(E-193/01) September 21, 2001   CONDEMING TERRORIST ATTACKS ON U.S., FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE AMERICAS PROPOSE SPECIFIC MEASURES TO COMBAT PROBLEM               Western Hemisphere foreign ministers, assembled at the Organization of American States (OAS) today, strongly condemned the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and called on the international community to take effective steps to prevent terrorist groups from operating.  The OAS' Twenty Third Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs by acclamation approved a resolution calling on all states to bolster cooperation regionally and internationally to pursue, capture, try, punish and, where applicable, speed up extradition of, perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of terrorist acts.              Also underscored in the resolution is view that the war on terrorism should be based on full respect for the law, human rights and for democratic institutions, in order to preserve the rule of law, liberties and democratic values in the Americas.              In urging member states to promote the highest level of tolerance and harmonious coexistence, the resolution instructs the OAS Permanent Council to call a meeting of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism as soon as possible, to identify urgent measures aimed at strengthening hemispheric cooperation to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in the Hemisphere.              The resolution approved by the foreign ministers also asks the Permanent Council to draft an Inter-American Convention against Terrorism, for submission to the next OAS General Assembly.  It also instructs the Committee on Hemispheric Security to speed up preparations for the Special Hemispheric Conference on Security. ********

*********