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G8 Leaders Statement on Counter-Terrorism
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary July 8, 2008

G8 Leaders Statement on Counter-Terrorism

ÿÿWhite House News

ÿÿÿÿÿ G8 Summit 2008

We, the leaders of the G8, condemn in the strongest terms all acts of
terrorism, and commit ourselves to take every possible measure to counter
this threat to the international community. We have taken cooperative
actions against terrorism, particularly in successive G8 Summits since
2001, including strengthening the role of the United Nations, improving
information sharing, and combating the financing of terrorism,
strengthening the security of land, sea, and air transport, undertaking
measures for better control of Man-Portable Air Defense Systems, and
launching the Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative.
Still, terrorism remains one of the most serious threats affecting all
countries and peoples in the world.

Our work is and will be guided by shared principles, including the
following:

- All terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable, and must be
unequivocally condemned, especially when they indiscriminately target or
injure civilians.

- Suicide bombings are a particularly despicable tactic, and recruiting the
young or disadvantaged to carry out such acts must be uniformly condemned.

- Abductions and the taking of hostages are repugnant practices to be
strongly condemned.

- Conflict, oppression, and poverty do not excuse or justify terrorism.

- Terrorist abuse of freedoms inherent to democratic societies to spread
hatred and incite violence, such as through abuse of modern technologies
and open borders, will not be tolerated.

Today in Hokkaido Toyako, we reaffirm our commitment to countering
terrorism with every means at our disposal, while ensuring the rule of law
and respect for human rights and international law. Our success in
combating terrorism will lie not only in countering present terrorist
threats, but in providing the hope and reality of a vision that undercuts
the false appeal of violent extremism. Thus, we welcome the report
submitted by the G8 experts on international terrorism and transnational
organized crime, and underscore our pledge to further strengthen our
cooperation to counter the terrorist threat including the following:

1. We recognize the United Nations' central role in countering terrorism
and express our firm support for UN efforts. We call on all Member States
to implement UN measures to counter terrorism including the Global
Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant Security Council resolutions. We
also stress the importance of concluding and implementing international
conventions and protocols against terrorism.

2. We emphasize the critical role of capacity building for countries
requiring assistance to meet their international counter-terrorism
commitments. In this regard, we will further strengthen cooperation among
the G8 and the UN, especially by enhancing efficient coordination with the
Counter-Terrorism Committee/Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate
(CTC/CTED) through the Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG). We also
encourage and support regional cooperation.

3. In light of the diversified threats and methods of terrorism, we will
reinforce our efforts to tackle a wide array of threats including Chemical,
Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) terrorism, attacks on critical
energy infrastructure and transportation systems, and the abuse of
information/communication technology.

4. We commit also to strengthen our efforts to combat terrorist financing,
including the prevention of bulk cash smuggling to finance terrorism and
the risk of terrorist exploitation and abuse of charities, while mindful of
the overall valuable role of charities. We stress the urgent need for full
implementation of existing standards, including Financial Action Task Force
(FATF) Special Recommendations VIII and IX, and ask our experts to take
steps to share information, evaluate threats, assess new trends and promote
implementation and review these efforts next year.

5. We recognize the critical importance of preventing radicalization
leading to violence as part of efforts to curb and stop terrorism. We will
continue to develop measures to counter and prevent such radicalization.

6. We welcome the G8 Foreign Ministers' Statement on Afghanistan. We
reaffirm the importance of economic and social development along with
counter-terrorism measures in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, which
can play a critical role in bringing lasting peace, stability and security
to this region. To this end, we are committed to further strengthening the
coordination of our efforts in the border region in cooperation with the
respective countries, international organizations, and other donors.

Today, we reaffirm our unshakable belief that terrorism cannot and will not
succeed. Our response to the terrorist threat will respect our common
democratic values. We must protect individuals and uphold human rights
while we confront terrorism. We must promote freedom and security, protect
democracy, and ensure justice.

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