No double standards in fighting terrorism: CICA

The member states of the Conference on Co-operation and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia on Saturday condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for fighting it in a consistent and comprehensive manner to avoid double standards.
The final summit declaration at the end of summit attended by 17 leaders from the region, stressed "terrorism can not be and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group."
The Summit members also called for closer international co-operation on security, political and economic policies in the region. The regional leaders expressed their determination in enhancing efforts to combat the threat of terrorism as it was undermining global peace and security.
The member states also recognised the central role of the United Nations and extended support to the efforts of UN General Assembly to finalise a comprehensive convention on international terrorism. The CICA members also endorsed the right of people to self-determination in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.
The joint declaration also urged the states, who are party to a dispute, to settle these in conformity with principles enshrined in the UN Charter. The declaration also termed the use of threats or force, against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the states as a threat to regional and international peace.
Member countries also proposed to sign a treaty on a zone free of nuclear weapons in Central Asia while calling upon members to fulfil their respective obligations in sphere of disarmament, non-proliferation and preventing proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
The declaration called for increased co-operation in countering transitional organised crime including drugs and human trafficking, money laundering and arms smuggling.
The CICA member states called for co-operation and discussions to work towards energy security. The declaration was issued at the end of the second summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), The Summit in Almaty was attended by leaders from the 17 CICA member countries, including those from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Palestine, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand and Turkey.