16/12/2010 News
“All Council of Europe member states are under the obligation to protect the public against terrorist attacks […] and all perpetrators of terrorist acts, but also the instigators and organisers, must be held to account for their actions,” today stressed PACE Vice-President Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), speaking on behalf of the PACE President at the opening of a conference on the prevention of terrorism held by the Council of Europe in Istanbul. However, eradicating impunity also implies that law enforcement agencies and security services only use means compatible with the standards of the European Convention of Human Rights, Mr Herkel recalled.
He added that prevention of terrorism – which complements prosecution and sanctions – also means the creation of conditions in our societies in which terrorism simply cannot develop. In this respect, he mentioned the importance of promoting inter-cultural dialogue including its inter-religious dimension, and implementing socio-economic policies contributing to the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance within society.