OEA/Ser.G
12 February
2003
Original: Spanish
CP/RES. 837 (1354/03)
CONDEMNATION OF TERRORIST ACTS IN COLOMBIA
THE PERMANENT COUNCIL
OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES,
REAFFIRMING the
principles and provisions set forth in the Charter of the Organization of
American States and the Charter of the United Nations, which enshrine the
values of representative democracy and the essential freedoms of the human person;
EMPHASIZING that
terrorism and attacks on the civilian population, regardless of their origin or
motivation, have no possible justification and constitute a serious criminal phenomenon
that is of deep concern to all the member states, attacks democracy, impedes
the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and threatens the
security of states, destabilizing and undermining the foundations of all
society and seriously impacts the economic and social development of the states
in the region;
REAFFIRMING, in
accordance with the Declaration of San Salvador, that terrorism is a threat to
the security and stability of states and the development of peoples and that
the links that often exist between terrorism, illicit trafficking in drugs, the
laundering of assets, illicit trafficking in arms, and other forms of transnational
organized crime aggravate this threat and are used by terrorist groups to finance
and support their activities, which call
for stronger measures to prevent and suppress them;
UNDERSCORING the need to
make use of existing mechanisms and legal instruments within the Organization
of American States for cooperation in fighting terrorism;
EMPHASIZING that, as in
accordance with what is enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter, no
democratic state can remain indifferent to the clear threat terrorism poses to
democratic freedoms and institutions;
HAVING TAKEN NOTE of the
Declaration of Panama, issued in Panama City on February 11, 2003, by the
Presidents of Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and
Nicaragua and by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina; and
HAVING HEARD the
statement by the Vice President of Colombia, Mr. Francisco Santos,
RESOLVES:
1.
To issue its most vehement rejection and condemnation
of the numerous terrorist acts perpetrated by armed groups in Colombia
operating outside the law.
2.
To express its profound repudiation of the despicable
terrorist attack carried out by the FARC on February 7, 2003, in Bogotá and to
pledge its cooperation in pursuing, capturing, prosecuting, punishing, and,
when appropriate, expediting the extradition of the perpetrators, organizers,
and sponsors of this act, in accordance with the internal legal framework of
States and international treaties
3.
To express its full solidarity with the people of
Colombia and to offer its condolences to the families of the victims.
4.
To support the efforts of the President of Colombia,
Mr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez, his Government, and the Colombian people to combat
terrorism within the context of the rule of law.
5.
To ratify the commitment of the member states to step
up actions for the strict observance of the provisions of United Nations
Security Council resolution 1373 and the Inter-American Convention Against
Terrorism concerning the obligation to refrain from providing any form of
support to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts.
6.
To reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the member
states to deny refuge and/or safe haven to those who finance, plan, or commit
acts of terrorism in Colombia or who lend support to such persons, noting that
those responsible for aiding, supporting, or harboring the perpetrators,
organizers, and sponsors of these acts are equally complicit.
7.
To apply the antiterrorism mechanisms of the
Organization of American States; and, in particular, in the context of the Inter-American
Convention against Terrorism and the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism
(CICTE), to adopt the necessary measures to intensify information exchange on
the activities of terrorist groups, to reinforce border controls to prevent the
movement of terrorists, and to suppress the funding of such groups.
8.
To urge the member states to adopt, in accordance with
their national law, urgent measures to strengthen regional and international
cooperation in pursuing, capturing, and punishing the perpetrators, organizers,
and sponsors of terrorist acts, including, as applicable, the signature and
ratification of, and accession to, the Inter-American Convention against
Terrorism and other international instruments on terrorism.
9. To request the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights to continue to pay special attention to the negative
impact acts of terrorism have on the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in Colombia.
10. To strengthen the cooperation measures
envisioned in the Anti-Drug Strategy in the Hemisphere and in instruments such
as the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism; and to intensify the activities and
programs of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD).
11. To urge the Consultative Committee of the
Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking
in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (CIFTA)
consider adopting the necessary additional measures to prevent, control, and
suppress illicit trafficking in arms, ammunition, and explosives to armed
groups operating outside the law on the American continent.
12. To reiterate its unequivocal support for
the efforts of the Government of Colombia to find a firm and lasting peace in
that country.
CP10801E01
13. To request the Chair of the Permanent
Council to transmit the text of this resolution, for information purposes, to the
International Organizations that he deems appropriate.