Despite Tensions, Asia-Pacific Nations Close Ranks against Terrorism

Pacific-rim nations yesterday closed ranks against terrorism at the end of a summit that was darkened by last week’s attacks in Paris, but still Washington and Moscow sparred over how to deal with Syria and the Islamic State fighters sheltering there.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group’s 21 leaders vowed to prevent terrorism from undermining values that underpin their economies, and said there was a need for greater international cooperation to fight the scourge.

“Under the shadow cast by the terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, and against Russian aircraft over the Sinai, and elsewhere, we strongly condemn all acts, methods, and practices of terrorism in all their forms and manifestations, ”they said in a declaration after their summit in Manila.

The mood was somber at the APEC summit after last Friday’s killing spree by Islamic State fighters in Paris, where at least 129 people died, and this overshadowed the annual meeting’s usual focus on growth, trade and development issues.

U.S. President Barack Obama said many nations have already been working together to defeat Islamic State, but it will be a multi-year task and only a political settlement in civil war-torn Syria will eliminate the group’s safe havens there.

He said that a solution to Syria’s turmoil could not include President Bashar alAssad remaining in power “because the overwhelming majority of people in Syria consider him to be a brutal, murderous dictator”, and he again took Russia to task for propping up the country’s leader.

Russia began air strikes in Syria at the end of September. It has always said its main target is Islamic State militants, but most of its bombs in the past hit territory held by other groups opposed to its ally Assad.