Foreign ministers of member states of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) issued a statement Wednesday on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 Incident. Following is the translation:
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 Incident, we reiterate strong condemnations against this terrorist act, and once again express condolences to the deceased and sincere sympathy to the victims and their relatives.
This incident has caused the international community to share a common determination to combat terrorism as a common threat to all countries and people in the world.
Over the past year, countries all over the world, on the basis of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 and other related resolutions, have stepped up bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation in combating terrorism in an all-round way. As a result of these joint efforts, the fight against terrorism has become a real global campaign.
This reveals that, in essence, the threat of international terrorism has no boundary and can not be mixed up with nationalities, races or religion.
The fight against terrorism remains an arduous and long-term task for the international community. Terrorist activities around the world are continuing and still constitute severe threats to world peace and security.
While taking concrete actions, the international community is actively probing the root cause of terrorism, thus opening prospects for eradicating this most dangerous threat in this century.
It is commonly believed that only by cultivating a new type of international security concept in the principle of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, and safeguarding the central and coordinating role of the United Nations and the Security Council in maintaining world peace and security, can insecure factors be reduced to the minimum and terrorism be rooted out.
The fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism is one of the major missions of the SCO. The member states have scored remarkable progress in anti-terrorism cooperation over the past year.
SCO members have in fact approved the
Shanghai pact on the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism, signed an agreement on a regional anti-terrorism agency, and sped up preparations for its establishment.
The SCO has great potential in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism and safeguarding regional security. We believe such potential can be brought into full play.
The SCO adopts a principle of openness and is ready to conduct dialogue and cooperation of all forms with other countries and international organizations.
SCO members, as an inseparable and active part of the global anti-terrorism alliance, will continue to cooperate with the rest of the international community and make practical and effective efforts to combat terrorism and safeguard global and regional peace and stability.
