APEC foreign ministers issued a statement on anti-terrorism in Shanghai yesterday, saying the struggle was a fight between justice and evil rather than religions or cultures.
The announcement appeared worded to find common ground amid differences over the US-led strikes in Afghanistan.
"Anti-terrorism is a fight between justice and evil, and a show of strength of civilization against barbarity, rather than a conflict among different ethnic groups, religions or cultures," the statement said.
The document was issued after a working breakfast hosted by Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (
The statement, however, avoided direct reference to the Sept. 11 attacks in the US, Osama bin Laden, who the US says masterminded the attacks, and the US-led strikes against Afghanistan.
Tang said the ministers had agreed the fight against terrorism was a long-term task and should involve the UN -- a reference to China's concerns about US dominance of the effort to combat terrorism so far.
Powell urged world leaders to respond in unison to combat terrorism. "Terrorism can't be tolerated. The criminals and murderers have to be brought to justice," Powell said at the press conference that concluded the two-day APEC ministerial meeting with a declaration urging the launch of a new round of WTO trade talks.
Powell said military action was just one part of combating terrorism, while financial controls, legal action and diplomatic activities should also be included in the fight.
Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said: "Malaysia condemns terrorism in whatever form, and it condemns what happened on Sept. 11," adding that it is vital to identify the roots of terrorism and find solutions to the problem.
Rafidah said on Wednesday the strikes on Afghanistan could ultimately encourage the very terrorism the US has vowed to crush.
The world's largest Muslim country, Indonesia, has also criticized the US-led strikes. Both Malaysia and Indonesia are APEC members.
US President George W. Bush reached Shanghai yesterday evening under tight security for the weekend's APEC summit, the most important international gathering since the Sept. 11 attacks.
Leaders of the regional grouping are expected to make a counter-terrorism declaration at the end of the summit, although the draft obtained by the Taipei Times did not mention the US-led strikes in Afghanistan or Osama bin Laden.
The draft declaration, dated Oct. 16, "unequivocally condemns in the strongest terms" the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The draft also said terrorism "is a direct challenge to APEC's vision of free, open and prosperous economies, and to the fundamental values that APEC members hold."
The statement also listed specific measures to combat terrorism, such as appropriate financial measures to prevent the flow of funds to terrorists, enhancing the security of airports, aircraft and ports, as well as stockpiling supplies of oil.
The declaration would be the first political declaration in the 21-year history of the economic forum.
Analysts warned the summit is likely to be dominated by the US effort to forge an international coalition against terrorism rather than economics -- despite a global economic slowdown.
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