CONFERENCE ON THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM BEGINS IN VIENNA

VIENNA, June 14 (Hina) - Representatives of thirty countries and international organisations met on Friday in Vienna for the start of an international conference entitled "International Security and the Fight Against Terrorism" which was opened by Austrian Defence Minister Herbert Scheimber. He stated that there was no compromise in the fight against international terrorism. #L# There is no compromise in the fight against international terrorism and it needs to be unrooted by political, diplomatical, economical and military measures with a clear strategy and strengthened cooperation between all countries in the international community, Scheimber said opening the meeting. The secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, spoke with a similar message emphasising that Islam should not be considered the same as terrorism. Arab and Muslim states are with you in the struggle against terrorism. They will not tolerate any criminal or aggressive behaviour. Terrorism has no religion or nationality and affects everyone, Moussa said, adding that the fight against terrorism must not serve nations to occupy someone else's territory. In his speech, NATO Secretary-General George Robertson announced that the summit of NATO in Prague in November will adopt a concept of defence against international terrorism. He said that the fight against terrorism became a priority for the NATO alliance which was rapidly adjusting to the current situation. To bury ideological differences - geographic, cultural and religious differences - in the battle against terrorism is a message that has no alternative nor choice, he added. The Croatian delegation at the conference is headed by assistant Foreign Minister Vladimir Matek who will speak at the conference on Friday evening. He told Croatian journalists today that it was significant that NATO and the entire system no longer just has a military character but dealt with political issues related to the notion of security in the widest sense. He also stressed that the need for better coordination of the supervision of borders had become apparent at the conference in an effort to prevent all forms of arms smuggling. (hina) sp sb