SADC DECLARATION ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000076 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PTER SADC MZ SUBJECT: SADC DECLARATION ON TERRORISM FOLLOWING IS THE SADC DECLARATION ON TERRORISM ADOPTED ON AT THE BLANTYRE EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT ON JANUARY 14. THE DECLARATION IS TO BE SIGNED BY HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT AT THE NEXT SADC SUMMIT IN FEBRUARY. BEGIN TEXT WE, THE HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA THE REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE CONCERNED WITH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AS WELL AS THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WITH THE STABILITY AND SECURITY OF ALL SADC MEMBER STATES; CONSCIOUS THAT HARMONIOUS COOPERATION IN THE AFRICAN CONTINENT AND IN THE REGION IN PARTICULAR, BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE THE AFRICAN UNION CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IN CONDITIONS OF PEACE AND IN A CLIMATE O POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY; CONSIDERING THAT THREATS AND ACTS OF TERRORISM IN THE REGION, THE AFRICAN CONTINENT AND THE WORLD HAVE PROMPTED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE MECHANISMS FOR PREVENTING AND COMBATING ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM; CONSIDERING FURTHER THAT TERRORISM CONSTITUTES AN IMPEDIMENT TO THE FULL ENJOYMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF HUMANKIND; CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPERATIVE NEED TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS, IN PARTICULAR THE RIGHT TO LIFE; TAKING INTO ACCOUNT RESOLUTIONS 55/158 OR UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND 1269 (1999) AND 1373 (2001) OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL THAT QUALIFY ACTS OF TERRORISM AS A THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY AND WHICH URGE MEMBER STATES TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UN AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM IN ALL ITS FORMS AND MANIFESTATIONS; CONSIDERING THE OAU CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND COMBATING OF TERRORISM, ADOPTED AT THE ALGIERS SUMMIT ON 14TH JULY, 1999; CONDEMN ALL ACTS OF TERRORISM WHEREVER THEY OCCUR AND, THEREFORE, UNDERTAKE TO: ¶1. ACCEDE OR RATIFY INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS ON COMBATING TERRORISM, ADOPTED BY THE OAU AND THE UNITED NATIONS AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO DOMESTIC LAWS; ¶2. FIGHT WITH ALL MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM THAT ENDANGER THE LIVES OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS, DISRUPT REGIONAL SECURITY, STABILITY AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER OF STATES; ¶3. COOPERATE AT ALL LEVELS IN THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS, INSTITUTIONS AND NETWORKS ASSOCIATED WITH TERRORISM; ¶4. URGE MEMBER STATES TO CREATE, STRENGTHEN AND HARMONIZE LEGAL INSTRUMENTS FOR THE PROSECUTION OF GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN TERRORISM; ¶5. PREVENT SADC MEMBER STATES FROM BEING USED AS BASES OR SUPPORT CENTERS FOR GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES; ¶6. APPEAL TO COOPERATING PARTNERS FOR FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL, AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO SADC MEMBER STATES TO ENABLE THEM TO EFFECTIVELY COMBAT TERRORISM. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WE THE HEADS OF THE STATE OR GOVERNMENT, OR OUR DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES, HAVE SIGNED THIS DECLARATION. DONE AT BLANTYRE ON THIS 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2002, IN THREE (3) ORIGINALS, IN THE ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND PORTUGUESE LANGUAGES, ALL TEXTS BEING EQUALLY AUTHENTIC. END TEXT. WILKINSON