Plan of Action of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on combating terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime
| 2009-3-27 |
In follow-up to the points of agreement and mutual understanding set forth in the Statement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on combating terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime, the SCO Member States and Afghanistan agree on the following Plan of Action.
1. Fight against illicit drug trafficking
Using the format of the meeting between heads of anti-drug agencies of the SCO Member States, which is now in the process of establishment, based on the Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors of June 17th, 2004, it is agreed to promote practical interaction in the following areas:
in carrying out comparative analysis of the corresponding legislative frameworks of the Member States, improving legal framework of cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors;
in inter-agency information exchange;
in conducting joint operations;
in controlling trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors;
in countering the legalization of income derived from trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors;
in training of personnel of anti-drug agencies;
in drug abuse prevention activities, including demand reduction measures, as well as in developing and introducing new modes of treatment, social and medical rehabilitation of drug addicts;
in establishing regular contacts and developing effective interaction between the meeting of heads of anti-drug agencies of the SCO Member States and relevant authorities of the Afghan Government.
The SCO Member States will consider establishing a regional anti-drug center and a specialized SCO training center for training of officers of the relevant authorities of the SCO Member States, Observer States and Afghanistan, responsible for taking measures against illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.
The SCO Member States will take measures to tap the potential of the Central Asia Regional Information and Coordination Centre for combating illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, to engage Observer States of the Organization as well as Afghanistan and Turkmenistan in anti-drug cooperation, including in the creation of "anti-drug and financial security belts". Particular focus will be placed on such issues as:
improving mechanisms of cooperation between the agencies concerned of the SCO Member States and Afghanistan in fighting against transnational criminal groups, providing logistical and training support to the relevant authorities of the SCO Member States and Afghanistan to contribute to drug control;
advancing collaboration between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization in fighting drugs continues to remain an important priority area of joint activities based on the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the SCO Secretariat and the CSTO Secretariat;
the SCO Member States will continue their efforts to expand the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan with regard to combating illicit drug trafficking and drug cultivation.
the SCO Member States will tighten control over the chemical substances used to produce drugs, and are ready to make necessary efforts to cut off illegal precursor supplies to Afghanistan and seek cooperation in this field with States and international organizations concerned.
2. Fight against terrorism
The SCO Member States and Afghanistan believe that in order to effectively combat terrorism it is necessary to strengthen counter terrorist collaboration for comprehensive measures to jointly respond to terrorist threats. Efforts will be focused on the following areas:
border control;
checking individuals suspected of being involved in terrorist activities;
conducting joint operations to counter terrorist threats;
involving Afghanistan, in a phased manner, in the SCO-wide collaboration in fighting terrorism in the region;
establishing effective mechanisms to prevent and suppress terrorist activities;
making joint efforts to obtain information regarding terrorist organizations threatening the security of SCO Member States and Afghanistan;
setting up an expert consultation mechanism on the basis of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure and Afghan relevant authorities;
exchanging information on terrorist activities and organizations and experience in fighting against them;
exchanging lists of terrorist: suspects between SCO Member States and Afghanistan, on a mutual basis;
providing assistance in apprehension and transfer of terrorists;
tracing and cutting off the sources and channels of funding terrorist organizations;
inviting relevant Afghan bodies to take part in joint law enforcement exercises carried out by the Member States as well as in workshops, courses and other SCO events related to combating terrorism.
3. Fight against organized crime
The SCO Member States, using the format of meetings between heads of ministries of internal affairs and of public security, which is now in the process of establishment, will:
advance cooperation with relevant Afghan authorities to fight illicit trafficking in weapons, munitions and explosives and other forms of transnational organized crime;
improve the exchange of operational information and experience related to combating organized crime;
provide mutual assistance in investigating criminal cases and help collect and transfer evidence;
explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation to combat transnational organized crime, including those carried out on a regular basis, and for exchanging, if necessary, teams of law enforcement officers in order to speed up criminal investigations;
implement, by all available means, various programs of further and advanced training of Afghan law enforcement officers.
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In order to improve the cooperation mechanism and boost its efficiency, the SCO Member States and Afghanistan agreed to consider the issue of raising the representation in the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group to the level of directors of departments of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the SCO Member States and Afghanistan and to consider developing a plan of interaction with CSTO Foreign Ministers Council's Working Group on Afghanistan to jointly combat terrorism, drug production and trafficking, organized crime, and, inter alia, to hold joint meetings of both Groups.
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The SCO Member States will further develop their bilateral trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan, engagement in international efforts to provide assistance in its economic recovery, and will explore opportunities for implementing joint projects aimed at social and economic rehabilitation of this country.
In this regard, the SCO Member States will consider the proposal of the Republic of Tajikistan to sponsor an international conference of Ministers of Economic Affairs in Dushanbe.
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The SCO Member States will continue exchanging their views on using the existing international cooperation mechanisms related to Afghanistan and re-establishing those that proved to be effective.
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