region is exposed to specific challenges and threats to security," the declaration says, and it takes note of "the contribution of the states in the region to the global coalition against international terrorism, and emphasize[s] the necessity to render political support and financial/technical assistance to the states of Central Asia in this context, including support for sustainable development."

Following is the text of the declaration:

The States participants/1 of the international conference in Bishkek:

Resolutely condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations;

Acknowledging the primary role of the United Nations in the fight against terrorism and supporting resolutions no. 1377 (2001), 1373 (2001), 1368 (2001) and 1269 (1999) of the UN Security Council, as well as General Assembly Resolution 56/1 as a basis and framework for global co-operation to counter international terrorism;

Reaffirming the 'Decision on Combating Terrorism' and the 'Bucharest Plan of Action for Combating Terrorism' adopted at the Ninth Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council on 3-4 December 2001 in Bucharest;

Acknowledging the importance of the Declaration by the Central Asian states and the document "Priorities for Co-operation to Counter Drugs, Organized Crime and Terrorism in Central Asia", as endorsed in Tashkent, 20 October 2000;

Committed to address political conflicts and economic and social problems which are exploited by terrorists and violent extremists to mobilise support for their cause. Determined to translate their political will into action by joining forces to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

• Note the importance and timeliness of the Bishkek Conference 2001, as an international forum to strengthen understanding and share approaches in the struggle against terrorism.

• Emphasise that terrorism is a global problem and that there must be no safe haven for perpetrators of such crimes and their accomplices. It is a complex challenge due to links with transnational organized crime, illicit drugs, trafficking in human beings, money laundering, arms trafficking, computer and other high technology crimes as well as other threats, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

• Reject firmly the identification of terrorism with any particular religion or culture as well as the unacceptable attempts by terrorists and violent extremists to present their cause as a struggle between religions or cultures.

• Confirm that the struggle against terrorism requires joint and comprehensive efforts of the international community, in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, their obligations under international law, and the OSCE commitments they have undertaken, which closely link the OSCE's politico military, human and economic dimensions.

• Express their determination to combat terrorism while fully respecting human rights and the rule of law.

• Underline their commitment to address at the earliest possible moment political conflicts and economic and social problems which are exploited and abused by terrorists and violent extremists to mobilise support for their destructive causes.

• Call upon the international community, governments and civil societies to closely co-operate in the struggle against acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations on bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

• Note that as a neighbor to Afghanistan, the Central Asian region is exposed to specific challenges and threats to security; in this connection, they note the contribution of the states in the region to the global coalition against international terrorism, and emphasized the necessity to render political support and financial/technical assistance to the states of Central Asia in this context, including support for sustainable development.

• Endorse the attached "Programme of Action", to initiate practical measures aimed at preventing and countering terrorism.

• Express their gratitude to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for having taken the initiative for this conference and for the excellent conference framework and hospitality in Bishkek.

  This declaration was agreed amongst OSCE participating States represented atthe conference on the basis of interventions made at the conference.