Varnir gegn hryðjuverkum.
Varsjá, 17. mars 2005.
At the outset allow me to congratulate the Polish Presidency for organizing this high level meeting in such an efficient manner. I also want to thank the Council of Europe for preparing our debate.
Listening to the discussion this morning about the division of labour between the United Nations on the one hand and the Council of Europe on the other I was reminded about our debate in Sofia in October 2003 when European Ministers of Justice met and passed a resolution referred to by Ms. Kabelka in her report on behalf of CODEXTER.
At that meeting we were unanimous in supporting the UN process of drafting a Comprehensive Convention against terrorism and called on members states in the Council of Europe to contribute to the discussions in the UN with the intention of resolving the outstanding issues in negotiations on the UN Comprehensive Convention against terrorism and on the draft UN Convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism.
For all of us it is most important not only to enforce and comply with our European legal instruments but also with UN resolutions and conventions.
States are often walking on a thin line when fighting terrorism and organized crime, and in this field states are under strict scrutiny of European and UN institutions.
It so happens that yesterday representatives from Iceland were meeting with the Human Rights Committee in New York and changes to Iceland’s general penal code, especially those aimed at combating terrorism, dominated the Committee’s consideration of our report, with experts highlighting some aspects of our legislation, and suggesting that it was too vague and might infringe on human rights.
Under the amended general penal code, terrorism was criminalized and subjected to life in prison, but the scope of the acts constituting terrorism were, according to the experts of the committee, unclear and risked restricting people’s exercise of normal rights in a democratic society. It was as well stated that this was the case in many countries.
Mr. Chairman.
I mention this here as it is very relevant to our discussion – states need to have some agreed and comprehensive guidelines when discussing national prevention policies as already stated here we have to find the indispensable balance between the fight against terrorism on the one hand and the protection of human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law on the other.
We will not be able to reach our goal of increased security without co-operation between states and within states and we have to inform our citizens in order to engage them in this important task and in our support for our new European instruments.