The Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum Fifth Annual Meeting,

Recalling the APPF Resolution on Terrorism (APPF4/Res/Pol/2);

Noting the many international efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism, including the International Conference on Terrorism held in Baguio City, Philippines, in February 1996 which adopted the following six fundamental principles in combating terrorism:

• Terrorist acts are crimes and all legally available means should be used to counter them;
• Combating terrorism requires cooperative efforts;
• There must be no sanctuary for terrorists;
• There must be no compromise in the fight against terrorism;
• Counter-terrorism measures must be in accordance with the relevant provisions of international law and international standards of human rights; and
• Countries that have not yet acceded to treaties and conventions on terrorism are urged to do so as a matter of highest priority.

Concerned that terrorism is spreading throughout the world posing a great threat to national as well as international peace and security;

Considering that terrorism is a crime against humanity, and country giving asylum, support, or assistance to terrorists is actually supporting and helping criminals, and that asylum should be given only in specific cases for justified humanitarian reasons;

Recognising that today terrorism is often directly linked to drug dealing and organised crime;

Deploring the fact that terrorism employs the weapon of fear to obtain its objectives and, by doing so, undermines democracy;

Resolves to:

Condemn unequivocally all acts of terrorism everywhere and any support or assistance to terrorists through any means;

Reiterate support for the recommendations and suggestions contained in the APPF Resolution on Terrorism (APPF4/Res/Pol/2);

Call upon APPF member countries to seriously consider supporting the six fundamental principles to combat terrorism adopted at the International Conference on Terrorism held in Baguio City, Philippines in February 1996;

Urge APPF member countries to enhance cooperative efforts to address decisively the problems, causes, and harmful effects of terrorism on land, in the air and at sea on a meaningful scale.

Adopted unanimously on January 10, 1997.