Declaration on the Contribution of the Countries of South Eastern Europe to the International Fight against Terrorism

The Governments of South East Europe, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:

• Unequivocally condemning all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomever committed and whatever the motivation, as underlined by 1999 OSCE Istanbul Declaration;

• Bearing in mind the European destiny of the countries of South Eastern Europe, and considering that a regional contribution to the international campaign against terrorism is in line with the main objective of full integration into the European Union and Euro-Atlantic structures;

• Underscoring that the fight against terrorism is not a fight between religions or cultures, but a fight against universal evil;

• Referring to the United Nations Security Council Resolution SC1373 (2001) dated 28 September 2001 which specifically: "(4.) notes with concern the close connection between international terrorism and transnational organized crime, illicit drugs, money-laundering, illegal arms-trafficking, and illegal movement of ... potentially deadly materials, and in this regard emphasizes the need to enhance coordination of efforts on national, sub-regional, regional and international levels in order to strengthen a global response to this serious challenge and threat to international security."

• Recalling the June 1999 Cologne Document creating the Stability Pact for South East Europe, which stated: "The Stability Pact aims at strengthening countries in South Eastern Europe in their efforts to foster peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity, in order to achieve stability in the whole region... To that end we pledge to cooperate towards ... combating ... terrorism and all criminal and illegal activities." And, the Sarajevo Declaration on the Stability Pact by Heads of State issued in July 1999, which stated "We will also promote ...effective measures against ...terrorism."

• Referring to the OSCE Ministerial Council Statement of November 2000, which: "stressed that eliminating the root causes of terrorism required an environment of strong democratic institutions, full respect for human rights and the rule of law in parallel with actions to suppress terrorism."

• Taking note of the 12 February 2000 Charter of the South East European Cooperation Process countries on Good Neighbourly Relations, Stability, Security and Cooperation in South Eastern Europe, which states that: "the framework of this process comprises political cooperation, which includes ... (the) elimination of terrorism...";

• Further taking note of the 23 February 2001 Action Plan for Regional Economic Cooperation, adopted at the Skopje SEECP Summit, which states that: "The Heads of State and Government are committed to comprehensive and decisive measures to combat corruption, organized crime, elimination of terrorism, illicit drugs, arms and human trafficking... and that the competent Ministers of the SEECP countries hold regular annual meetings with the aim of discussing problems arising from the illicit activities and to take concrete actions for their prevention";

• Further taking note of the Concluding Document of the Negotiations Under Art V of the Annex I-B of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina which states that: "(General Art 6) The participating states recall that they are committed to take appropriate measures in preventing their respective territories from being used for the preparation, organization or commission of acts of extremist violence, including terrorist activities, against other participating States and their citizens.";

• Building on the SEECAP documents which identified terrorism as a key political and military security challenge requiring joint action in the region;

• Convinced that all countries, as well as international organizations and particularly the UN, OSCE, EU, CoE, ICAO have prominent roles to play in the fight against terrorism, and that regional and sub-regional initiatives must obtain increased coherence and effectiveness, in this context taking note of the 1998 Antalya Cooperation Agreement between Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania on Combating Terrorism, Organized Crime, Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Money Laundering, Arms and Human Trafficking and other Major Crimes as an example of such a sub-regional agreement;

• Convinced that the combating of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, including those in which States are directly or indirectly involved, is an essential element for the maintenance of international peace and security;

• Convinced that those responsible for acts of terrorism must be brought to justice through prosecution, extradition, or other legal mechanisms, and that states that support terrorism should be subject to United Nations sanctions;

• Recalling their long-standing and fruitful cooperation on this and other topics of mutual security concerns;

• Resolved to strengthen their own cooperation in combating terrorism in support of the international campaign against this scourge;

• Call upon all states to renounce terrorism and to deny financial support, the use of their territory, the provision of arms and equipment, and any other means of support to terrorist organizations;

• Emphasize that signing, ratifying and implementing international legal instruments regarding the fight against terrorism constitute a serious responsibility on the part of States, and call on all countries to consider becoming Parties, if they have not yet done so, to the relevant international conventions relating to the suppression of acts of terrorism;

1. Agree to cooperate in the global fight against the scourge of terrorism, and in this respect,

   1.1 to strengthen their cooperation in Stability Pact Working Table III initiatives which can be made use of in the fight against terrorism, such as, SPOC, the Police Initiative, the Border Guards initiative, and SALW-related activities;

   1.2 to work towards enhancing the level of cooperation both bilaterally and on a regional level in the following spheres:

   1. Sharing of information and analyses regarding terrorists and terrorist organizations, in close cooperation and coordination with Europol, Interpol and the SECI Crime Center;

   2. training police and other related security sector agencies to be more effective in combating terrorism;

   3. exchanging experts, including, inter alia, the exchange of liaison officers in border security posts and HQs;

   4. exchanging information on cross-border financial transactions that might relate to financing terrorist actions;

   5. further harmonizing, in line with European standards, domestic legislation regarding extradition, prosecution and other legal mechanisms aimed at combating terrorism.

2. Agree also, to effect a more focused exchange of information, to establish an ad hoc Group on Terrorism Issues in the context of the Stability Pact Working Table III.

   This Resolution is intended to supplement existing arrangements between the Parties to address terrorism.

   Nothing in this Resolution shall be construed as derogating from the provisions of such agreements or arrangements.