Apec united vs terror

It’s good that the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Manila came out with a strongly worded condemnation of terrorism amid a call for greater cooperation in achieving growth and prosperity.

After all, the meeting took place in the shadow of terror attacks in Paris and Beirut and the downing of a Russian airliner over Egypt over their economic agenda.

“We will not allow terrorism to threaten the fundamental values that underpin our free and open economies,” the Apec leaders said in a declaration issued after their summit yesterday.

“Economic growth, prosperity and opportunity are among the most powerful tools to address the root causes of terrorism and radicalization. We stress the urgent need for increased international cooperation and solidarity in the fight against terrorism,” the leaders said in their joint declaration.

The declaration also denounced “all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all their forms and manifestations.”

The Apec leaders’ last major statement against terrorism was in Shanghai in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

“We further encourage economies to implement fully the APEC Consolidated Counter-Terrorism and Secure Trade Strategy and to continue taking collective and individual actions and sharing best practices to secure infrastructure, travel, supply chains and financial systems from terrorist activities,” the declaration read.

Will this statement in any way deter the Islamic State from launching further terrorist attacks. Not at all, it would seem. But at least they should know that many countries condemn their actions in the strongest terms—and that if they continue to do so, then they will have to face the consequences.