Press Release No.075-03
04 March 2003

PHILIPPINES, AUSTRALIA SIGN ANTI-TERROR AGREEMENT

CANBERRA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between their two countries on cooperation to combat international terrorism.  Secretary Ople, who is on a week-long trip to Australia and New Zealand, said that the agreement is an Australian initiative and had been a subject of talks between the two countries' officials for some time now.

"Australia had shown a keen desire to conclude this MOU, especially at a time when the entire world is consumed with the need to address the issue of terrorism and after having just gone through a painful experience of its own with the death of many Australians in Bali on October 12, 2002. That day, as well as September 11, 2001, will hereafter serve as reminders of terrorists and the harm they inflict on non-combatants and other innocent people." Ople said.

The Philippines itself has not been spared from terrorist acts, Ople continued, citing the trafficking of drugs and arms that take place across the country's porous borders. He said that the funds from these illegal activities "…only serve to finance further acts of terrorism."

"It is with these in mind that the Philippines proposed a sub-regional mechanism against terrorism and other transnational crimes with other ASEAN countries," explained the Secretary. "It is only fitting, therefore, that the next country with which we should conclude an agreement of this kind would be Australia, one of the Philippines' closest friends and allies in the region."

The MOU enumerates possible areas of cooperation which include: information and intelligence; money laundering and financing of international terrorism; smuggling and border control issues; illegal trafficking in weapons, ammunition, explosives, and; defense cooperation relating to international terrorist activities.

Forms of cooperation stipulated under the agreement include intelligence exchange, joint training exercises and activities, capacity-building initiatives and regional and multi-lateral consultations on issues relating to international terrorism and transnational organized crime.

All of these activities will be implemented in accordance with each country's domestic laws and regulations and in accordance with their international legal obligations.

Secretary Ople is scheduled to depart for Wellington tomorrow to meet with New Zealand’s government leaders, as well as with the leaders of the Filipino community there. – END