Leaders vow to step up fight against terrorism
The heads of state of Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) members
yesterday vowed to intensify the fight against the "three evil forces" of
terrorism, separatism and extremism.
A declaration signed by the six leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan at the end of the summit highlighted the
urgency of the battle.
"To comprehensively deepen co-operation in combating terrorism, separatism,
extremism and drug trafficking is a priority area for the SCO," the declaration
said.
"The SCO will take steps to strengthen the regional anti-terrorism agency and
carry out co-operation with relevant international organizations."
A joint communique issued after the one-day summit also stressed that the
threats posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism "have not diminished but
instead have increased in scale and degree."
It said various forms of joint anti-terrorism military exercises within the
territories of the SCO member states will help enhance the efficiency of their
joint anti-terrorism operations.
"The heads of state spoke positively of the work done by the SCO regional
anti-terrorism structure, and were convinced that this structure has the
potential to better perform its duties and carry out its mission," the
communique noted.
As a signal of the SCO's determination, three out of the 10 documents
endorsed at the summit meeting focused on the anti-terrorism effort.
They included a resolution on fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism
from 2007 to 2009, an agreement on joint anti-terrorism actions among member
countries, and an agreement on cutting off the infiltration channels of
terrorists, separatists and extremists.
During his speech at the summit, Chinese President Hu Jintao said the rampant
activities of the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism
still pose a threat to regional security and stability.
He called for better co-operation between law-enforcement and security
departments, especially information exchanges and communication, so that the SCO
members can raise their capability of joint anti-terrorism activities.
His Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin went as far as to call on national
defence authorities from SCO member states to take an active role in the
struggle against the "three evil forces."
The SCO has agreed to hold joint anti-terrorism exercises next year in the
Volga-Ural military district of Russia.
Liu Jianchao, spokesman for the Chinese delegation to the summit, said one
major function of the SCO is to fight terrorism.
He said fighting terrorism has become a consensus of the international
community and does not permit double standards.
"Under the current international situation, a single nation can hardly win
the fight against terrorism. The international community should join hands to
combat terrorism," Liu said.
The SCO launched its permanent anti-terror body, the Regional Anti-Terrorism
Structure (RATS), in January 2004.
Based in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, the RATS is entrusted with the task
of co-ordinating SCO member states in carrying out security co-operation,
including combating terrorism, separation and extremism.
It is composed of a Council and an Executive Committee. The RATS Council is
the consultation and policy-making organ, consisting of heads or representatives
of law-enforcement departments of the SCO member states for combating terrorism.
The RATS Executive Committee is a permanent executive body, headed by the
director, who serves a term of three years.
