Commonwealth Leaders Take Action on Terrorism
25 October 2001
In a statement issued today (attached), 52 Commonwealth Leaders called for concerted and resolute action to counter terrorism.The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon said:
"Heads of Government have resolved that any member country which aids, supports, instigates, finances or harbours terrorists is in violation of our fundamental values and should have no place in the Commonwealth.
"We are determined to act both collectively and individually upon the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 and intend to fast-track implementation of the various schemes for mutual assistance, most notably on financial assets and extradition and to assist our member states with compliance.
"A number of Commonwealth member countries have themselves suffered from terrorism over many years, and the citizens of many more were victims of the attacks in the United States.
"Commonwealth Leaders were to speak on this issue at the Heads of Government Meeting in Brisbane earlier this month, but that summit itself had to be postponed in the light of the events of 11 September, 2001.
"Terrorism strikes at the heart of what the Commonwealth is about - our fundamental values are, above all else, about freedom and democracy, which have been seriously threatened by the events of September 11. The Commonwealth is determined to act to defend these values.
COMMONWEALTH STATEMENT ON TERRORISM
1. We, the leaders of the Commonwealth, have consistently condemned in the strongest terms all forms and manifestations of terrorism and in particular the heinous acts of terrorism that took place in the United States on 11 September 2001. The Commonwealth affirms its resolve as a diverse community of nations to, individually and collectively, take concerted and resolute action against terrorism.
2. We will not be divided by race, nationality, religion or geography. We reject any attempt to link terrorism with any faith. Our diversity is our strength and binds us together. The perpetrators of these atrocious acts and those who harboured or assisted them, have attacked the values and freedoms enshrined in the open, democratic, plural and multicultural societies that the Commonwealth represents. Terrorism threatens the peace, development, security and stability of the entire world, and all nations, races and religions and is aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy.
3. Recalling that many members of the Commonwealth have suffered casualties in the terrorist attacks in the United States and that Commonwealth member countries have themselves suffered from terrorism over many years, the importance of our renewed commitment to combating terrorism worldwide has never been greater.
4. We welcome UN Security Council Resolution 1373 of 28 September 2001, which provides an important framework for international action against terrorism. We are committed to fully implementing this resolution. We pledge to assist each other in so doing. Our actions will reflect the fundamental values upon which the Commonwealth is based including democracy, human rights, the rule of law, freedom of belief, freedom of political opinion, justice and equality.
5. We condemn any nation which harbours, supports or provides assistance to terrorist activity. Any member country that aids, supports, instigates, finances or harbours terrorists, or permits such activities within its jurisdiction, violates the fundamental values of our association and should have no place in it.
6. As Heads of Government of the largest association of democracies in the world, we call for firm deterrent measures by the international community. We will work towards the universal implementation of the numerous international conventions already in place to address terrorism. The Commonwealth urges all countries that have not already done so to take steps to sign, ratify, and most importantly, implement these instruments. The importance of bringing to a successful conclusion the ongoing negotiations on a Comprehensive Convention against Terrorism cannot be overstated.
7. The Commonwealth adds its distinctive voice to calls for greater international co-operation and the strengthening of national, regional and international legal frameworks to combat terrorism in a comprehensive manner. We underscore the important role which can be played by the association due to our similar legal systems and in particular through Commonwealth schemes for mutual assistance to counter crime. We undertake, as part of our contribution to the endeavours of the international community against terrorism, to redouble our efforts to prevent the use and abuse of our financial services sectors by fully co-operating with the international community in the tracing, freezing and confiscation of the assets of terrorists, their agents, sponsors and supporters.
8. We are deeply conscious that terrorist attacks hurt economic growth worldwide and the impact will be most acutely felt by poor and vulnerable states. We support the efforts of the international and regional financial institutions to develop strategies and programmes to mitigate the economic loss experienced by such countries.
9. There is no justification for terrorism. The Commonwealth is determined to fight this scourge and fully commits itself to a strengthened international campaign against it. The impact of terrorism has encouraged the Commonwealth to redouble its commitment to the cause of peace and stability and the elimination of poverty, injustice and discrimination. The Commonwealth calls on all nations of the world to stand resolute in rooting out hatred, intolerance and extremism. This is a struggle against terrorism, not against any community or faith.
01/69 25 October 2001
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