Join Hands Globe-wide in Fighting Terrorism

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, December 30, 2001

Join Hands Globe-wide in Fighting Terrorism

Terrorism, which threatens world peace and security and impacts the world economic development, is the scourge of all humanity. After the occurrence of the "September 11" terrorist attack on the United States, the anti-terrorism question has become the focus of attention of the world community.

This special year-end article by People's Daily correspondents and editors is published on Page 7 of the newspaper on December 25.

Terrorism, which threatens world peace and security and impacts the world economic development, is the scourge of all humanity. After the occurrence of the "September 11" terrorist attack on the United States, the anti-terrorism question has become the focus of attention of the world community.

USA: Heavy Loss, Hit Out on 5 Fronts

On September 11, terrorists attacked US economic and military indicative structures, causing more than 3,000 deaths. This incident, that occurred in the proper of the country since its founding, took the heaviest toll of deaths and injury of personnel and property losses. This was followed by Anthrax scares. The American government defined the "September 11" incident as "a war act", determined bin Laden as the chief suspect, and decided to attack terrorism from five fronts-diplomatic, military, judicial, financial and intelligence. Diplomatically, US president, secretary of state and defense secretary have tried to win over extensive international cooperation in their fight against terrorism through methods such as telephone talks and visits. Militarily, the United States is, on the one hand, making preparation for what is called "new war" of the 21st century. On the other hand, it began on October 7 to launch military attacks on Afghanistan's Taliban regime which refused to hand over bin Laden. During investigation of the "September 11" incident, the US judicial department has detained or arrested more than 1,100 people and brought a suit against the chief terrorist suspects. In order to cut off terrorists' financial sources, the financial department has formed a special working group to freeze the terrorists' funds, some 153 suspected organizations and individuals have been put on the lists of frozen assets. US intelligence institutions have put prevention of terrorism and punishment of terrorists in the prime position and strengthened cooperation with intelligence departments of various countries.

UN: Prominent, Leading Role, Rooting Up Causes

After the occurrence of the "September 11" terrorist attacks on the United States, the UN issued a statement, strongly condemning this terrorist act, and the Security Council adopted a series of anti-terrorist resolutions. In early October, the UN General Assembly held a week-long debate on the anti-terrorism issue, at which representatives from over 160 countries took the floor. At the general debate held in November, in their speeches given at the General Assembly, leaders from various countries made anti-terrorism the main content, expressing their same anti-terrorist stance. Meanwhile, the Security Council also held a ministerial meeting to discuss the anti-terrorism issue. Through this series of activities, they formed the international community's consensus on the anti-terrorism question. Along with the development of the anti-terrorist situation, UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan re-appointed a special representative on the Afghan issue. The Afghan quadripartite conference held under the auspices of the United Nations in Bonn. The formula on the formation of the Afghan interim government which had just sworn in was put forward by the United Nations. The resolution passed at the December 20 Security Council session decided to establish an international security-aid force to help the Afghan interim government to keep peace and security in the capital city of Kabul and its nearby areas. In addition, terrorism has its various breeding sources, of which the most fundamentals are poverty, regional conflicts, religion and racial prejudice. These problems can only be resolved through long-term work of the United Nations in the fields of politics, development and society. This implies that in future anti-terrorist struggle, the role of the United Nations will continue to be strengthened.

China: Adherence to Principle, Active Participation

Editor: China has always been resolutely opposing all forms of terrorism and taken an active part in international anti-terrorist cooperation and has adopted a series of measures for this. As early as June this year, heads of state of China, Russia and four other countries met in China's Shanghai, declaring the founding of the "Shanghai Cooperative Organization" (SCO) and jointly signed the Shanghai Convention on the fight against terrorism, splittism and extremism, set up a mechanism for substantive anti-terrorism multilateral cooperation. After the occurrence of the "September 11" incident, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed deep solicitude to President George W. Bush, the US government and people and profound condolences to the families of the dead. Aside from repeated telephone talks with President Bush, President Jiang also had phone talks with leaders of other permanent members of the UN Security Council and leaders of Pakistan, Egypt and other countries, having consultations with them on international struggle against terrorism and the Afghanistan issue. The Chinese government has stressed that the United Nations should play an important, irreplaceable role in the fight against terrorism and in promoting international anti-terrorism struggle, and that military actions against terrorism should conform to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and there should be conclusive evidence and clearly set targets to avoid hurt of the innocents. China opposes the use of double standards on the anti-terrorism issue and opposes linking terrorism with a particular religion or nation.

EU: Resolute Support, Coordinated Action

The European Union (EU), as a traditional ally of the United States, has given resolute support to the American anti-terrorist moves. After the occurrence of the "September 11" incident, most of the EU countries regarded attack on one country as an attack against all member countries, assuming the posture of "collectively going into battle". Immediately thereafter, heads f State of the EU countries visited the United States in succession to coordinate stand with the latter, pledging to give the greatest support including providing information, opening territorial air and even directly dispatching troops. The EU also held a special summit conference at which they determined anti-terrorist measures and basic stance. After the collapse of the Taliban regime, a number of EU countries took an active part in the UN authorized peace-keeping actions. Several big EU countries have enhanced their own international influence in the ongoing anti-terrorism struggle: Germany broke down the post-war military restriction that prohibited it from dispatching troops overseas, thus taking new steps toward military development; France, consistently having the sense of military independence, this time is unwilling to lag behind on the question of sending out troops; Britain, with "special relationship" with the United States, exhibited its vigor of "not to hesitate to lay down one's life if need be". It also took upon itself the responsibility to lead the multi-nation peace-keeping force. However, while taking an active part, EU also adopted a prudent attitude, for example, after the United States expressed its intention to expand the scope of anti-terrorism war following major breakthroughs made in military actions in Afghanistan, several major EU countries immediately indicated that they wouldn't give it support.

Russia: Speedy Response, Close Coordination

The "September 11" incident provided an opportunity for Russia-US joint attack on international terrorism. After the occurrence of the incident, President Putin was the first to give a phone call to President Bush, later he explained his five-point statement which included that Russia would conduct information cooperation with the international anti-terrorism alliance, be prepared to provide the United States with air corridor to be used in the transportation of humanitarian materials, not opposed to Central Asian countries' supply of airports to the United States, and provide the Afghanistan North Alliance with weapons and military equipment. After the start of US military actions in Afghanistan, Putin and heads of State of Central Asian countries carried out frequent consultations, sent out senior military and government officials to visit Central Asian countries to coordinate foreign policies and actions with the above-mentioned countries in the anti-terrorism struggle. With Russia's support, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and other countries all indicated that they would open their territorial air to the United States, Uzbekistan directly provided US forces with an air force base.

Islamic Nations: Eliminate Scourge by Seeking Common Grounds and Reserving Differences

Arab and Islamic countries denounce the terrorist attack incident, support international anti-terrorist struggle, advocate that creators of the incident must be pursued and arrested and must be brought to justice. On October 10, foreign ministers of Islamic countries held a meeting in Doha, the capital of Qatar, which published a "final communique" designed to combat terrorism. On December 18, the Yemeni government sent out a special troop to encircle and suppress the east tribal mountain area suspected to be hidden with bin Laden "base" organization members. On the anti-terrorism issue, however, Arab and Islamic countries had obvious differences with the United States, for example, they maintain that the struggle waged by Palestinians against Israeli occupation cannot be regarded as terrorist action. They are against magnifying anti-terrorism and against attacks on other Islamic and Arab countries; they demand that the Palestinian issue should be solved justly and reasonably, and eliminate the root sources of terrorism in the Middle East; they hope that the United Nations calls an international conference to define terrorism and formulate an international anti-terrorist action program on the premise of respect for State sovereignty.

After the occurrence of the "September 11" incident, Pakistan, judging the hour and sizing up the situation, joined the camp fighting against terrorism. To coordinate the attack against terrorists inside Afghanistan, Pakistan, as an important neighbor of Afghanistan, strengthened its defense force on the border areas, going all out to stop the entry of the armed personnel of Taliban or members of the "base" organization. Pakistan also provide military base, logistic service guarantee and the share of information for US military actions within Afghanistan, thus playing an important role in the entire anti-terrorist struggle.

Task Heavy, Road Ahead Long for Anti-terrorist Cooperation

Editor: In the just opened first chapter of the new century, "September 11" was a black and sanguinary day. It warns that various countries of the world must strengthen cooperation, coordinate actions, and wage common fights against all forms of terrorism. After more than two months of large-scale military attacks launched by the United States, Britain and some other countries, the Afghan Taliban regime has collapsed. With the common efforts of the international community and various parties of Afghanistan, the Afghan Interim government with Hamid Kazai as president has been formally established, this represents an important step taken by Afghanistan toward lasting peace and stability. However, fighting international terrorism will be a protracted and arduous task, international anti-terrorist cooperation also faces a heavy task and a long way ahead.

By People's Daily Online

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