Appendix A.8: Concept of Cooperation Between SCO Member States in Combating Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism

Appendix A: Key Normative Documents of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

• Declaration on the Establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – June 15, 2001
• The Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism – June 15, 2001
• Agreement between the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure – June 7, 2002
• Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement between Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure – August 16, 2007
• Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – June 7, 2002
• The Regulations on Observer Status at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation – April 24, 2004
• Agreement on the Database of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – June 28, 2004
• Concept of Cooperation between SCO Member States in Combating Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism – June 5, 2005
• Protocol on Establishment of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group between the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – November 4, 2005
• Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – August 16, 2007
• Regulations on the Status of Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation – August 8, 2008
• Agreement on the Procedure for Organizing and Conducting Joint Anti-Terrorist Exercises by Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – August 28, 2008
• The Convention on Counter-Terrorism of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – June 16, 2009

Concept of Cooperation between SCO Member States in Combating Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism

Adopted by Resolution No. 1
of 5 June 2005
of the Council of Heads
of SCO Member States

The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereafter SCO member states) shall accept the Concept of Cooperation Between Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Combating Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism (hereinafter Concept), which is fundamental for the development of a joint strategy and system of measures for combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism as they are defined by the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism of 15 June 2001, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter SCO).

The present Concept shall determine the fundamental goals, objectives, principles, avenues, and forms of cooperation between SCO Member states in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, as well as the mechanism of its implementation.

I. General Provisions

The SCO member states proceed on the basis that terrorism, separatism, and extremism:

• constitute a threat to international peace and security and impede the development of friendly relations between states and the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and freedoms;
• threaten the territorial integrity and security of SCO member states and their political, economic, and social stability;
• cannot be justified under any circumstances, regardless of their motives, and the perpetrators of such acts must be prosecuted under the law.

The SCO member states are convinced that the UN is the main center for the regulation of international relations and for developing cooperation in the realm of ensuring international security.

The SCO member states emphasize their adherence to the goals and principles of the United Nations and to other generally-recognized principles and norms of international law concerning the maintenance of international peace, security, and the promotion of good-neighborly and friendly relations and cooperation between states.

The SCO member states intend to actively participate in anti-terrorist actions conducted both under the aegis of the UN and within the framework of regional organizations. The necessity and degree of participation shall be in proportion to their national interests and international obligations.

The SCO member states intend to take all possible measures in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism within SCO territory and shall not provide asylum to individuals accused or suspected of committing such acts.

The SCO member states view combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism within the framework of the SCO as a foreign policy objective of the greatest importance and consider that the development of additional mechanisms of international cooperation in this area must become an appropriate step in increasing and modernizing the capacity for swift anti-crisis reaction and must facilitate the effective joint use of opening possibilities and the countering of new challenges and threats.

SCO member states proceed on the basis that combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism on SCO territory using their own forces has a priority significance.

II. Fundamental Goals, Objectives, and Principles of Cooperation

1. The fundamental goals of cooperation shall be:
   • protecting SCO member states, their citizens, and other individuals on their territories from the threats of terrorism, separatism, and extremism;
   • developing the anti-terrorist capacity of SCO member states.
2. The fundamental objectives of cooperation are:
   • developing common approaches of SCO member states toward combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism;
   • improving the legal bases of cooperation, as well as developing and harmonizing the legislation of SCO member states in the realm of combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism;
   • uncovering and eliminating the reasons and conditions that promote terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and mitigating their consequences on SCO member territories;
   • preventing and halting terrorism, separatism, and extremism on SCO member territories;
   • counteracting the financing of terrorism, separatism, and extremism in any form;
   • increasing the effectiveness of the collaboration between the competent agencies of SCO member states in preventing, uncovering, halting, and investigating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and in uncovering and halting the activities of organizations and individuals associated with them;
   • assisting in the strengthening of international anti-terrorist cooperation and in the creation of a world atmosphere that completely rejects terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
3. The SCO member states are guided by the following principles in accomplishing the fundamental goals and resolving the fundamental objectives of cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism:
   • the observation of generally-recognized principles and norms of international law;
   • mutual trust;
   • mutual respect for sovereignty, equality, and territorial integrity;
   • the impermissibility of applying double standards in international efforts to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism;
   • reciprocal recognition of a terrorist, separatist, or extremist act regardless of whether the legislation of SCO member states includes a corresponding act in the same category of crimes or whether the act is described using the very same terms;
   • the uncompromising nature of combating and the inescapability of punishment of individuals and organizations for terrorism, separatism, and extremism;
   • complex approach to combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism using preventative, legal, political, social and economic, propagandistic, and other measures;
   • the impermissibility of attributing combating terrorism to confessional and other overtones;
   • non-provision of support in any form to organizations and individuals associated with terrorist, separatist, and extremist activity;
   • non-provision of asylum to individuals associated with terrorist, separatist, and extremist activity;
   • unity of approach to the opportunity for taking adequate measures should threats arise from terrorism, separatism, and extremism to the security of SCO member states;
   • mutual protection of confidential information received in the process of cooperation;
   • acknowledgment of the priority of joint decisions on issues of combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.

III. Fundamental Avenues of Cooperation

The fundamental avenues of cooperation shall be:

1. The formation of a single policy by SCO member states in the realm of combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism and the effectuation of inter-state coordination of this activity.
2. The development of unified approaches to stopping the activity of terrorist, separatist, and extremist organizations prohibited in SCO member states, including the creation of a unified list of such organizations with subsequent confiscation of their property and financial resources.
3. The development and implementation of the anti-terrorist capacity of SCO member states.  
4. The inevitability of punishment for terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
5. Creating and maintaining a single search registry of individuals wanted internationally for committing crimes of a terrorist nature or who are suspected of committing crimes of a terrorist nature.
6. Improving the legal basis of cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
7. Developing and implementing a multinational system of measures for combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
8. Developing legal, organizational, and other measures aimed at strengthening border and customs control with the goal of preventing terrorists, separatists, and extremists from penetrating SCO territory, and halting the illegal transport across the borders of SCO member states of resources used to commit terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
9. Research and technological, informational, and analytical support for combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
10. Providing assistance in mitigating consequences and in rehabilitating individuals injured by terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
11. Prohibiting access by terrorists, separatists, and extremists to weapons of mass destruction and to the means of acquiring them, and to radioactive, toxic, and other dangerous substances, materials and the technologies for producing them.
12. Counteracting all forms of financing terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
13. Combating terrorism at facilities of national importance, vital facilities, critical infrastructure, and on all forms of transportation.
14. Preventing the use or threatened use of local and global computer networks for purposes of terrorism (combating cyberterrorism).
15. Collaboration with civil society and the mass media for purposes of counteracting terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
16. Alignment of positions for participation in international organizations and forums regarding issues of combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
17. Participating in uniting the forces of the world community in formulating a global strategy for counteracting terrorism, separatism, and extremism. 
18. Assisting third countries in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
19. Improving the material and technical basis for combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, including the development of special items, technology, and equipment for supplying special anti-terrorist units.
20. Compiling and circulating experiences on joint combating of terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
21. Training, retraining, and further specialized training of personnel for competent agencies of SCO member states.
22. Shaping public consciousness of the necessity of uncompromising struggle with terrorism, separatism, and extremism.

IV. Fundamental Forms of Cooperation

The fundamental forms of cooperation are:

1. Conducting concerted preventive activities.
2. Conducting concerted operational search and investigative actions.
3. Conducting joint anti-terrorist activities.
4. Exchanging operational search, informational, and forensic information, including information on acts of terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the course of preparation or that have been committed, the individuals and organizations associated with them, and the creation of specialized databases and communication systems, including a confidential one.
5. Providing legal assistance.
6. Organizing and conducting joint anti-terrorist exercises, personnel development, exchanging work experience and methodical literature on issues of combating separatism, and extremism, and carrying out joint academic research in said field.

V. Mechanism for Implementing the Concept

SCO member states shall develop international treaties, joint programs and plans of action within the framework of the SCO, and other documents for the purposes of implementing the provisions of the present Concept.

The Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the SCO shall carry out operational coordination, international legal activity, and information analysis in implementing the concerted decisions concerning the cooperation of SCO member states in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and shall prepare proposals and recommendations to the Council of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure for report to the Council of Heads of State and to the Council of Heads of Government of SCO Member States.

Individual provisions of the present Concept may be amended and supplemented taking into account the further development of integrated processes and the strengthening of cooperation between SCO Member states.

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