Warsaw, Poland 22 Feb. 2002

Speech by Prof. Adam D. Rotfeld, Under-Secretary of State Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland at the Seminar the Role of EAPC in Combating Terrorism Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me welcome all of you in Warsaw at the EAPC Seminar on Combating International Terrorism. I would like to begin with paying tribute to Sweden and Finland who were the first to come up with the idea of organising the event which we are honoured to host. This is the second important conference devoted to terrorism-fighting Warsaw is hosting after the tragic events of September 11th. The first was the November 2001 Conference on Combating Terrorism. The Heads of State and Government of the Central, Eastern and South Eastern European countries reflected upon the common struggle against international terrorism while retaining at the same time the guiding principles of democracy and freedom. The participants of the Warsaw Conference adopted the common Declaration and the Action Plan. These documents encourage us to take appropriate measures to provide conditions necessary for full implementation of the relevant international conventions on anti-terrorism issues and for far wider co-operation to fight international terrorism. Standing united against terrorism all the present in Warsaw agreed on deepening co-operation enabling us to provide quick and effective information exchanges on possible sources of international terrorism and possible terrorist threats. In his address to the Warsaw Conference President Kwasniewski noted: "Terrorists fully enjoy all benefits of globalisation: access to modern technology, full information, free communication between various parts of the world, as well as free movement of capital. In their pursuits, terrorists resort to corruption, drug trafficking, illicit trafficking in arms, in persons, illegal capital transfers. We cannot agree to the situation where the processes originally meant to assist mankind's development are now turning against us." Mr. Chairman, Today, this time in a different format, we meet to discuss how to enhance the role the EAPC may play in combating terrorism. Our meeting and our work reflect the common efforts made in building an antiterrorist network. As one expert said, 'to fight a terrorist network we need a network as well'. I am sure that the EAPC has every capacity to serve as such an antiterrorist network, constituting at the same time a significant chain in the global antiterrorist effort. First, let me offer two remarks of a general nature: I do not share the quite widespread view that the world has changed since 11 September. The world did not change-it was the perception of the world that has changed. Problems remain the same; qualitatively new, however, is the grasp of the issues. Consequently, priorities, or the hierarchy of major issues, need to be rearranged. The other remark is that the 11th of September events were catalytic-they gave a boost to the processes that were already under way on the international agenda. As we will discuss ways and means of combating terrorism, we have to be clear about the fundamental assumptions for an effective fight against terrorism. There is no justification for terrorist acts. US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz was right in his intervention at the Munich conference on security policy on 2 February 2002, when he said: There can be no reason substantiating a claim that any given terrorist act serves any purpose other destruction and humiliation. We have to try to understand, what is conducive to the growth of this menace. Is it poverty? Is it politics? Is it frustration? Or a combination of different factors? We should try to comprehend what makes us so vulnerable to terrorism. Aren't we conscious enough? Or is our world too exposed? Could we agree with Thomas Humer Dixon, who wrote recently that "high societies are filled with supercharged devices pocked with combustibles and poisons, giving terrorists ample opportunities to divert such non weapon technologies to destructive ends". In short, a great deal has been written and said in recent months about terrorism, though not all have told the whole story yet. We must bear in mind that the outcome of the terrorist attack will in fact determine the foundations of the international security system. Indeed, it turned out that the norms, procedures, mechanisms and institutions of the system are hardly adequate to effectively handle this kind of threats. To put in a nutshell, in search of responses to the new challenge, some seek to point to the safety laxities at the world airlines, while others put emphasis on the need for leveling out the living standards and dividing more equitably wealth between the North and the South. Both approaches testify to the lack of understanding of what really happened. The former argument claims that it was a criminal act, that could have been prevented by enhancing controls at airports. The latter one argues that on 11 September a gang of desperate idealists devoted their lives (plus those of several thousands of other victims) to defend the rights of the poor and deprived. It is, however, extremely idealistic to believe that if the United States and other democratic states are fair and honest in their relations with the Islamic world and other poor countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, such terrorist acts as those of 11 September can be prevented. On the basis of the above assumptions, one has to look into our possibilities of combating terrorism. I would venture to say that first of all we have to establish the criteria for effective fight against terrorism. Let me suggest such criteria for your consideration: Unity - to use the holy phrase of the tragic victim of 11 September events: "United we stand..."; Terrorism is a direct threat to every state's security. Since the threat is common and unconventional, it must be fought effectively only in common and unconventionally. The answer to the question what it means will, I hope, bring our seminar. Comprehensiveness - it is not just a military operation as it should embrace all aspects of terrorism-political, military, financial, social, etc. Long-lasting efforts: we have to eliminate not only the syndromes of a disease, but its root causes, as well; Patience: we have to win a war, not just a battle, which will be a long-standing effort. Combating terrorism requires a well-functioning system of the mutually supporting institutions: the UN, NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe, European Union and various regional bodies. The UN conventions against terrorism, the OSCE Plan of Action for Combating Terrorism adopted last December by the Ministerial Council in Bucharest and the Bishkek Programme of Acton to Counter Terrorism adopted in December 2001, all are of crucial importance, and deserve our consideration. Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Colleagues and Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, The problem of stability and security in Euro-Atlantic area is also of our common concern. We are aware that the political, social and economic conditions in many states differ and that this has an impact on stability and the human rights record. The struggle with terrorism and aggression, the maintenance of peace, conflict prevention and efforts to secure stability are integrally linked with the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law. A view has emerged that since combating terrorism is a priority, human rights are receding to the background; in the face of the existing threats they are an unnecessary luxury and should be pushed aside. This view is not only erroneous but also harmful as it tolerates the abuses of human rights and dignity. On the occasion of the EAPC Warsaw Seminar I would like to pay tribute to the work against terrorism done so far by the Participating States. I am glad that the coalition aiming to fight terrorism is constantly broadening the range of its activities in a variety of ways. An enormous task is ahead of the Seminar Participants. All possible problems and difficulties may be raised in the area of combating terrorism, so important for the security and stability of today's world. I am, however, convinced that the work to be done during the coming two days will be fruitful and constructive and that our mutual understanding will help in the achievement of our common goals. I wish you fruitful cooperation in the work we are to do.