ASEAN members mull anti-terrorism steps<\/p>\n
Jim Gomez, Associated Press, Manila<\/p>\n
Countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
\nare considering a number of steps, including convening a powerful
\nmeeting, to discuss ways to jointly deal with \"the scourge of
\nterrorism,\" according to a draft ASEAN statement.<\/p>\n
The draft, proposed to be issued during the summit of leaders
\nof the 10-member conservative trading bloc in Brunei on Nov. 5,
\nwould also condemn \"in no uncertain terms\" the Sept. 11 terror
\nattacks in the United States.<\/p>\n
Any anti-terrorism statement by the ASEAN would not likely
\nmention any endorsement of the U.S.-led air strikes in
\nAfghanistan, Philippine officials said.<\/p>\n
Like in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum
\nsummit in Shanghai last week, terrorism is expected to dominate
\nthe ASEAN meetings in the oil-rich sultanate, officials said
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
\"The subject of terrorism will definitely, most likely,
\ndominate the discussions in the summit,\" said Ronald Allerey, a
\nPhilippine foreign affairs official in charge of relations with
\nASEAN.<\/p>\n
Allerey said he was meeting with his ASEAN counterparts to
\npool suggestions for a proposed ASEAN declaration against
\nterrorism to be issued at the end of the Brunei summit.<\/p>\n
A draft of the ASEAN statement prepared by Philippine
\nofficials said the nations \"strongly condemn, in no uncertain
\nterms,\" the terrorist attacks in the United States.<\/p>\n
The statement, however, is silent on the ongoing U.S. and
\nBritish air strikes in Afghanistan and does not mention Osama bin
\nLaden, the principal suspect in the attacks.<\/p>\n
ASEAN member countries would pledge to strengthen cooperation
\nin combating terrorism, according to the statement.<\/p>\n
Steps include convening the ASEAN troika - three member
\ncountries which deal with major issues ahead of a full discussion
\nby the grouping - to come up with and recommend ways of
\ncoordinating \"policy and action against terrorism,\" the draft
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN troika currently consists of Brunei, Cambodia and
\nVietnam.<\/p>\n
The troika would review \"international instruments on
\nterrorism with the view of harmonizing or integrating them with
\nexisting ASEAN mechanism.\"<\/p>\n
It would also explore ways \"to link ASEAN efforts with the
\nother East Asian and other countries to make the fight against
\nterrorism a truly regional and global endeavor,\" the statement
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who is also foreign affairs
\nsecretary, said Philippine officials would use the ASEAN summit
\nin Brunei to push an anti-terrorism accord involving the
\nPhilippines and neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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