“The terrorists want to intimidate and divide us.  We must do the opposite: combat them and join forces.  Destroy them and unite.  Refuse sweeping generalisations.  Respond with the power of democracy and the rule of law”, said Harlem Désir, French Secretary of State for European Affairs at the opening of the World Forum for Democracy.

“This is why the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights are so important for us.  What we are fighting for is to preserve what has been achieved, to live in countries and on a continent based on the rule of law and on the freedom of each and every citizen regardless of origin or religion”, he added.

Mr Désir stressed the need to conduct the fight against terrorism in a co-ordinated way at European level, and in particular to:

• strengthen co-operation between the police, judiciary and intelligence services;
• adopt the PNR Directive on European passenger name records;
• revise the Directive on firearms control;
• combat the financing of terrorism and money laundering;
• step up action with Internet stakeholders.  The Internet must not become a training academy for jihadism, an area of radicalisation or fanaticism.

“Democracy always has to be won.  It is a fight against oppression, against arbitrary actions, against the enemies of freedom, against the idea that “might is right”.  In opposition to all that we have the power of law, a constitutional and international framework based on legitimate institutions which guarantee the rights of everyone.  This fight is also waged through education, culture and creative freedom,” he stressed.