The US is calling on Asia-Pacific countries to join efforts to curb terrorism, stop the flow of funds to radical groups and protect oil supplies, a declaration to be presented at this week's APEC summit said.
The US draft declaration has been circulated in advance to the 21 members of APEC for possible adoption when their leaders meet in Shanghai on Saturday and Sunday, Philippine officials said yesterday.
While condemning the Sept. 11 air attacks on New York and Washington, the statement made no reference to the US-led military strikes on Afghanistan or to Osama bin Laden, accused by US officials of masterminding the assaults.
The attacks, which destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon, killed more than 5,000 people.
"This will be a paradigm shift in APEC," a senior Philippine official said, noting this would be the first time that the APEC summit -- which in previous years has focused almost exclusively on trade and economic issues -- would be issuing a political declaration.
US officials presented their draft to APEC summit chair China, which then circulated it to APEC members for their comments before the summit, Manila officials said.
"Leaders unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks against the United States ... as a profound threat to the peace, prosperity and security of all people, of all faiths, of every nation," the draft declaration said. "The attacks are also a direct attack on APEC's vision of free, open and prosperous economies."
The statement urged APEC leaders to pledge to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation through the adoption of financial measures and sanctions to stop the flow of funds to terrorism.
It also urged APEC economies to accelerate their efforts in fighting financial crime, including money laundering.
"Leaders call ... for early signing and ratification of the International Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism," the statement said.
It calls for stronger APEC efforts in the "coordination of oil supplies and liquefied natural gas in the case of an emergency" and for the protection of critical sectors, such as food, telecommunication and transportation. It also urged adoption of tighter aviation and port security.
One other issue the APEC leaders will discuss is whether to make the declaration simply a part of an APEC joint statement to be issued at the end of the Shanghai summit, or to issue it as a separate statement, Philippine officials said.
In a note attached to the US draft, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya (
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