Preamble
We, the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the Conference on Interaction and ConfidenceBuilding Measures in Asia (CICA),
Having met in Almaty at a time of profound changes which are taking place in Asia and ihc world to set up ourvision of security in Asia and enhance our capabilities For co-operation on issues of common concern for ourpeoples;
Recognising the close link between peace, security and stability in Asia and in the rest of the
Committee ourselves to working to ensure peace and security in Asia and making it a region open to dialogueand co-operation;
Believing that the CICA process presents new opportunities for co-operation, peace and security in Asia;
Declaring our determination to form in Asia a common and indivisible area of security, where all statespeacefully co-exist, and their peoples live in conditions of peace, freedom and prosperity, and confident thatpeace, security and development complement, sustain and reinforce each other;
Reaffirming our commitment to the UN Charter, as well as to the Declaration on the Principles GuidingRelations among CICA Member States, which is an integral part of the Atmaty Act, as the basis for our futureco-operation;
Considering that all aspects of comprehensive security in Asia, including its political and military aspects,confidence-building measures, economic and environmental issues, humanitarian and cultural co-operation, areinterdependent and interrelated and should be pursued actively.
Confident that Full, equal and comprehensive implementation and observance of the principles, provisions andcommitments enshrined in the Almaty Act will create the conditions for advanced cooperation among the CICAMember States and will guide us towards a better future which our peoples deserve;
Have adopted the following:
I. Security and co-operation
1. The main objective and thrust of the CICA will be to enhance co-operation through elaborating multilateralapproaches towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.
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2. In order to achieve this o6jective, the Member States will take the necessary steps to develop the CICAas a forum for dialogue, consultations and adoption of decisions and measures on the basis of consensus onsecurity issues in .Asia.
3. We call upon and continue to encourage all Member States who are parties to a dispute to settle thispeacefully in conformity with the principles envisaged in the UN Charter
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4 Recognizing the contribution which increased trade and economic co-operation can make for the prosperity andstability in Asia and to the well-being of their peoples, we will make Further efforts to promote initiativesin these fields, as mentioned in the Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations among the CICA MemberStates. We also recognize the need for better co-operation on all issues which constitute risks to theenvironment.
5. The Member States reiterate their belief that protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms inaccordance with the UN Charter and the international Conventions and instruments to which they are partiescontributes to the consolidation of peace, security and stability in Asia. They also declare their readinessto further their co-operation in this field in a spirit of friendliness.
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6. We consider that humanitarian issues, such as natural disasters and refugee flows, are areas of commonconcern since they also affect stability and security in the region. The Member States are resolved todeveloping measures, where necessary, to address these issues through co-operation in the region as well aswith the UN and other relevant international organizations.
7. We believe that enhancing mutual respect, mutual understanding and tolerance in the relations amongcivilisations is an important goal for our times. Noting with satisfaction the designation of the first yearof the millennium as the year of Dialogue among Civilisations, we shall encourage and strengthen this process.
8. We consider globalization as a challenge of our time. While it could offer certain opportunities for growthand development, at present the benefits of globalization are unevenly shared among the nations and muchremains to be done to ensure that its benefits be comprehensively and equitably distributed at the globallevel.
9. Joint actions and coordinated responses are necessary to deal with challenges and threats that our statesand peoples are faced with.
II. Challenges to security
10. The Member States seek to promote regional and international security and stability, which will alsocontribute to peaceful settlement of existing and prevention of the emergence of new crisis situations anddisputes.
1 l. The continuing existence and proliferation in alt its aspects of nuclear weapons, as well as chemical andbiological weapons, pose a great threat to all humanity. The Member States pledge to support the efforts forthe global elimination of all Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and therefore they commit themselves to anincreased co-operation for the prevention of proliferation of all such weapons, including nuclear weapons,which constitute a particular danger to international peace and security.
12. With the end of the Cold War, the opportunity now exists for the international community to pursue nucleardisarmament as a matter of the highest priority. We shall encourage all nations to keep all options open forachieving this aim, including the possibilities of convening an international conference to identify ways ofeliminating nuclear dangers and negotiating a comprehensive and verifiable nuclear weapons convention Weaffirm the importance of the early realization of the universal adherence to the multilaterally negotiatedinstruments on the elimination of W'WD, and urge those states not yet party to these instruments to accede tothem as soon as possible
13. We support the establishment of zones free from nuclear weapons and other WMD in Asia on the basis ofarrangements Freely ,arrived among the states of the region concerned The establishment of such zones inregions for which consensus resolutions of the UN General Assembly exist, such as the Middle East and CentralAsia, should be encouraged; in this context, we invite adherence to internationally negotiated disarmament andnon-proliferation instruments in accordance with all the provisions of the relevant consensus resolutions ofthe UN and the positions of states concerned on the implementation of these resolutions.
14. The Member States reaffirm their belief in the need of ensuring security at the lowest level of armamentand military forces. We recognize the necessity to curb excessive and destabilizing accumulation ofconventional armaments. We emphasize the importance of the maintenance of the international strategicstability to world peace and security and to the continued progress of arms control and disarmament. Weemphasize the importance of multilateral negotiations on the prevention of an arms race in outer space.
15. We believe that direct or indirect threat or use of force in violation of the UN Charter and internationallaw against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the states; denial of therights to self determination of peoples which remain under foreign occupation (a right which has to beexercised in accordance with the UN Charter and international law); interference in the internal affairs ofstates and offensive strategic doctrines pose threats to regional and international peace.
I6. The Member States unconditionally and unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestationsas well as any support or acquiescence to it and the Failure to directly condemn it. The threat posed byterrorism has been increasingly growing over the last decade. Terrorism in all its forms is a trans-nationalthreat, which endangers the lives of individuals and peoples and undermines the territorial integrity, unity,sovereignty and security of states. The menace of terrorism has been magnified by its close links with drugtrafficking, illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SLAWs) and their transfers in any form toterrorist groups, racist ideologies, separatism, all forms of extremism which present basic sources offinancing and providing manpower for terrorist activities. We regard as criminal all acts, methods andpractices of terrorism and declare our determination to co- , operate on bilateral as well as multilateralbasis to combat terrorism including its possible sources of financing and providing manpower for terroristactivities. We regard as criminal all acts and methods and practices of terrorism and declare ourdetermination to cooperate on bilateral as well as multi lateral basis to combat terrorism including itspossible sources .In not to allow terrorism in any form to be prepared , assisted , launched and financed fromthe :territory of any state and we shall refuse to provide terrorists with safe haven and protection.
I7. We recognise that implementation of the Un Conventions will contribute to tackling the problems ofterrorism and support the elaboration of a Comprehensive Convention on Intemational Terrorism.
18. Separatism is one of the main threats and challenges to the security and stability, sovereignty, unity andterritorial integrity of states. The Member States shall not support on the, territory of another Member Stateany separatist movements and entities, and, if such emerge, not to Establish political, economic and otherkinds of relations with them, not to allow the territories and communications of the Member States to be usedby the above-mentioned movements and entities, and not to render them any kind of economic, financial andother assistance. We reaffirm the right of people living under foreign occupation for self-determination inaccordance with the With the UN and intemational law.
19. We reject the use of religion as a pretext by terrorists and separatist: movements and groups to achievetheir objectives. We also reject all Forms of extremism and will work to promote tolerance among our nationsand peoples.
20 Illicit drug trafficking represents a major threat to internal and international stability and security ofour states and our continent as a whole as well as to the well-being of our peoples. This problem is closelylinked with the socio-economic and political situation in several relations, terrorist activities across theworld, and international criminal groups engaged in trans-national crime, money laundering and illicit SALWtrafficking. We recognise that there are several states in .Asia which require priority attention andassistance by the international community in order to combat drug trafficking. We also recognise the need foreffective strategies to reduce production, supply and demand for drugs. In this respect, we will co-operate tomonitor suspicious financial flows, including issues related tu incomes and transparency of bank operations inaccordance with the existing international legal instruments, and to identify the sources of production,consumption and trafficking of drugs. In order to assist the practical implementation of these tasks,multinational training courses and exercises as well as exchange of information among the competentauthorities of the Member States will be promoted. We also call upon major consuming countries to play a moreactive role in providing equipment, training and educational courses, rehabilitation, technical and financialassistance to Asian drug producing and transit countries. Adoption and implementation of crop substitutionplans and alternative development strategies in drug producing regions in Asia should also be encouraged totackle the menace of illicit drugs more effectively.
21. We also recognise corruption as a trans-national crime which calls for concerted multilateral action. Inthis regard, we emphasize the need for banning the transfer of illicit funds and wealth and also the need forenhanced intemational co-operation in tracing and repatriating such assets.
22.The Member States recognize that illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons poses a threat to peaceand security and is directly linked with terrorist activity, separatist movements, drug trafficking and armedconflicts. In this context, we underline the importance of the Fire Arms Protocol reached in the framework ofthe UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the programme of Action adopted by the UNConference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects which was held in New Yorkin July 2001.
23. We are determined to co-operate with each other on bilateral and multilateral basis to prevent suchthreats to peace and security in Asia.
III. Confidence Building Measures
24. In the context. of achieving CICA objectives, we will take the necessary steps for the elaboration andimplementation of measures aimed at enhancing co-operation and creating an atmosphere of peace, confidence andfriendship. Such measures should be in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, ClCA, andinternational law. In doing so, we will take into account specific features and characteristics in variousregions in Asia and proceed on a gradual and voluntary basis.
25, We encourage all states in the region having disputes to make efforts to solve their disputes peacefullythrough negotiations in accordance with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and international law. Werecognise that the resolution of territorial and other disputes and implementation of arms control agreementsmay, depending upon specific situations, facilitate implementation of confidence building measures (CBMs); onthe other hand, we also recognise that implementation of CBMs may, depending upon specific situations,facilitate, or create a conducive climate for, the resolution of disputes and arms control agreements.
36. We recognize that disarmament and arms control, universality of all internationally negotiated instrumentson the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, promoting non· proliferation, have a significant role inenhancing confidence building among regional states We affirm that being a State Party to the relevantinternationally negotiated instruments should not be interpreted as affecting the inalienable right of allparties to those treaties to develop research, production and use of nuclear technology, chemical andbiological materials and equipment for peaceful purposes in accordance with the provisions of theseinstruments. W e reiterate the importance of negative security assurances to the non-nuclear-weapon states andexpress our readiness to consider further steps on this subject which could take the form of aninternationally binding instrument
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27. The Member States will prepare with mutual agreement a "CICA Catalogue of Confidence BuildingMeasures" and proceed on a gradual basis for its implementation. The Catalogue, which will be regularlyreviewed and further developed, may include, among others, measures in the military political economic andenvironmental and humanitarian and cultural spheres.
IV. Structure and institutions of CICA
28. In order to facilitate its efficient functioning we have decided to provide for CICA the necessarystructure and institutions, consisting mainly of the following:
I. Regular Meetings:
29. The meetings of the Heads of State or Government will be convened every four years in order to conductconsultations review the progress of, and set priorities for CICA activities. Special meetings may be convenedas necessary by consensus, Summit meetings will be preceded by meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
30. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs will meet every two years. Their meetings will be the central forum forconsultations and examination of alt issues related to CICA activities. Special meetings may be convened asnecessary by consensus.
31. The Committee of Senior Officials will meet at least once a year to follow-up on previous CICA decisions,carry out consultations on the current CICA issues, oversee the work of Special Working Groups and co-ordinatethe work of other meetings. The Committee will a4so make the necessary preparations for the organization ofthe Summit and ministerial meetings, including elaboration of draft documents.
32. Special Working Groups will be established to study specific issues relevant to CICA's areas of interestand to carry out the tasks mandated to them. They will submit the results of their work to the Committee ofSenior Officials.
2. Specialized Meetings
33. The Member States may agree to convene meetings of other minister or of the competent national agenciesand institutions in order to discuss issues of a specific and/or technical nature.
3. Academic and professional inputs
34. Opportunities will be provided as necessary for academic and professional inputs and reports, as well asassistance and contributions to publications with CICA may decide to produce.
4. Secretariat
35. In order to provide follow up and administrative for regular meetings and political consultations andother activities in the Almaty Act, we support the establishment of a secretariat of the CICA. We task ourministers of Foreign Affairs to finalise the elaboration of all aspects related to the establishment of thesecretariat.
