SCO states condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations

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GEO NEWS
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The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in a joint declaration issued after its 19th summit in Bishkek, maintained that interfering in domestic affairs of states on pretext of countering terrorism was unacceptable. — Geo News

BISHKEK: The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Friday condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, read a declaration issued after its 19th summit held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The member states urged the international community to strengthen global cooperation in efforts against terrorism under the UN's central role by fully implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, "in line with the UN Charter and the principles of international law, without politicisation and double standards", while respecting the sovereignty and independence of all states.

They also urged the international community to press for consensus regarding the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

In this connection, the SCO states noted the signing of a cooperation memorandum between the Executive Directorate of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee and the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in March 2019, as well as the holding of the high-level international conference International and Regional Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and its Financing through Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime (Dushanbe, 16-17 May 2019).

While stressing that there can be no justification for any acts of terrorism and extremism, the SCO considered it important to implement comprehensive measures to more effectively counter terrorism and its ideology, to expose and eliminate various factors and conditions that facilitate terrorism and extremism.

"They note the unacceptability of interfering in the domestic affairs of states under the pretext of countering terrorism and extremism, as well as the unacceptability of using terrorist, extremist and radical groups for mercenary purposes," the statement added.