MESIC: TERRORISM CAN BE BEATEN ONLY BY ELIMINATING ITS CAUSES

ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - The use of armed force is necessary at certain stages of the global war against terrorism, but terrorism cannot be beaten with weapons alone - one has to work on eliminating its causes - underdevelopment, poverty, inequality and lack of freedom, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said on Saturday. #L# Mesic made the statement in an address to the participants of a two- day conference of European parliamentary presidents, which is being held in Zagreb. The conference, which started on Friday, gathered more than 400 parliamentary representatives, including some 70 parliamentary presidents and vice-presidents. The conference focuses on anti- terrorist strategies. "I was one of the statesmen who immediately after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington supported the establishment of an anti-terrorist coalition and a decisive response to the threat of global terrorism," Mesic said. "As I am aware that at some stages of the anti-terrorist fight the use of force is necessary, but I also know that terrorism cannot be beaten with weapons alone," Mesic said. The prevention of terrorism requires efforts to sever the channels of financing of terrorists, as well as the exchange of information which helps in discovering terrorists, he said. "However, the most important thing is long-term work on changing the environment which generates terrorism," the President said, adding that one had to fight the causes of terrorism - underdevelopment, poverty, inequality and lack of freedom. The killing of innocent civilians "is not justifiable in any culture, religion or struggle for a nation's legitimate rights", Mesic said. "Croatia would be covering up its own past if it contested any nation's struggle for self-determination, including an armed struggle. However, we will not and cannot accept terrorism as a means in that struggle," he concluded. (hina) rml