European, Middle East: joint fight against terror

PM welcomes joint fight against terrorism

European and Middle Eastern delegates today agreed 'as strong a statement as you could possible have' to combat terrorism, Tony Blair has said.

As President of the EU, Mr Blair chaired the Euromed summit in Barcleona alongside Spanish PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The PM said he was delighted the leaders had the 'united determination' to fight terrorism.

A new 'code of conduct' reiterates a 'total condemnation of terrorism in all its forms' and a determination to eradicate it and combat its sponsors, he added.

The leaders also agreed to implement all UN Security Council resolutions addressing terrorism.

Euromed brings together the 25 EU member states as well as Mediterranean countries such as Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority.

Following two days of talks, Mr Blair said the delegates had agreed to tackle extremism 'in all its manifestations without qualification'.

The code of conduct rejects any attempts to associate terrorism with any nation, culture or religion.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the summit, the PM said:

"I feel myself that the most important statement in the whole code is the statement (that) terrorism can never be justified.''

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