Asia-Pacific foreign ministers wrapped up their annual security
summit yesterday adopting a cooperation framework to help the fight
against terrorism in the region.
M.C. Abad, an ASEAN official, said the forum's 27 members
adopted a framework on transnational crimes, including terrorism,
which focuses on ensuring transport security, exchanging
information and dealing with the consequences of terrorist
acts.
The region faces continuing threats from terrorism and
separatist insurgencies in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and
elsewhere. A pact signed on Wednesday by ASEAN and Australia
pledged closer cooperation in combating cross-border crimes
including terrorism - a mutual concern because both regions have
been targeted by al-Qaida-linked militants.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer pointed to the
success Southeast Asian countries have had in recent years in
fighting terrorism.
"The Indonesians, the Filipinos as well as the Malaysians and
Singaporeans have been very successful in tracking down terrorists
and in some cases they have killed them," he told reporters.
ASEAN's new chairman, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo,
said the framework was designed to ensure peace and stability in
the region.
Yeo said the ministers also discussed maritime security, climate
change, and the situations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"The stability of Afghanistan is an urgent task for the
international community," Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman
Mitsuo Sakaba said.
(China Daily via agencies August 3, 2007)
