20/11/2015 President
PACE President Anne Brasseur, speaking during the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, has condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the wave of terrorist attacks by IS against France, Lebanon and Russia, as well as other states earlier this year.
“These are acts of cold-blooded inhumanity which outrage all of us. They leave behind bereaved families, cause extreme distress and anger, and yet they bring their twisted perpetrators no closer to their goals,” said the President.
“Terrorism is a direct attack on the very roots of democracies and our common objective must be to combat it. We must overcome divisions to focus on the root causes of extremism and radicalisation, by denouncing hatred, discrimination and intolerance, and by reaffirming the values of ‘living together’,” concluded Anne Brasseur. “This is something I believe we have achieved during this World Forum, where people from all over the world – especially young people – have come together to reject what the terrorists stand for. We have said clearly, with one voice: you will not succeed.”
“Let us all unite to defend democracy and to combat hatred wherever we find it. I have expressed the Assembly’s support to the people of our member states – France and Russia – and our neighbours in messages of support to the Speakers of Parliaments,” said the President.