27 July 2005
Prime Minister Tony Blair today welcomed a proposal from the Spanish Government for an ‘alliance of civilisations’ to combat the scourge of terrorism.
Read the transcript below:
Prime Minister:
Good Afternoon everyone. Can I welcome Prime Minister Zapatero here and firstly say to him how grateful we were for not just the strong expressions of sympathy from Spain to Britain after the attacks in London, but also for the practical help that the Spanish police and authorities gave us. It was very well appreciated and it forms obviously a strong common bond between our two countries and between Madrid and London.
In the discussions that we have had today, they have really fitted into three parts. First of all obviously we discussed the issue of the common struggle against terrorism and how we combat this extremism that relies and depends on a quite twisted and perverted doctrine of the religion of Islam. We discussed a number of different aspects of this. First of all of course there is the Europe Action Plan that really grew out of what happened in Madrid, and the importance in our Presidency of taking this forward; secondly, we talked about how to combat the radicalisation of young Muslims within our communities; thirdly, we talked about how we improve the cooperation, including the exchange of data between our two countries since this is a common threat that is faced by all European nations; and fourthly, we discussed the proposal that the Spanish Prime Minister has made for what he calls an alliance of civilisations, which is the idea that we join together our countries with Muslim countries, and Turkey is particularly involved in this, to form a coalition of civilised people from whatever race or religion to combat the barbarity of terrorism. And I think this is a proposal with possibilities in it that we can develop over the months to come.
Secondly of course we discussed Europe, the future financing of the European Union, which as you know there has been a disagreement in the European Council, but I think both Spain and the UK are keen to try and make sure that we get progress on this issue, and we had a discussion about that, and also the importance which we both attach to economic reform and the regeneration of the European economy. And again I think in these areas the Prime Minister and myself share a very common perspective on the need to combine a strong emphasis on social justice, with the development of a modern competitive economy, capable of withstanding the competition not just from within Europe, but also from outside of Europe as well.
And then thirdly we had the opportunity to talk of course about a range of international issues, including the visit that the Prime Minister has just made to China, and as you probably know, I will be going to China later this year.
So many, many thanks Jose Luis for this opportunity to go through these issues in detail, and again in particular thank you and thank you to the Spanish people for their strong solidarity at this point, it is much appreciated.
Mr Zapatero:
Thank you very much Tony for your words, words that in my case must begin by repeating the deep full fledged solidarity that Spain has extended and feels towards London, towards the United Kingdom, and most importantly towards the victims and their families of the bombing of July 7. I truly appreciate the words expressed by the Prime Minister on the cooperation that Spain has offered in order to prosecute and arrest the terrorists that have committed these vile and barbaric murders here in London. This cooperation includes the police, intelligence, assistance to victims, and also cooperation that will continue to remain firm, because it is absolutely essential as one of the pillars in the sphere of the European Union to guarantee maximum protection and security and safety for our citizens.
I would like to tell Londoners, and Britons in general, that in Spain they have a full fledged ally in the fight against terror, against radicalism, against fanaticism, and that this unity, unbroken unity, among all democrats is a guarantee to reduce, prevent and eliminate terrorism.
I would also like to stress that we have had a very intense and fruitful conversation on how to combat the future risk of terrorism with renewed energy. This risk and threat is extensible to any of our countries, as in the past, as will be the case in the future, as we have seen in London, in Egypt, and some 15 months ago in Madrid. Police cooperation, new measures in terms of legislation in order to make the work of our police forces easier, and judicial cooperation are essential in order to combat and prevent it. In addition to this we have political mobilisation, political action, in order to unroot, to isolate fanaticism and radicalism under the aegis and excuse of religion the terrorists use. We are not facing a problem that affects one civilisation or another, one religion or another, these are just terrorists, murderers and radicals who will be harmful for humanity as a whole.
That is why I truly appreciate the words of the British Prime Minister on the proposal for the alliance of civilisation, and I have invited Tony Blair to make a proposal on the high level group, on somebody to join it in order to develop the work to be carried out in the framework of the United Nations. I am convinced that this initiative will bring about progress in this fight that we are carrying out together.
In addition to all this we have talked about the European situation. During these six months during which Britain will hold the Presidency, I want to express the Spanish government’s will to strengthen the unity of Europe and to give a boost to the economy and employment as a major concern of our citizens. Europe must advance in its reform. Lisbon can’t wait. Our society has to be economically dynamic, innovative, in order to be able to compete in a globalised world, and we also have to renew the European social model. That is why I think it is very appropriate to hold an informal European Council in order to set the path for the European economy, in order to give a certain pace to the reforms. That will be the way to achieve agreements on financial perspectives and in order to later on take on the process for the political union.
And lastly, I also want to thank the British Prime Minister for the efforts he is making to guarantee the success of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit that will be held in November in Barcelona. The dialogue between Europe and the Mediterranean is essential in order to guarantee the stability and the contribution that Europe must make towards the development of many peoples in that geographical area of the Mediterranean, Northern Africa, Maghreb, Africa, because the European agenda must forcefully include development and fighting poverty, having as we do an appointment with the United Nations in September in order to analyse the compliance with the Millennium objectives, the Millennium Development Goals. And I would therefore like to thank Tony Blair for this meeting, to which I attach the greatest importance on the road of our relations, of Europe at present and that will certainly contribute to strengthening further our unity in our fight against terrorism.
Question:
Prime Minister, given all the anti-terror measures that you are considering, do you agree that it is too easy to respond to the terrorism in a way which undermines commitment to our most deeply held values and convictions, and cheapens our right to call ourselves a civilised nation. And do you think it was perhaps insensitive of Cherie to say that at this moment?
Prime Minister:
I think I have said myself that it is important that we balance these things, the civil liberties of people, very important to protect our way of life and it is important to protect people’s security. And I think probably, if you read the whole of the speech, she was saying the same thing.
Question:
Several questions. First, do you have anything to say on the problems being encountered in implementing the European arrest warrant, not only in Germany, but also in Britain where there are pending Spanish requests, to which courts are not responding satisfactorily? Secondly, have you commented on any incidents such as the specific incident on the Brazilian citizen who was shot in the London Underground recently, does this hinder the struggle against terrorism, or is this a necessary evil, because as the President of the Spanish Supreme Court said well this forms part of this situation of war.
Prime Minister:
I think in respect of the situation of co-operating on arrest warrants, this is one of the reasons why we need a simple European system of doing this, and I am very anxious to make sure that we cooperate fully with our European partners so that where there are people who are wanted for terrorist activities in other countries, then they get the fullest possible cooperation from us and from our judicial system. Now we obviously operate in a different common law system, but the basic principle of solidarity between European countries in fighting this terrorism is essential. In respect of the citizen, I think you asked me a question about the young Brazilian man, I said this the other day, and I will just repeat it to you now, we are all desperately sorry that this has occurred, but we do believe it is important to give our police every support at this time. And as you rightly implied, this is of course part of the difficulty when you get terrorists operating in democratic countries, because the police are desperately concerned to make sure that they protect people’s security, and at the same time innocent people can get caught up in this, and I think and I hope that most people understand that.
Mr Zapatero:
In this regard I have to say that the Euro-order, the European Arrest Warrant is absolutely essential as an instrument in European cooperation and it is regrettable that we sometimes encounter problems along the way that do not meet the aims for which it was planned. This has happened on many occasions and I trust that all European countries will make an effort in order to make it work properly. But as Tony Blair was saying, I also truly regret what happened to this Brazilian citizen, and in connection with your question on the statement of the President of the Judiciary, I must say that I do not share his words. The struggle with terrorism is not a conventional war and therefore the mechanisms, the formulae have to be different.
Question:
Donald Rumsfeld and the Interim Prime Minister of Iraq today have spoken out about speeding up troop withdrawals, and indeed the Iraqi said that as soon as practical they would like American troops to be withdrawn. Does that go for British forces as well, or could you see circumstances where British forces might stay beyond the substantial American commitment? And if I could ask you, Mr Zapatero, do you believe that a rapid withdrawal of British and American forces would actually make all our countries safer from terrorist attack?
Prime Minister:
He asks it so nicely as well - you wouldn’t think there was any hidden motive behind that question at all. First of all, Adam, look the problem that we get into when we talk about troops coming back from Iraq is that it all depends where you put the emphasis. It is the position of Britain, of America, of everybody, that as the Iraqi force capability builds, so the necessity for our support there diminishes. That is not a new announcement, that is the strategy, that is the political strategy for us. So that as the Iraqi capability strengthens the whole time, so there is less of a requirement for our forces to be there. And the reason it is important to keep emphasising that is so that people in Iraq, and people in the Arab world, do not think that it is our strategic objective to remain. It is not. It is our strategic objective, once the circumstances allow, and our job is done, to allow the Iraqi forces to take on this task, and that is what they want, that is what we want. And sometimes if you are asked the question, are you about to withdraw, you say no, and then the story is, so they are staying; alternatively if you put it the other way round, and people say so your desire is to stay there the whole time, we say no our desire is actually to go at the appropriate moment, you get the other story. The position has not changed and it has not changed you know as things leak, or people make statements at press conferences. The strategic objective is clear - an Iraq, sovereign, democratic, with its own forces in charge of its own security. Our purpose is simply to remain for the time necessary for that to happen, so that these people can get the democratic country that they want, and we can resist those who want to destroy that democracy. So to be absolutely frank about it, I haven’t seen the comments myself, I just literally heard about them on my way in here, but it doesn’t seem to me that there is any inconsistency between what they have said and what we have always said.
Mr Zapatero:
Beyond the positions of each country, that each country has adopted on the military intervention in Iraq, I must say that the risk is global, as we have just seen in the bombing in Egypt, to such a point that since I am President of the government, I have adopted on two occasions the decision of having the maximum alert level in our country because of a terrorist threat, this involves a very broad deployment of both military and police presence, and at present we are at this top alert level, ever since I am President of the government, and of course ever since we withdrew our troops from Iraq.
Question:
Two questions. The first for Mr Zapatero. Do you think there is any kind of link between Iraq and the bombings in London … two years ago before the war in Iraq.
Prime Minister:
I don’t think I have got anything to add to what the President has just said, which is that all of us face this threat, all of us should deal with it together. I really think it is as simple as that.
Mr Zapatero:
I have just reiterated this, beyond the position anyone may have had regarding Iraq, my position is known to everyone. It would be the first press conference in which I wasn’t asked about the issue ever since I reached government, but the terrorist threat is a threat to all, the threat from radical Islamic terrorism affects us all equally. They have attacked very different countries and therefore prevention, combat and security affects us all and involves us all.
Question:
Prime Minister, while your discussions have been dominated by combating terror, and while the police and security forces are working flat out to protect us from suicide bombers, how is it justified for the Home Secretary to be on holiday?
Prime Minister:
Angus! Look, he has been working flat out, he is going to take a break and then he is going to be back, and he can come back at any point in time. I will be going on holiday at some point next week, I will come back at any point in time as necessary.
Question:
Is it not important though for the Home Secretary to be here at a time when many people will be thinking it is the biggest manhunt in British police history, he is the political figurehead …
Prime Minister:
But unfortunately Charles isn’t personally conducting it. It is important to recognise that of course he is absolutely in touch with what is going on. I am still here at the present time. The government is carrying on functioning. People can have their views about this, but I personally think it is sensible for people to take the holiday that they should have. As I say, at any point in time, if there is a development that requires his presence, he comes back immediately. Nobody in this world today is any more than a few hours away from coming back. You know when I go away, which I will do, because I want to take a break with my family, I can come back at any point in time that anything happens. So I think, if we are fair, it is all right. You are staying here throughout all this then?
Question:
No, I am off on Friday, but I don’t run the country.
Prime Minister:
No, you are off on Friday.
Question:
Thank God.
Prime Minister:
I don’t think we will ask you to comment on that one, Jose Luis, no.
Question:
I have a question for the British Prime Minister. I have understood that you support the Spanish proposal for the creation in the United Nations of an alliance of civilisations as one of the methods to fight terrorism. It is well known that on the other side of the Atlantic, in the United States, this proposal has not been very well accepted, at least for the time being. Are you going to use your friendship with President George Bush in order to encourage him to also support the Spanish proposal in the United Nations? And I also have a question for the Spanish President of the Government. I would like to know if you have considered celebrating a special European Council, that may even include the United States, in order to study the different possibilities to fight terrorism, or something of this sort?
Prime Minister:
Well I am not actually aware of what the American position is on the alliance and civilisations, but I should think everyone can see the common sense of having a coming together of civilised people, from whatever religion, and that is the importance of it. And I think, as I understand it, the term - the alliance of civilisations - is in direct contrast to the idea that we are in a clash of civilisations. It is the terrorists who want to stir up these differences between Islam and the rest of the world, and I think the idea of Spain, and Turkey, and other countries coming together to give a clear statement of solidarity across the religious divide I think is very, very important. And I am sure, I would be very surprised if people didn’t support this everywhere, I am sure they will. And I have not spoken for the White House.
delicious
digg
facebook
