ASEAN member states have expressed concern over the rise of violence andbrutality committed by terrorist organisations and extremist groups inIraq and Syria.

Their foreign ministers noted that these groupsnot only pose a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria, but also to allcountries in the Middle East, and if left unchecked, to the rest of theworld, adding that ASEAN denounces all acts of destruction, violence,and terror in all its forms and manifestations.

ASEAN reiteratesits commitments to the implementation of the ASEAN Convention onCounter Terrorism and the ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on CounterTerrorism, both of which aim to prevent and suppress terrorism byaddressing its root causes and disrupting terror networks and financingchannels, said the statement.

ASEAN supports the UN SecurityCouncil Resolutions 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014) which call on theinternational community to suppress the flow of foreign terroristfighters and financing to prevent terrorist groups and their supportersfrom posing a threat to international peace and security.

ASEANrenews its commitment to work with the international community to fightagainst extremism, radicalism and terrorism and address its root causes,including through the promotion of the Global Movement for Moderates(GMM), to prevent further violence and brutality, in accordance withinternational law and the UN Charter.

ASEAN deems it imperativefor the international community to work together in unity in the fightagainst terrorism, extremism and radical groups, wherever they occur, itadded.-VNA