Doc. 9208

19 September 2001

Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the fight against international terrorism

Communication from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 763^rd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (12 September 2001)

1.       The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe condemns with the utmost force the terrorist attacks of unprecedented violence committed against the American people, to whom it expresses sympathy and solidarity.

These crimes do not strike only the United States but affect us all. These barbaric acts violate human rights, in particular the right to life, democracy and the search for peace.

Such monstrous acts demand resolute reaction from all states committed to uphold civilised values.

The Council of Europe, which unites the continent around these values, has a particular interest and responsibility to contribute to such a reaction.

2.       The Committee of Ministers decides to hold a special meeting on 21 September with the following agenda:

i.       strengthening of the fight against terrorism, using the specific expertise and instruments of the Council of Europe, and improving the mechanisms and means for co-operation with other international organisations and the observer states;

ii.       inviting the member states to give increased effectiveness to the existing pan-European co-operation, eg., to accede, where they have not done so, to conventions on mutual assistance in criminal matters;

iii.       examining the scope for updating the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism;

iv.       the inclusion of the fight against terrorism in the Council of Europe’s integrated project on the struggle against violence in everyday life in a democratic society.