APEC Establishes Counter-Terrorism Task Force
At their first meeting for 2003, APEC Senior Officials have endorsed the establishment of a Counter-Terrorism Task Force to facilitate the implementation of joint measures to protect key APEC infrastructure from terrorist attack.
The Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the link between terrorism and trade has increasingly involved APEC in the development of counter-terrorism issues.
"Due to its impact on the regional trading and economic environment, APEC has become increasingly prominent in developing ways to counter terrorism while facilitating trade," said Ambassador Milintachinda.
"Counter terrorism measures should also be seen as an investment that will pay future dividends through reduced risk premiums and increased trade efficiency."
The Counter-Terrorism Task Force is expected to coordinate the implementation of the Leaders' Statement on Fighting Terrorism and Promoting Growth by assisting economies to:
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Access resources and information required for counter-terrorism
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Co-ordinate capacity building and technical assistance programs
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Cooperate with other international organisations in counter-terrorism issues
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Facilitate cooperation between APEC fora on counter-terrorism issues.
Specific areas include protecting cargoes and ships engaged in international voyages, protecting international aviation, protecting people in transit as well as halting the financing of terrorism.
The Counter-Terrorism Task Force will also be active in promoting cyber security, energy security and the security of the food and water supply and other infrastructure in o of our communities.
Ambassador Milintachinda said APEC is also working to strengthen the technological capacity of all APEC economies to implement the action plan.
"APEC is committed to assessing the needs of economies and providing effective capacity building programs and to ensure they can successfully implement the Action Plan," said Ambassador Milintachinda.
"It is essential that APEC economies adopt new technologies to both strengthen security and facilitate trade."
The Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Conference, starting Monday in Bangkok, is a key part of APEC efforts to reduce the cost of terrorism and to increase the efficiency of cargo handling and the movement of people.
Ways in which investment in counter terrorism measures can also serve as a means to facilitate more efficient trade will be discussed at the conference.
"One example of counter terrorism measures resulting in a reduction of transaction costs is the US Customs' Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) project.
"The ACE project will save US importers US$22.2 billion in costs over 20 years and save the US government US$4.4 billion in administrative costs over the same period.
"The ACE project replaces paper documents with electronic messaging and sophisticated software to identify containers that are high risk. This ensures these high risk containers are checked while low risk cargo is able to be processed more rapidly.
"As a result business saves on documentation and law enforcement resources can be targeted more efficiently," said Ambassador Milintachinda.
APEC's efforts in the area of counter terrorism and secure trade will be reported at the upcoming Special Conference on Combating Terrorism being organised by the United Nations Security Council's Counter Terrorism Committee in New York on 7 March 2003.