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1. Overview: Critical Need for Capacity Building
The international community has been united in fighting against international terrorism since the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. The threat of terrorism still, however, remains serious as has been seen in a series of terrorist incidents including in Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Yemen over the past year.
For the prevention and eradication of terrorism, since 9/11 the G8 and other countries have successfully strengthened their own counter-terrorism measures. The Coalition operation in Afghanistan has also accomplished certain results by arresting those related to Al Qaeda and destroying most of its training camps. However, the remnants of Al Qaeda are scattered all over the world and still maintain a global network. In order to disrupt the network and secure safety in the international community, it is important to categorically deny terrorists a safe haven anywhere. For this purpose it is essential for the G8 to build stronger international will and to engage in outreach activities towards other countries in the area of counter-terrorism co-operation, and at the same time to provide capacity building assistance to those countries with insufficient capacity to fight terrorism.
Each G8 member has so far encouraged, based on its own priorities, countries to enhance counter-terrorism measures and has conducted capacity building assistance. Now it is necessary for the G8 to have a common plan for counter-terrorism outreach activities and capacity building assistance with a view to ensuring that assistance by the G8 be selectively and effectively provided to those areas in which countries need assistance most and in order to avoid duplication of assistance by the G8 as much as possible.
2. G8 Strategy for Capacity Building
Developing a successful capacity to tackle terrorism requires a focus on three main areas of counter-terrorism activity: first, to deny terrorists the means to commit terrorist acts (for example, to prevent the financing of terrorism, and denial of false documents and weapons); second, to deny terrorists a safe haven and ensure that terrorists are prosecuted and/or extradited (for example to accelerate the conclusion of counter-terrorism conventions and protocols, to deny terrorists entry into a country and to reinforce law-enforcement agencies); and third, to overcome vulnerability to terrorism (for example to enhance domestic security measures and capability for crisis management and consequence management). For the peace and security of the world, it is essential for all countries, including developing countries, to enhance such capability. Such activity should be seen as complementary to initiatives to strengthen good governance, the rule of law, human rights and judicial reform, and to the analysis of factors which contribute to the emergence of terrorism.
As a means for delivering capacity building assistance, we may receive trainees, dispatch specialists, or provide equipment as requested by recipient countries. From this viewpoint, the following are broad areas for potential capacity building assistance, and it is important for each G8 member to make a contribution according to its own ability by making the most of its own know-how. In each area, efforts to ensure training and assistance to implement laws, procedures and regulations will be pursued. The areas for capacity building assistance as outlined by the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) include:
" Counter-Terrorism Legislation - assistance in developing legislation for domestic implementation of conventions, protocols and resolutions in relation to terrorist activity;
" Financial Law and Practice - assistance in drafting and enforcing legislation, regulations and codes of practice criminalising the financing of terrorism and the seizure and freezing of assets
" Customs Law and Practice - assistance in drafting and enforcing legislation on the establishment of border controls;
" Immigration Law and Practice - assistance in drafting and enforcing legislation on immigration controls including standards for travel documentation and the granting of asylum/refugee status;
" Extradition Law and Practice - assistance in drafting of legislation implementing bilateral and multilateral co-operation on extradition;
" Police and Law Enforcement - development of procedures for counter-terrorism law enforcement and the provision of assistance to national police forces to counter terrorism as well as illicit drug trafficking and organised crime as they relate to counter-terrorism;
" Export Control and Illegal Arms Trafficking - assistance in the drafting of legislation and development of procedures preventing the access by terrorists to weapons;
" Domestic Security Measures - assistance in the development and implementation of adequate crisis and consequence management techniques, aviation and transportation security measures and protection of critical infrastructure.
3. G8 Action Plan: Building International Political Will and Capacity to Combat Terrorism
3.1 The G8 will support the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) by:
" Ensuring that the CTC is sufficiently staffed;
" Prioritising countries, regions and fields in order to co-ordinate the assistance necessary to fulfil obligations under UNSCR 1373;
" Outlining specific ways G8 members can support and encourage countries to fulfil their UNSCR 1373 obligations;
" Working with the CTC in identifying relevant international best practices, codes and standards;
" Supporting steps by our Finance Ministers to co-ordinate counter-terrorism financing measures and to work with the Financial Action Task Force and the international financial institutions (IFIs) to address terrorist financing, capacity building and other counter-terrorism objectives in their assessment and assistance initiatives.
3.2 To this end, the G8 will create a Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG):
" The G8 will create a Counter-Terrorism Action Group, to focus on building political will, co-ordinating capacity building assistance where necessary. Other states, mainly donors, will be invited to join the group. A representative of the CTC will be invited to CTAG meetings. Representatives from relevant UN bodies, IFIs and other regional and functional organisations will be invited to relevant meetings (first meeting to be held by July 15);
" CTAG members will provide funding, expertise or training facilities. They will focus their activities on areas and countries where they have expertise.
3.3 The CTAG will analyse and prioritise needs, and expand counter-terrorism capacity building assistance by:
" Reviewing requests, analysing the requirements and prioritising needs for capacity building assistance (by the second CTAG meeting to be held by October 15);
" Exchanging information as far as possible on the needs assessments missions CTAG members have carried out;
" Holding co-ordination meetings between CTAG members missions in priority recipient countries, involving host government and local officials responsible for capacity-building assistance;
" Seeking to increase counter-terrorism capacity building assistance and co-ordination (by the 2004 Summit);
" Providing reports bi-annually of current and planned capacity building assistance which will then be shared with the CTC;
" Identifying cases of successful implementation of counter-terrorism capacity building efforts to share best practice and lessons learned (by the second CTAG meeting to be held by October 15);
" Facilitating joint initiatives by members in some countries.
3.4 The CTAG will expand regional assistance by:
" Encouraging regional assistance programmes including delivery through regional and donor sponsored training centres (by the 2004 Summit);
" Sharing available information on counter-terrorism curricula and best training practices (by the first CTAG meeting no later than July
15) and developing key areas of focus that various regional training centres could address (by the second CTAG meeting to be held by October 15);
" Seeking to address unmet regional assistance needs (by the 2004 Summit).
3.5 The G8 will increase outreach efforts to third countries and regional and functional organisations by:
" Continuing to implement G8 demarches to countries that are not parties to all international counter-terrorism conventions and protocols to urge them to become parties and accelerate domestic implementation of required measures;
" Conducting outreach bilaterally and jointly through experts meetings and seminars to share benefits of concluding conventions and impart technical knowledge for implementation (plan to be presented by CTAG first meeting);
" Building upon the March 6, 2003 meeting between the CTC and regional organisations, identify specific roles and responsibilities for regional and functional organisations that emphasise their strengths while avoiding duplication of effort;
" Requesting regional and functional organisations to become more active in encouraging UNSCR 1373 implementation by their members;
" Encouraging regional and functional organisations to develop best practices, codes or standards towards implementing UNSCR 1373 requirements;
" Implementing G8 outreach to the IFIs and functional organisations such as the World Customs Organisation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation to discuss areas of mutual interest in the funding and provision of counter-terrorism capacity building assistance.
4. Follow-up
The G8 Presidency will produce a report for the 2004 Summit.
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