Dhaka, Aug 31 (UNB) - Bimstec leaders on Friday reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism and called upon all the member countries to devise a comprehensive approach in this regard.   The comprehensive approach should include preventing financing of terrorists and terrorist actions from territories under their control, blocking recruitment and cross-border movement of terrorists, countering radicalization and misuse of internet for purposes of terrorism, and dismantling terrorist safe havens, they said in a joint declaration titled "Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous and Sustainable Bay of Bengal Region”.   They issued the statement following the two-day 4th summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) in Kathmandu, Nepal that ended on Friday.      The Bimstec leaders resolved to achieve leveraging on Bimstec’s unique position as a bridge linking South and Southeast Asia, an enhanced level of economic and social development in the region.   They agreed to remain fully committed to consolidating and deepening cooperation among Member States towards transforming organisation into an effective platform to promote peace, prosperity and sustainability.   The Bimstec leaders deplored terrorist attacks in all parts of the world, including in Bimstec countries and strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever and by whomsoever committed.   They stressed that there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.    They affirm that the fight against terrorism should target not only terrorists, terror organisations and networks but also identify and hold accountable States and non-State entities that encourage, support or finance terrorism, provide sanctuaries to terrorists and terror groups and falsely extol their virtues.   

They recalled the principles enshrined in the 1997 Bangkok Declaration and reemphasise that cooperation within Bimstec will be based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful co-existence and mutual benefit.
 
The leaders in the fourth Bimstec Summit Declaration, Kathmandu, Nepal agreed to intensify our efforts to realise the objectives and purposes of Bimstec as embodied in the 1997 Bangkok Declaration.
 
They reiterated their pledge to work collectively towards making Bimstec a stronger, more effective and result-oriented organisation for achieving a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable Bay of Bengal Region.
 
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Chief Adviser of the Kingdom of Bhutan, the Prime Minister of India, the President of Myanmar, the Prime Minister of Nepal, the President of Sri Lanka, and the Prime Minister of Thailand, met in Kathmandu on 30-31 August 2018 for the Fourth BImstec Summit.
 
They underlined the importance of multidimensional connectivity, which promotes synergy among connectivity frameworks in the region, as a key enabler to economic integration for shared prosperity.
 
They took into consideration the importance of trade and investment as one of the major contributing factors for fostering economic and social development in the region.
 
They recognised the special needs and circumstances of the least developed and land-locked developing countries in the region and underlining the necessity to provide meaningful support to their development process.
 
They also recognised that terrorism and transnational organised crimes continue to pose a great threat to international peace and security, including the Bimstec countries, and stressed that combating terrorism and transnational organised crimes require sustained efforts and cooperation and comprehensive approach involving active participation and collaboration of the Member States.
 
They reaffirmed strong commitment to making Bimstec a dynamic, effective and result-oriented regional organisation for promoting a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable Bay of Bengal Region through meaningful cooperation and deeper integration.
 
The Bimstec leaders stressed the need for a fair, just, rule-based, equitable and transparent international order and reaffirming faith in the multilateralism with the United Nations at the centre and the rule-based international trading system.
 
They underscored the importance of robust institutional arrangements to effectively steering the process of regional cooperation under Bimstec.
 
 
Institutional Reform
 
They decided to task the Bimstec Secretariat to prepare a preliminary draft of the charter for the organisation, building on the 1997 Bangkok Declaration, defining a long-term vision and priorities for cooperation, clearly delineating roles and responsibilities of different layers of institutional structure and decision-making processes, for consideration by the bimstec Permanent Working Committee (BPWC) and other higher bodies with a view to adopting it by the Fifth Summit.
 
They agreed to task the BPWC to develop the Rules of Procedure (RoP) for the Bimstec Mechanisms.
 
They decided to establish a Bimstec Permanent Working Committee to deal with administrative and financial matters of the Secretariat and the Bimstec Centers and Entities, as well as to prepare schedule of meetings, prioritise and rationalise the organisation’s activities.
 
They agreed to enhance the institutional capacity of the Bimstec Secretariat, including through financial and human resources, to enable it to coordinate, monitor and facilitate implementation of Bimstec activities and programmes.