OSCE countries pledge to combat terrorism


	December 7, 2001	atimes.com

Central Asia/Russia

OSCE countries pledge to combat terrorism
By Marian Chiriac

BUCHAREST - An action plan on counter-terrorism measures was agreed upon earlier this week by the foreign ministers from 55 countries, including the United States, Russia, Germany, France and states bordering Afghanistan.

The ministers from the world's largest cooperative security body, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), joined for two days in the former palace of the late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, where they resolutely condemned "all acts of terrorism". They also proposed to address root causes, namely the political, social and economic inequalities that provide a fertile breeding ground for exploitation by extremist ideologies.

The action plan also includes a commitment by participating states to work more effectively to prevent terrorist movements from being set up, to take joint action against terrorist networks, the elimination of the sources of terrorism, and to encourage regional initiatives for preventing terrorism.

The OSCE includes the United States, Canada and all the countries of Europe, as well as former Soviet republics in Central Asia. It's work encompasses human rights, security, economic cooperation and the environment.

"We have to move rapidly to tackle terrorism on the home front, putting in place tough new measures to freeze terrorists' assets across Europe, to combat money-laundering, and to step up several gears the degree of cooperation between our law enforcement and intelligence authorities," EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said. "Extremists impoverish their people but they nourish and enrich terrorists and organized crime. No wonder they attract them like flies around a carcass," Patten added. He did not specify the states he had in mind, but said the EU would pay more attention to the states of Central Asia, bordering Afghanistan and planned to double aid to the region.

For his part, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said the tragic events of September 11 are a cruel reminder of the urgency of a security partnership of countries that embrace the values of democracy and peace. "Investments in peace are now more essential than ever in light of the threat from a murderous international terrorist network," Fischer said. "That has to mean greater commitment to human rights and the construction of civil societies."

Diplomats said another important achievement of the conference, formally called the ninth Ministerial Council of the OSCE, was the presence of Colin Powell, the US secretary of state. "This is a sign of the emphasis the Bush administration is putting on a coalition formed in the name of its war on terrorism," said Mircea Geoana, Romania's foreign minister and current OSCE chairperson.

In his public statement to the press, Powell stressed the idea that OSCE states "should make more in order to prevent the scourge of terrorism by controlling money-laundering or closing money-transfer businesses suspected of aiding targeted groups".

Powell, whose Bucharest visit kicks off a 10-nation tour to Europe and Central Asia to discuss Afghan reconstruction, also met with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. Their discussion was centered on the situation in the Middle East in the recent context of sharp escalation in Israeli-Palestinian violence.

After the meeting, the US official did not criticize Israel for attacking Palestinian cities after last week's Arab suicide bombings inside the Jewish state. "Israel at this moment is recovering from a terrible blow inflicted on her last Saturday night by acts of terror and its government is responding in a way that [Prime Minister Ariel Sharon] believes is appropriate to defend his people," Powell said. He added that all parties involved "have to try to get back to a process that will lead to a ceasefire and to negotiations".

Israel is not an OSCE member, but has a formal relationship with the organization through its Mediterranean cooperation program.

(Inter Press Service)