The Hindu : Force alone cannot defeat terrorism: Prodi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 18, 2004

International

International

Force alone cannot defeat terrorism: Prodi

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, MARCH 17. European analysts are analysing the impact and consequences of the Spanish election result and there is growing conviction that force alone cannot contain terrorism. The Popular Party Government led by Jose Maria Aznar lost to the socialists in the election overshadowed by last Thursday's train blasts in Madrid.

The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, said the Madrid incidents showed that the U.S. strategy of using force to defeat terrorism was insufficient and that the European Union must devise its own responses. Mr. Prodi said Europe needed to focus on "soft security" and develop cooperation with neighbouring countries.

The E.U.'s Home and Justice Ministers are meeting here on Friday to work on a strategy to better coordinate tactics and data on terrorist activities. Senior security officials from all the E.U. member-States will also participate in the debate.

"These dark days have shown us how the American approach itself has not been sufficient to deal with the situation completely. It is clear that force alone cannot win fight against terrorism. Europe's response should be more wide ranging than the American reaction," Mr. Prodi said.

The E.U. is in the process of developing a "hard security" strategy of defence and police cooperation among the current 15 and future 25 member states. Mr. Prodi also warned that things could only start significantly moving once Europe could pave way to resolve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. He will end his mandate as the President in October, and there is much speculation about his successor.

Britain, Italy and Poland seemed increasingly vulnerable to terrorist attacks since they have all made military commitments in the Iraq war. Germany has peacekeeping troops deployed in Afghanistan and hence rated as a borderline case. There is even a talk of creating a new post of Commissioner in charge of terrorism in the European Union.

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