G8 Statement on Counter-Terrorism

1. We, the leaders of the G8, are united in the struggle against terrorism. We condemn all terrorist acts as criminal, whatever their motivation. All States must respond vigorously to the threat if we are to overcome it.   We are determined to respond collectively to this global challenge.

2. We have carried forward initiatives to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction to terrorists and other criminals, reinforce international political will to combat terrorism, secure radioactive sources and – as announced at Sea Island - ensure secure and facilitated travel.  Today we commit ourselves to new joint efforts. We will also continue to work with partners in the UN and in other key international and regional fora. We welcome the Secretary-General’s efforts to develop a comprehensive UN counter-terrorism strategy.

Disrupting terrorists now

3. The immediate imperative is to reduce the threat from those already intent on terrorism.  We have had considerable success, but must continue to enhance our efforts.  We are working relentlessly to track down known and suspected terrorists and their collaborators, cut off their funding, impede their planning, disrupt their networks, deny them safe haven and bring them to justice.  Collectively, we are developing a common understanding of the threat and assessing links between crime and terrorism and analysing how terrorists prepare for attacks.

4. As terrorists operate flexibly and internationally, so must we. Government, police and intelligence responses must be more effectively co-ordinated – both within and between States.  Co-operation between external and internal intelligence and security agencies must be further improved.  Law enforcers, intelligence collectors and analysts, policy makers and practitioners must co-operate and share information.  Within the G8, we have developed common language on intelligence products, promoted sharing data on terrorists, especially to prevent terrorists’ travel, and identified procedures to extract counter-terrorism intelligence from documents and other forms of information.

5. But if we are to succeed in the long term, we must not only disrupt current terrorist activity: it is equally important to prevent more people turning to terrorism. Knowledge of the terrorists and their networks helps us to understand how and why individuals join these networks. Together we are analysing why individuals have chosen the path of violence and how, for example, terrorists use the internet to promote radicalisation and pursue recruitment.

6. Conflict, oppression and poverty do not excuse or justify terrorism: the vast majority of people affected by these scourges do not choose the path of violence.  Terrorism itself exacerbates, often deliberately, the problems it claims to address.  It remains our duty to do all we can to resolve conflict, confront oppression, reduce poverty and promote good governance. We must promote social and political rights and democratic reform, counter intolerance, encourage public debate and tolerant education, and foster understanding between cultures.  These are important in themselves, but will also serve to undermine the terrorists’ propaganda. One of our primary tasks is to work with civil society to foster the total rejection of terrorism by people at large.

Protecting communities against terrorist attack

7. As well as reducing the terrorist threat, we must reduce our vulnerability to attack.   We must make ourselves a harder target at home and abroad through better protective security. 

8. At Sea Island, we announced the Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative (SAFTI) – a 28-point action plan, much of which we have already completed.  Over the last twelve months, the G8 has worked on measures to counter attacks on aviation using surface to air missiles, to restrict the proliferation and smuggling of these weapons, and to improve flight-deck security.  We are improving screening of individuals and baggage at airports, and States’ enforcement of aviation security regimes.  We have helped spread best practice on the use of sky marshals.  We have established a G8 aviation security contact network, and are enhancing our co-operation against transnational document fraud.  We have developed a methodology to assess port security. We will continue to strengthen and broaden this co-operation, encouraging the active engagement of the relevant international organisations, to raise international standards of transport security.

Minimising the consequences of attacks

9. We must also be well prepared to minimise the human and economic consequences of terrorist attacks.  Governments and businesses must have continuity plans in place, including for effective protection of economic and financial systems.  The public should be kept informed and, when necessary, alerted and warned.  We have worked collectively on best practice to respond to terrorist attacks, particularly chemical, biological and radiological attacks.  We have agreed principles for responding to a crisis, held G8 exercises on critical infrastructure protection and are sharing best practice on the management of attack sites.

The terrorist threat and the rights of individuals

10. Many terrorists aspire to use violence on a massive scale, and some even to use weapons of mass destruction.  Our response must remain proportionate and respect our common democratic values. We must protect individuals while upholding human rights in accordance with international law. We express our deepest sympathy for all those who have been injured or bereaved by terrorist attacks.

Building international capacity

11. We are committed to work together with the UN and other international and regional organisations to build the political will and capacity of other countries to counter terrorism. Since its establishment at Evian, the Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) has maximised the impact of our resources by co-ordinating counter-terrorism assistance wherever such assistance is needed. It collaborates with the Financial Action Task Force and the international financial institutions to help combat terrorist financing. So far this year, it has focussed particularly on enhancing co-ordination in Africa and the Middle East. It will focus on South East Asia later in the year. The engagement of regional organisations is vital to our efforts. Regional counter-terrorism mechanisms and centres of excellence must be adequately resourced.

Enhancing international partnership

12. We welcome the adoption of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, initiated by the Russian Federation, and look forward to its early entry into force. We call on our partners at the UN Summit in September to reiterate the international community’s clear condemnation of terrorist acts. We also urge our partners to capitalise on the new momentum at the UN and conclude swiftly the draft  Comprehensive Convention for the Suppression of International Terrorism. These instruments will complement the broad legal framework set out in Security Council resolutions and the 12 UN counter-terrorism conventions and protocols.  We urge universal compliance with all these international obligations, norms and standards. It is vital that States engage fully with the Security Council in monitoring their implementation. 

Conclusion

13. Today, we commit to new joint efforts to advance our counter-terrorism co-operation.  These will include work to improve the sharing of information on the movement of terrorists across international borders; to assess and address the threat  to the transportation infrastructure; and to promote best practices for rail and metro security.  We will continue to strengthen and broaden this co-operation, and report our progress in St. Petersburg in 2006.

14. As G8 leaders, we pledge the sustained commitment required to identify and reduce the terrorist threat, to promote freedom and security, to protect democracy and to ensure the rule of law.  We call upon all States to join us in this crucial endeavour. 

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