The ASEM Copenhagen Declaration on Cooperation against International Terrorism

At the fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 4), held in Copenhagen on 23-24 September 2002, Leaders, recalling in particular the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11 2001, had in-depth discussions on various new security challenges, especially international terrorism and its possible links with transnational organized crime. Leaders agreed to issue the following declaration:

1. We, the ASEM Leaders gathered in Copenhagen on 23 and 24 September 2002 for the fourth Asia-Europe Meeting, declare that acts of international terrorism constitute one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and a challenge to all states and to all of humanity. Terrorism not only endangers the lives of innocents, but also threatens the very foundations upon which our societies are built. We condemn all acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, irrespective of their motivation, forms and manifestations. International cooperation in anti-terrorism activities, including regional cooperation such as that of the EU and ASEAN, as well as bilateral cooperation, has greatly progressed. It is essential that the international community steadily continue efforts in this regard.
2. We pledge to work together to combat this threat to global peace and security, sustainable economic development and political stability, and emphasize that the fight against terrorism must be based on the principles of the UN Charter and basic norms of international law. The fight against terrorism requires a comprehensive approach by the international community comprising political, economic, diplomatic, military and legal means in accordance with our respective domestic laws, duly taking into account root causes of terrorism without acknowledging these as justifications for terrorist and/or criminal activities.
3. We emphasize the importance of sustaining the momentum of international cooperation against terrorism and the leading role of the United Nations. We welcome and fully support UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1377 (2001) and reiterate our commitment to implement these resolutions. We attach great importance to the work of the Counter Terrorism Committee and recognize the need for providing technical assistance to third countries in order to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001). We will work towards the accession to and implementation of the existing international counter-terrorism conventions. We stress the importance of bringing the ongoing negotiations on the United Nations Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism to a successful conclusion.
4. We acknowledge that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups is a serious threat to global peace and security. In this regard, we reaffirm our commitment to General Assembly Resolution 56/24/T on multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism.
5. We acknowledge that terrorism, including its possible links with transnational organized crime such as money laundering, trafficking in human beings and arms as well as the production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, forms part of a complex set of new security challenges. This calls for a multi-facetted approach to the problems we are facing.
6. We are determined to strengthen consultation, cooperation and coordination on new security challenges by expanding ASEM initiatives directed against the scourge of terrorism and transnational organized crime.
7. Our cooperation will build upon the unique ASEM dialogue and cross-cultural understanding. We reject any attempt to associate terrorism with any religion, race or nationality, and also reject any notion that we can be divided along these lines.
8. We have adopted an ASEM Copenhagen Cooperation Programme on Fighting International Terrorism in order to ensure the implementation of the above-mentioned objectives.
9. Activities to be undertaken in the short- to medium term include the establishment of an informal ad hoc consultative mechanism among ASEM Coordinators and Senior Officials as well as regular contacts between relevant regional and national agencies of ASEM partners to facilitate cooperation in the common fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime. Long-term activities focus on the elimination of cultural misconceptions, as well as on the identification and elimination of the root causes of terrorism without acknowledging these as justifications for terrorist and/or criminal activities.

The ASEM Copenhagen Cooperation Programme on Fighting International Terrorism

During the discussions at the fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 4), held in Copenhagen on 23-24 September 2002, Leaders agreed on a series of activities to enhance ASEM Cooperation on international terrorism and transnational organized crime.

Short-term activities:

Establishment of an ad hoc informal consultative mechanism enabling ASEM Coordinators and Senior Officials to confer expeditiously on significant international events.

An ASEM Seminar on Anti-terrorism to be held in 2003 in China before the fifth ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Indonesia in order to discuss how to strengthen the UN's leading role and ASEM cooperation on anti-terrorism.

Full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) and cooperation with the UN Counter Terrorism Committee.

Early accession to and implementation of the existing international conventions and protocols on terrorism and transnational organized crime.

Support for the finalization of the new United Nations Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.

Cooperation to facilitate the early entry into force of the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its related protocols.

Medium-term activities:

Increase cooperation, by enhancing customs communication networks, combating financial crime and money laundering, and improving air and maritime security, while assuring the smooth flow of goods, capital and people.

Mutual efforts in capacity building, enabling ASEM partners to work more closely together in fighting terrorism, implementing all UN counter terrorism Security Council resolutions and international conventions, as well as encouraging ASEM partners to follow the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF). To this end, training courses and seminars could be envisaged.

An ASEM symposium on combating underground banking and the need of supervising alternate remittance services in European and Asian countries will be held in Germany in 2003 within the context of the ASEM Anti-Money Laundering Initiative.

Enhancing cross-cultural understanding and building mutual confidence by initiating an ASEM dialogue on Cultures and Civilizations.

Long-term activities:

Advancing human resources development by, inter alia, building on the ASEM-DUO Fellowship Programme, Asia-Europe University Programme and the ASEM Lifelong Learning initiative.

Preventing prejudices and building mutual understanding through the efforts of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) in order to promote greater intellectual, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Creating prerequisites for sustainable economic development through a closer economic partnership building on the ASEM Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP) and the ASEM Investment Promotion Action Plan (IPAP), among others, as well as on the results of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the International Conference on Financing for Development and the WTO Doha Development Agenda.

Existing ASEM-initiatives:

The above-mentioned activities will build upon and supplement the following, already existing, ASEM initiatives on transnational organized crime and law enforcement-related matters:

ASEM Anti-money Laundering initiative

ASEM initiative on Trafficking in Women and Children

ASEM Ministerial Conference on Cooperation for the Management of Migratory Flows

ASEM Symposium on Law Enforcement Organs' Cooperation in Combating Transnational Crime

ASEM Anti-corruption initiative

ASEM Cooperation in Promoting Awareness in the Young Generation on the Drug Problem

Copenhagen, 23 September 2002