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.

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.