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need to collectively overcome the challenge of terrorism
was stressed by the leaders of the SAARC countries,
who also confirmed that the countries of South Asia
must work together to deal with this challenge to secure
the region's collective prosperity.
This is said in the Declaration of
the Fourth SAARC Summit, which concluded in New Delhi
yesterday.
The inclusion of the need for collective
action by the SAARC countries to combat terrorism in
the region was done at the initiative of Sri Lankan
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who stressed on this at
his opening address to the SAARC Summit on April 3.
The SAARC leaders reaffirmed their
commitment to implement all international conventions
relating to combating terrorism, to which SAARC Member
States were respectively parties, as well as the SAARC
Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and
the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention
dealing with the prevention and suppression of financing
of terrorism.
The other challenges identified as
needing collecting action to overcome and secure the
region's collective prosperity are poverty, disease
and natural disasters.
The following are the sections
of the SAARC Declaration that deals with the need to
combat terrorism;
22.The Heads of State or Government
stressed the need to collectively overcome the challenges
of poverty, disease, natural disasters and terrorism.
They confirmed that countries of South Asia must work
together to deal with these challenges in order to secure
the region's collective prosperity.
25.The Heads of State or Government
underlined that terrorism is a threat to peace and security
in the region. They condemned the targeted killing of
civilians and terrorist violence, in all its forms and
manifestations, wherever and against whomsoever committed.
The Heads of States or Government affirmed that terrorism
violates the principles of the Charters of the United
Nations and SAARC and is a clear and present threat
to international peace and security. They reaffirmed
their commitment to implement all international conventions
relating to combating terrorism, to which SAARC Member
States were respectively parties, as well as the SAARC
Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and
the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention
dealing with the prevention and suppression of financing
of terrorism. While urging continued efforts to combat
terrorism, the Heads of State or Government also called
for urgent conclusion of a Comprehensive Convention
on International Terrorism.
26.The Heads of State or Government
agreed to work on the modalities to implement the provisions
of the existing SAARC Conventions to combat terrorism,
narcotics and psychotropic substances, trafficking in
women and children and other trans-national crimes.
They expressed their commitment to take every possible
measure to prevent and suppress, in particular, financing
of terrorist acts by criminalizing the provision, acquisition
and collection of funds for such acts, including through
front organizations and also to counter illicit trafficking
of narcotic drugs, trafficking in persons and illicit
arms. They reiterated the need for law enforcement authorities
of Member States to enhance cooperation in the prevention,
suppression and prosecution of offences under these
Instruments. They noted the initiative of India to prepare
a draft of SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in
Criminal Matters and welcomed the offer of Sri Lanka
to hold a meeting of Legal Advisers to examine the idea
of a draft convention, before the Second Meeting of
SAARC Interior/Home Ministers scheduled to be held in
October 2007 in India. They also directed them to ensure
regular follow-up and implementation of the decisions
taken.
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