STATEMENT
OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OF THE ORGANIZATION
OF THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION (BSEC)
ON JOINT MEASURES IN COMBATING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
(Antalya, 26 October 2001)

     The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) at its Fifth Meeting resolutely condemns international terrorism in all its forms as a global challenge to peace and security, highly dangerous threat to political, economic and social stability of the international community, to the development of multilateral and bilateral cooperation.

     The Council strongly condemns the terrorist acts in the USA, regarding such acts as threat to the international community, and in this context expresses its total support to the Resolution of the UN Security Council No. 1373.

     The Council calls upon all Member States to become Parties to the UN Conventions relating to the combat against terror and implement them. It also urges the Member States to implement all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

     The Ministers are convinced that the fight against international terrorism in all its forms persistently demands coordinated measures of the international community. Such measures should be taken in conformity with the norms of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

     For this purpose, the Council of Ministers, realizing the danger of international terrorism, fully supports the efforts of the international community aiming to combat terror and, in this framework, underlines that cooperation in combating terrorism is provided for by the BSEC Charter. Furthermore, it urges the relevant authorities of the Member States to go ahead with the implementation of the BSEC Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Crime, in particular in its organized forms. The Council expresses its determination to take all the necessary steps to prevent and fight against international terrorism and calls upon the relevant BSEC organs to consider new means of cooperation within the mandate of the BSEC.