Author:
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: June 5, 2002
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=11168
A 16-nation Asian summit including
India and Pakistan adopted on Tuesday in Kazakhstan the Almaty Act which
condemns terrorism and commits its signatories to not support separatist
movements.
The Act approved by the conference
on interaction and confidence building measures in Asia (CICA) "condemns
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and any support or acceptance
of it and the failure to condemn it directly".
India accuses Pakistan of promoting
cross-border terrorism in support of militants in Kashmir.
The 16 signatories are Afghanistan,
Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
The Act identifies "separatism as
one of the main threats and challenges to security and stability" in the
region. "Member states will not support any separatist movement on the
territory of another state," the text says, noting that the CICA signatories
"Will unite their efforts to prevent terrorism either being prepared, launched
and financed from the territory of a state, and we refuse to offer protection
or a home to terrorists."
The Act also recognises the rights
of "people living under foreign occupation" but bars member countries from
backing separatist movements acting on the territory of other CICA members.
