14 December 2001
Text: Declaration of Bishkek Conference on Terrorism
(Dec. 14: OSCE/UN ODCCP sponsored; focused on Central Asia) (830)
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:
(begin text)
DECLARATION OF THE BISHKEK INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENHANCING SECURITY AND
STABILITY IN CENTRAL ASIA: STRENGTHENING THE COMPREHENSIVE EFFORTS TO COUNTER
TERRORISM
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
13-14 December 2001
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.
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) Express their determination to combat terrorism while fully respecting human
rights and the rule of law.
(6) 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.
(7) 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.
(8) 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.
(9) Endorse the attached "Programme of Action", to initiate practical measures
aimed at preventing and countering terrorism.
(10) 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.
1.This declaration was agreed amongst OSCE participating States represented
atthe conference on the basis of interventions made at the conference.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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