* Terrorism and extremism constitute a continuous threat to the peace, security and stability of all countries and peoples. They should be condemned and comprehensively confronted by a unified and effective global strategy; and an organized international effort underlining the leading role of the United Nations is needed.

* No matter what pretext terrorists may use for their deeds, terrorism has no justification. Terrorism, under all circumstances, regardless of the alleged motives should be condemned unreservedly.

* Lack of agreement on a comprehensive definition of terrorism which is acceptable to all hampers international efforts to combat terrorism. Therefore, the problem of definition should be overcome. The proposals contained in the UN High Level Panel Report on New Threats and Challenges could provide a useful basis for a speedy compromise in this field.

* The violent nature of terrorism forces the international community to concentrate on measures to eliminate terrorist organizations and prevent terrorist acts. On the other hand, it is important to address the factors that provide a fertile ground where terrorism can flourish with a view to contribute to the elimination of terrorism.

* Serious attempts should be made to solve regional and international conflicts peacefully, so that terrorist organisations are denied the opportunity of exploiting the suffering of peoples under unjust conditions, spreading their misguided ideology and founding a fertile ground for recruitment and for their illegal activities.

* Terrorism violates the enjoyment of fundamental human rights. Terrorism has no particular religion, race, nationality or a specific geographic region. In this context, it should be underlined that any attempt to couple terrorism with any religion would in fact play into the hands of terrorists and should be strongly rejected. Therefore, measures should be taken to prevent intolerance against any religion and to create an atmosphere of common understanding and cooperation based on shared values among nations belonging to different faiths.

* Guidelines and codes of conduct should be developed by the appropriate UN bodies to assist states and their law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism while observing their obligations under international law including human rights, humanitarian and refugee laws.

* National reform efforts of countries aiming at widening political participation and pluralism, achieving sustainable development, reaching social equilibrium and promoting the role of civil society institutions should be supported so as to confront the conditions promoting violence and extremism.

* Programs should be developed and implemented which are aimed at promoting multicultural and inter-religious dialogue. To this effect, policies and mechanisms should be set to develop educational systems and other sources of socialization in order to strengthen the values of tolerance, pluralism and human co-existence at grassroots level as well as to provide basic knowledge of civilizations and religions and to raise public and mass media awareness of the dangers of terrorism and extremism.

* Ideas of tolerance and co-existence should be encouraged and mutual understanding on different religions be deepened through public debate and exchange of thoughts. Standards and codes of ethics should be identified to regulate publication or spreading of materials that promote hatred or inciting violence.

* Special attention should be given to the situation of migrants. In many cases, these people represent "the Other" and are subjected to racism, xenophobia and intolerance. Addressing the fundamental rights of these persons will help bridge the cultural divide. At the same time, migrants should demonstrate willingness to integrate into their host societies.

* The UN is the main forum for consolidating international cooperation against terrorism. Member states are called to join, ratify without reservation and implement the 12 major international conventions on combating terrorism. The states could benefit whenever appropriate from technical assistance of the UN Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the UNODC. All states should also support the work of the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council and its Monitoring Team.

* The UN Security Council resolutions 1267, 1373, 1526, 1540 and 1566 constitute a solid and comprehensive basis for combating terrorism on a universal scale. These resolutions provide a clear road map for the steps that need to be taken. All countries should take necessary measures in order to fully comply with the provisions of the above mentioned Security Council resolutions.

* The task of creating a universal legal instrument is yet to be fulfilled. The discussions in the UN on a comprehensive convention on terrorism have not moved ahead due to differences on the definition of terrorism. All states should exert further efforts in order to conclude the convention.

* Special attention should be given to measures aimed at preventing terrorists' access to weapon of mass destruction and their means of delivery. The earliest possible adoption within the UN of the draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism would be a crucial step in this direction.

* The idea launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish an international center to combat terrorism should be positively examined and supported.

* Strengthen international, regional and bilateral cooperation in order to identify and remove the financial danger of terrorism as well as organized crimes and prevent the proliferation of weapons and drugs trafficking.

* Encourages countries to fully implement the current international criterion (AML/CFT) and in particular FATF, recommendations of the Financial Working Group (9+40) and the relevant United Nations Conventions and the Security Council resolutions.

* Encourages the countries to implement international criterion and the best practices concerning money laundering and the fight against terrorism financing including through:

  - strengthening the IMF and World Bank's efforts at AM/CFT.
  - encouraging the countries which are not subjected to joint evaluation of the FATF & FSRB or the laws and regulations on reforming financial services in order to volunteer in conducting evaluation through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
  - encouraging all the countries to improve their financial intelligence units that comply with the criterion of Egmont and to join Egmont and share experience and practical information.

* Promote local, regional and international cooperation among the departments concerned with the fight against drugs, money laundering and terrorism and exchange experience to ensure effectiveness in the fight against terrorist and organized crime.

* The essential basis for success is an effective national cross-government counter-terrorism strategy, which sets out clear and measurable objectives for all relevant departments and agencies, including law enforcement, intelligence, military, interior and foreign affairs.

* There is a requirement for effective national mechanisms for coordinating the national strategy, in particular the work of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, also in respect to regional and international cooperation.

* Each nation is affected by the success or failure of others. It is therefore essential to have effective bilateral and multilateral mechanisms underpinned by political will for integrated law enforcement, judicial and intelligence dimensions of co-operation. These could address a range of issues, such as the legal framework for dealing with terrorist groups and their associates, extradition procedures, border controls, protecting ports and maritime transportation. Effective co-operative working is required at all stages of international counter-terrorist operations, including ad hoc multinational teams where appropriate.

* At international level, success requires the sharing of information, techniques, expertise, and equipment. There is value in the establishment of counter terrorism capacity building centres and forums with the objective of improving counter terrorism legislation, offering training and sharing equipment, techniques, expertise for tackling evolving terrorist organizations and methods, such as the use of the internet as a tool for terrorists.

* It is important, on voluntary basis that funds and other resources, such as high technology equipment, are made available to states needing such assistance, commensurate with the threat they face and the level of their anti-terrorist operations.

* Counter terrorist measures must be carried out in accordance with domestic and international law, with respect for human rights, also in order not to alienate communities and cause marginalization.

* A key part of any strategy must be to identify and address factors which can be exploited by terrorists in recruiting new members and supporters.

* Terrorists thrive on publicity by any means. Mass media, civil society and the educational system can play a crucial role in any strategy to counter terrorist propaganda and claims to legitimacy. Developing methods for reporting on terrorism that would prevent terrorists from exploiting these reports in their communication

* Any counter terrorism strategy must ensure utmost respect, sensitivity and material assistance for victims of terrorism.

* Supporting the call of His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the creation of an international centre for combating terrorism which will undertake, among other things, to develop a mechanism for exchanging information and expertise between states in the field of combating terrorism, and for linking the national centers for combating terrorism with a database which enables the fastest updating of information possible considering that the fight against terrorism is a collective effort requiring maximum cooperation and coordination among states and full readiness to exchange security information and intelligence instantly between specialized organs through secure equipment.

* Encouraging states to set up national centers specialized in combating terrorism, and calling on them to create similar centers on the regional level to facilitate intelligence sharing, exchange of real time operational information, developing mechanisms and technologies for data collection and analysis to thwart the preparation of terrorist operations and undermine the networks of recruitment, training, support and financing of terrorists, and coordination between relevant international bodies and other regional centers.

* Inviting Interpol to consider how it could most effectively reinforce its extensive existing work against terrorism, and calling on all members of Interpol to contribute promptly and actively to the maintenance of an up-to-date list of wanted terrorists.

* Encouraging states to adopt national legislation and procedures capable of preventing terrorists from utilizing asylum and immigration laws to reach safe havens or to use states' territories as bases for recruitment, training, planning, instigation, and for the launching of terrorist operations against other states.

* Establishing, whenever appropriate, task forces to fight terrorism in every country that would be composed of elements from law enforcement and task forces and train them to deal with terrorist networks.

* Developing domestic laws on fighting terrorism by criminalizing all terrorist acts including financing of terrorist activities.

* Supporting and assisting developing countries in establishing early-warning mechanisms, management of crises and improve capabilities of those dealing with crises and situations of terror.

* Increasing interaction with the media to enhance people's awareness as to the dangers of terrorism and so that the media would not be used or manipulated by the terrorists.

* Strengthening relations with non-government organizations to ensure an effective contribution to information-sharing relating to the fight against terrorism.

* Establishing an international data base for coordination in respect of stolen passports, and other travel documents, whereby it will be possible to identify the place and numbers of those passports in order to reduce the movements of the terrorists, and encourage adopting high technology-related international criteria through international cooperation and technical assistance as may be necessary to prevent forging passports and using them by terrorist groups to travel from one country to another.

Source: Counter Terrorism International Conference Web Site

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