Asia-Europe Meeting Leaders Seek Action Against Perpetrators Of Terror Acts

Ulaanbaatar: Leaders from Europe and Asia, including Vice President Hamid Ansari, on Saturday condemned international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations at a summit in the Mongolian capital and pressed for the need to bring to justice those responsible for such attacks.

The leaders gathered at the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, "endorsed a Special Statement on International Terrorism that strongly and unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes," said an official statement.

They "underlined the need to bring to justice those responsible for the attacks, in accordance with the Charter of the UN and other obligations under international law," it said, referring to the terror strikes in ASEM member states, most recently in the French city of Nice.

Vice President Ansari, who was the lead speaker for the Plenary Session on Promoting ASEM Partnership for Greater Connectivity, made a strong demarche on the need to isolate sponsors and financiers of terror and urged the leaders to go beyond condemnation to practical action.

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"Leaders supported his call for strengthening of the international legal regime against terrorism, notably through the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, principally mooted by India in 1996 and currently under negotiation at the UN," the statement said.

At the end of the two-day Summit, the leaders endorsed two main documents - the Ulaanbaatar Declaration and the Chair's Statement.

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"The Ulaanbaatar Declaration is a visionary document that underlined the Leaders' commitment towards revitalising ASEM into its third decade and promoting further connectivity, mutually beneficial, tangible partnerships and cooperation between Asia and Europe," the statement said.

It said the Chair's Statement focused on the deepening of Asia Europe inter-connectedness, shaping and forging of multi-layered links, and mutually beneficial cooperation for peace and development, addressing regional and global challenges and promotion of effective multilateralism.

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The ASEM meeting also deliberated upon issues arising out of recent developments affecting the Korean Peninsula and maritime security, including preservation of global commons in accordance with the international conventions.