E.U. outlines security policy

BRUSSELS, SEPT. 14. Government leaders of the 15 European Union nations vowed on Friday they would help chase down the perpetrators of the attacks on the United States and hold any country which provides shelter to terrorists accountable.

In a joint statement, the E.U.'s Presidents and Prime Ministers issued a blueprint for a joint anti-terrorism policy, urging a common judicial and foreign policy approach and better coordination between the different state security organisations. ``We will not, under any circumstances, allow those responsible to find refuge, wherever they may be,'' said the statement from the French President, Mr. Jacques Chirac, the German Chancellor, Mr. Gerhard Schroeder, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, and the other European leaders. ``Those responsible for hiding, supporting or harbouring the perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of these acts will be held accountable.''

After pledging their full solidarity with the United States, the 15 member states and the European Commission said they would work on such measures as unified arrest warrants and extradition orders, and beef up their common foreign and security policy. ``We will make every effort to strengthen our intelligence efforts against terrorism,'' the statement signed by the leaders said.

Underlining the urgency, the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr. Guy Verhofstadt, said the Justice and Interior Ministers of the 15 member nations will meet on next Thursday to work on new measures, moving forward a regularly scheduled meeting.

``It is high time the European Union speaks with one voice,'' said Mr. Verhofstadt, whose country currently holds the E.U. presidency. ``We have to make progress when it comes to fighting terrorism,'' he said. E.U. Transport Ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss improvements in airport security. On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministers already expressed their full solidarity with the United States during a specially- convened meeting.

Throughout the E.U., life will come to a 3-minute standstill at noon Central European Time to mourn the victims of the attack and show solidarity with the people of the U.S. Twenty-eight other European nations from Russia to Iceland also said they would join, with up to 800 million people observing the silent tribute.

Meanwhile, the Prime Ministers of Russia, China and four Central Asian states issued a joint declaration on Friday condemning the brutal terrorist attacks.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which groups Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia and China, also agreed to bolster economic ties at the first meeting of the nation's Prime Ministers.

The six nations said the strikes in New York and Washington, which left thousands dead, posed a ``challenge to the fundamental principles of human civilisation''. - AP, AFP

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Section  : International
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