Parliamentary Assembly

RESOLUTION 863 (1986)^[1]

on the European response to international terrorism

The Assembly,

1. Recalling its various appeals for the defence of democracy against terrorism in Europe, in particular Recommendation 1024 (1986) on the European response to international terrorism ;

2. Renewing its unreserved condemnation of terrorism, which denies democratic values and human rights, and reiterating its conviction that the response of the European democracies to terrorism must be founded on respect for the principles enshrined in their constitutions, in the European Convention on Human Rights and in international law ;

3. Regretting the procrastination of European states in reacting multilaterally to the terrorist threat, and the absence up to the present time of a coherent and binding set of co-ordinated measures adopted by common consent ;

4. Deeply concerned at the link between terrorism and trafficking in weapons and drugs ;

5. Convinced that those states that directly or indirectly support terrorism - particularly Libya, Syria and Iran - must be politically and morally isolated in all international forums ;

6. Welcoming, as a first step in the right direction, the measures set out in the Declaration on International Terrorism adopted in Tokyo on 5 May 1986 by the heads of state or government of the seven major democracies and by the representatives of the European Community ;

7. Convinced that the Council of Europe is called upon, by virtue of the wide geographical area it covers, its composition and democratic basis, to define and co-ordinate European action against international terrorism ;

8. Welcoming the decision by the Committee of Ministers to convene, on 4 and 5 November 1986, a European Conference of Ministers responsible for Combating Terrorism,

8. Invites the member states of the Council of Europe :

a. to join in imposing on any state they regard as directly or indirectly responsible for abetting terrorism, political and economic sanctions, including :

i. diplomatic measures against the government of that state, involving reduction and eventually severing of diplomatic relations ;

ii. suspension of international flights to and from that country ;

iii. suspension of trade in military materials ;

iv. suspension of all training of military personnel ;

v. curtailment of investment ;

vi. in appropriate cases, gradual termination of purchases of raw materials and energy products ;

b. to reconsider and reduce arms trade with some countries of Africa and the Middle East, since it is in those regions that terrorist groups and the governments that support them procure the means with which to carry out their activities ;

10. Urges the governments of the member states of the Council of Europe, which have not yet done so, to ratify the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism, and calls upon them, pending this necessary ratification, to co-operate as effectively as possible with the other member states in combating terrorism ;

11. Invites the governments of the member states to review and, where possible, to withdraw any reservations made to that convention at the time of signature or ratification ;

12. Invites the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Combating Terrorism to consider :

a. inviting member states to reach an agreement, in consultation, on defining terrorism as a crime against humanity ;

b. setting up within the Council of Europe, by means of a partial agreement, a co-operation group for combating terrorism, composed of the ministers in the national governments with responsibility in this field, membership of which might be open to other European and non-European democratic states ;

c. drawing up criteria on the basis of which Council of Europe member states could define their attitude to states that abuse, in one way or another, their diplomatic immunity in order to promote terrorist acts ;

d. encouraging where necessary, while having full respect for the freedom of the press, the representative professional organisations to work out a code of ethics for the media, in order to define their role and responsibilities in the defence of democracy, particularly against terrorism ;

e. setting up, in the Council of Europe, a study and documentation centre for the prevention and suppression of terrorism, benefiting from the fullest possible governmental and parliamentary support, with the participation of non-governmental organisations.

[1] Assembly debate on 18 September 1986 (10th and 11th Sittings) (see Doc. 5601, report of the Political Affairs Committee).

Text adopted by the Assembly on 18 September 1986 (11th Sitting).