CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLIES ENDS

ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - A two-day conference of European parliamentary assemblies on anti-terrorism ended in Zagreb on Saturday with the adoption of a final declaration. The conference was attended by around 400 parliamentary representatives, including some 70 parliamentary presidents and vice-presidents. #L# The joint declaration notes a strong and unreserved condemnation of terrorism as a crime against humanity which negates democracy and its basic values. Condemning every terrorist activity, the European parliamentarians concluded that strategies to protect citizens from all forms of terrorism should be implemented while fully respecting democracy, human rights and the rule of law. "The role of parliaments and parliamentarians is more crucial than ever in raising legislative barriers against terrorism and in ensuring transparency, democratic accountability and safeguarding common values," reads the document. Participants in the conferences endorsed principles from a draft charter on world states' commitments, presented today by German Parliament President Wolfgang Thierse. The European parliamentarians consider that the principles represent one of the basic state instruments in fighting terrorism. It was suggested that the charter be presented in all national parliaments and at the meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Berlin this July. Closing the conference, Croatian Parliament President Zlatko Tomcic said that one of the most important messages heard at the conference was the need to "protect basic democratic values and respect human rights in defining responses and strategies for the prevention of terrorism". "I believe that the exceptionally good turnout at the conference confirms not only the topicality of this problem but primarily our readiness to fight that evil together," Tomcic said. (hina) rml