Tackling terrorist activity will be a top priority when the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
meets on July 5 in Kazakh capital Astana.
"Member states will take new measures to step up the fight
against terrorism, separatism and extremism," SCO Secretary-General
Zhang Deguang told a news conference on Friday.
"Deals to be signed will strengthen functions of
counter-terrorism."
The organization groups China, Russia and the Central Asian
states of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Chinese President Hu Jintao
will attend the summit, where leaders will discuss the latest
regional developments.
Zhang said the recent turbulence in Uzbekistan could be cited as
a terrorist attack by armed elements aiming to establish an
extremist religious state.
China has said it firmly supports the Uzbek authorities' efforts
to "strike down the three forces of terrorism, separatism and
extremism" in the Uzbek city of Andijan.
The incident in May led to 500 deaths and prompted the UN to
call for an international inquiry.
The unrest was the result of a terrorist plot, according to the
head of a Central Asian security alliance, who dismissed concerns
in the West that it was a bloody crackdown on protesters.
Asked how to differentiate terrorists from "freedom fighters,"
Zhang said: "Up to now we have not come across a situation where we
could not tell who was the terrorist and who was the freedom
fighter. We believe in our region we have a very clear view about
these people."
At the upcoming summit, the SCO will draw up terms for joint
anti-terror operations and compile a list of terrorists threatening
the region, Zhang said.
The nations will also decide whether to give India, Iran and
Pakistan observer status.
"One lesson from Andijan is that we should be on high alert
against terrorists," Zhang said.
(China Daily July 2, 2005)