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17 September 1992
Doc. 6669
1403-15/9/92-5-E
Report
on the fight against international terrorism in Europe
(Rapporteur: Mr HARDY, United Kingdom, Labour)
Summary
Since 1986, when the Assembly last dealt with the issue, terrorism in Europe has continued to cause many victims, caused great destruction and disrupted the daily lives of millions.
The report presents a comparative analysis of terrorist incidents in Council of Europe member states, since January 1987, on the basis of replies to a questionnaire.
The Assembly welcomes and supports United Nations action against Libya, which bears a special responsibility for some of the most gruesome incidents.
In the light of the particular terrorist threat to countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and given the limited geographical scope of other organisations' action in this field, the report recommends that the Committee of Ministers make provisions for renewed activity in the field of combating terrorism, with particular emphasis on the needs of these countries.
I. DRAFT RECOMMENDATION
1. Since 1986, when the Assembly last dealt with the issue, terrorist incidents have continued to take place in Council of Europe member states.
2. The Assembly unreservedly condemns these criminal acts which have claimed hundreds of innocent lives and caused great human suffering. In addition, terrorism has entailed considerable economic cost and disrupted the daily lives of millions.
3. While most incidents in Europe were the result of domestic extremists, some of the most gruesome attacks were carried out by international terrorist groups, with the backing of certain Middle Eastern states, in particular Libya.
4. The Assembly therefore welcomes and supports United Nations Security Council Resolution 748 imposing sanctions on Libya for its failure to comply with earlier demands by the Security Council, including handing over the individuals held responsible for the bombing of flight Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie.
5. The Assembly further welcomes the efforts of the TREVI (Terrorism, Radicalism and International Violence) Group, which comprises the Ministers of Justice and the Interior, as well as the Police Chiefs, of the member states of the European Community, to ensure practical co-operation in the fight against terrorism.
6. In addition, the Assembly considers that co-operation in the Schengen Group, shortly to consist of nine states, can make a useful contribution to reducing the terrorist threat in Europe.
7. The Assembly notes the concern expressed by the authorities of the Council of Europe's new member states from Central and Eastern Europe that they face a particular terrorist threat. It also notes the request by these member states for close co-operation with those countries which have already acquired considerable experience in combating terrorism.
8. Given the limited geographical scope of the Schengen and TREVI Groups, the Assembly considers that the Council of Europe, being the only pan-European organisation, is best placed to offer the co-operation sought by the new Central and East European countries.
9. Consequently, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers make provision for renewed activity in the field of combating terrorism, with particular emphasis on co-operation with Central and Eastern Europe.
II. EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
by Mr Hardy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraphs
I. INTRODUCTION 1 - 8
II. TERRORISM IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEMBER STATES 9 - 46
III. THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE 47
a. Council of Europe 48 - 50
b. European Community 51 - 52
c. United Nations Security Council 53
IV. CONCLUSIONS AND PROPOSALS 54 - 62
I. INTRODUCTION
1. Terrorism has been of great concern to the Assembly for some twenty years now, and eleven texts were adopted during this period. The last time the Assembly debated the phenomenon as such was in 1986 when Recommendation 1024 and Resolution 863 on the European response to international terrorism were adopted, although some of the legal aspects were dealt with in Recommendation 1170 (1991) on strenghtening the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism.
2. Unfortunately, over the past five years, terrorist acts have continued to cause death and destruction, and install fear, in many of our Organisation's member states as indeed in many other places in the world. For instance, a total of 441 people were killed in just two incidents, the destruction of Pan Am flight PA 103 over Lockerbie in 1988 and the explosion of UTA flight 772 over the Tenere Desert in Niger in 1989.
3. While our continent witnessed momentous positive change with the collapse of totalitarian communist regimes and the establishment of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, many long-standing conflicts remained unresolved and several new crises occurred, all of which provided motives for terrorist action. For these reasons, the Political Affairs Committee decided that it should take stock of terrorist incidents in Council of Europe member states since 1986 and examine to what extent its previous recommendations had been put into effect.
4. For a theoretical analysis of terrorism as a phenomenon, the Rapporteur would refer to the excellent report presented by Mr Amadei (Doc. 5601) on behalf of the Political Affairs Committee which was the basis for Resolution 863. Among the various definitions of "terrorism", the rapporteur proposes to use the following for the purpose of this report: "the use, or threat of use, of violence by an individual or a group, whether acting for or in opposition to established authority, when such action is designed to create extreme anxiety and/or fear-inducing effects in a target group larger than the immediate victims with the purpose of coercing that group into acceding to the political demands of the perpetrators" (Grant Wardlaw, "Political Terrorism - Theory, tactics and counter-measures", Cambridge University Press, 1989). In addition, for more general use, the term "coercive intimidation" would appear appropriate.
5. A questionnaire (Appendix I) was sent to the permanent representatives to the Council of Europe of all 27 member states and the Rapporteur is grateful for the extensive information received. However, it was most disappointing that in some cases there was no response, even though reminders were sent.
The Rapporteur would further wish to express his particular thanks to officials of both the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, as well as to Mr Richard Wells, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire, for their expert advice.
6. This report gives a summary of the replies sent by governments in Chapter 2. A diagram on statistical data is attached as Appendix II. These data concern the total number of incidents, the number of victims (dead and wounded) and the main origin of the incidents, as specific as possible. Very little information was received on the material damage caused by terrorist action, which governments contended was very difficult to assess, and no data thereon are therefore included in the diagram.
7. In Chapter 3, the action taken by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers following Recommendation 1024 is discussed, as well as co-operation at European Community level, notably within the so-called TREVI (Terrorism, Radicalism and International Violence) group.
8. Finally, an analysis of trends in the past five years and proposals for further action are presented in the conclusions.
II. TERRORISM IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEMBER STATES
9. The following information is based on replies to the questionnaire sent by the Rapporteur to the permanent representatives of all Council of Europe member states, asking information since our Assembly's last debate on the subject in 1986 on the following:
- number of terrorist incidents;
- number of casualties\injuries sustained;
- material damage sustained.
In addition, the Rapporteur asked for national assessment of the causes espoused by terrorists, whether of a national, ideological or other motivation. The statistical data are set out in the diagram appended to this report. The other information received may be summarised as follows:
AUSTRIA
10. In Austria there have been no cases of domestic (as opposed to international) terrorism. Since 1986 the main incidents were: the interception in Vienna of a letter-bomb in March 1987, addressed to the owner of a firm doing business with Iraq. Responsibility was claimed by "The sons of Imam El Hussein Ben Ali". In May 1987 the Libyan ambassador in Vienna was attacked and in June of the same year, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the door of the Peruvian Embassy in Vienna. Responsibility for the latter attack was claimed by the Turkish Communist Party "Marxist-Leninist" (TKP/ML) which also appears to have thrown a Molotov cocktail at the Turkish Airline Office in Vienna. The most serious incident took place in July 1989 when three Kurdish representatives were murdered when meeting with Iranian representatives in Vienna.
11. The Rapporteur was further informed that "as the above information indicates, the Austrian security authorities can point to significant successes in the fight against terrorism. It is never possible to estimate how many criminal acts were prevented by close observation of the circles, for example, concerned. The elucidation of crimes with a terrorist background is rendered extremely difficult by international links and attacks often executed by professionals. Nevertheless the Austrian security authorities were able to elucidate a number of spectacular cases and to make several arrests, which led to trials which culminated in long prison sentences for those responsible".
BELGIUM
12. In addition to giving information on the number of incidents and victims, the Belgian authorities stated that the political causes of terrorism were diverse. Nevertheless, the larger part of the incidents were of international character. Bombs were responsible for the majority of victims in Belgium. According to parliamentary sources, no terrorist acts were motivated by reasons of domestic policy.
BULGARIA
13. The wave of terrorism which swept the world at the beginning of the eighties went through Bulgaria as well. Bearing this in mind, the Bulgarian authorities further stressed that the country, due to its geographical situation, was at the crossroads between the Middle-East and the West, two areas in which terrorism was highly developed.
14. In the data submitted to the Rapporteur, covering the period January 1986 - December 1991, there were some gaps with regards the causes of the terrorist incidents since in a number of cases the perpetrators had not been found.
CYPRUS
15. Between 1987 and 1989, several terrorist incidents took place in Cyprus, most of them linked to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The two most serious incidents were car bombs, one resulting in the death of three Palestinians. Another, aimed at the Israeli Embassy, left three dead and sixteen wounded. Both of these incidents took place in 1988. Since 1990, no terrorist incidents have been reported.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
16. Until now, no terrorist action has been undertaken in Czechoslovakia. However, the authorities fear that the opening of the country's borders will make it more easy for terrorists to enter the country. Potential terrorist targets such as diplomatic installations, trade and other representations from, for instance, the United States of America, Israel, Turkey, Egypt and Colombia have been established. Certain extremist groups or terrorist organisations may consider escaping the well-organised counter-terrorist measures in Western Europe and carry out their activities in Central and Eastern Europe. In the past, when Czechoslovakia was a communist republic, terrorist groups such as those of Abu Nidal, Carlos and the Japanese Red Army were already active in Czechoslovakia.
17. In addition, the formation of domestic extremist movements cannot be excluded. The liberalisation of the penal code has already resulted in an increased crime rate.
DENMARK
18. Denmark has not been exposed to any kind of terrorism since 1986.
FINLAND
19. Since 1986, Finland has not experienced any acts committed by international terrorist organisations. In addition, no Finnish organisation exist sthat could be defined as terrorist exists. However, some attacks have been made against refugees or persons seeking asylum in Finland. During the summer of 1990, four Soviet planes on inland flights were hijacked to Finland. All hijackers asked for asylum on the grounds of inferior and unstable living conditions in the then Soviet Union. All four applications were refused and the hijackers were returned to the Soviet Union.
FRANCE
20. The Rapporteur regrets that no information from the French authorities has been received. In addition, he expresses his concern about indications that the French authorities have given in to terrorist blackmail in order to obtain the release of hostages.
GERMANY
21. The German authorities have provided statistical information about terrorist arson and bombing attacks until 1990 (included). In addition, they have sent data on attacks carried out by the Red Army Fraction (and organisations linked to it) as well as by the so-called Revolutionary Cells. Since 1986, several leading personalities of government and industry have fallen victim to terrorist attacks. Moreover, bombing attacks were carried out against public institutions, international firms as well as against US installations.
GREECE
22. Further to the data set out in the Appendix, the Greek authorities stated that domestic terrorism was considered as being perpetrated by groups of the extreme-left. International terrorism was mainly linked to the Middle East and often due to the settlement of accounts between different factions.
HUNGARY
23. So far, no terrorist acts have been committeed in Hungary. In the past, when Hungary was a communist republic, terrorist organisations were allowed to prepare their action and stockpile their material in Hungary. This situation has been brought to an end but the authorities fear that in particular the establishment of diplomatic and commercial relations with Israel have made the country a potential target for Middle Eastern terrorism. Apparently, certain Arab terrorist groups are already considering attacks on targets in Hungary.
24. Rapidly increasing organised crime, the emergence of extremists on the political domestic scene as well as the presence of large numbers of illegal immigrants and the deteriorating living conditions of certain strata of the population also contribute to the authorities' fear that the country may soon be confronted with acts of terrorism.
25. The Hungarian authorities consider that they need co-operation with those countries which have already acquired considerable experience in combating terrorism.
ICELAND
26. The only incidents reported by the Icelandic authorities relate to the sinking of two whaleboats in Reykjavik harbour and the damaging of a whaling station in 1987. Responsibility for these acts was claimed by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, headed by Paul Watson.
IRELAND
27. The Rapporteur regrets that no information has been received from the Irish authorities. He is aware however that the authorities have taken forceful action against in response to terrorist attacks both inside Ireland and abroad if carried out by Irish nationals.
ITALY
28. The Italian authorities have reported a considerable number of terrorist incidents, most of which were perpetrated either by the Red Brigades or by Middle Eastern terrorist groups.
LIECHTENSTEIN
29. No terrorist incident has taken place in Liechtenstein so far.
LUXEMBOURG
30. Since 1986, no terrorist incident has been committed in Luxembourg.
MALTA
31. The only incident reported since 1986 was the attachment of two limpet mines to a yacht undergoing repairs. The mines did not explode and were successfully removed by members of the Armed Forces of Malta.
NETHERLANDS
32. The Dutch authorities mention a number of terrorist actions perpetrated by the provisional IRA, ETA and the PKK. These caused several casualties. In addition, considerable material damage was caused by domestic terrorist groups, in particular by anti-Apartheid movements to installations of firms dealing with South Africa and anti-military groups. As a result of developments in South Africa, incidents in the former category have substantially decreased.
NORWAY
33. No terrorist incident has taken place in Norway since 1986.
POLAND
34. The Polish authorities have submitted information on events since October 1990. Since that date a considerable number of bomb scares has been reported and several bombs exploded or could be defused in time. In some cases, the perpetrators were ordinary criminals, but a large number of incidents remains unresolved. Most of these took place in the major cities, especially Warsaw, Gdansk, Lodz and Katowice. Most of the attacks appeared to have been carried out by domestic groups, but on several occasions those claiming responsible stated to have acted in response to events in the Middle East.
PORTUGAL
35. Since 1987, only one incident has been reported by the Portuguese authorities.
SAN MARINO
36. No terrorist action has taken place on the territory of the Republic of San Marino.
SPAIN
37. The Spanish authorities submitted extensive information on the nature of terrorism in their country. They consider terrorism as one of the greatest problems facing Spanish democracy. Terrorist attacks began in Spain in 1968 as the work of ETA, a Marxist-Leninist Basque separatist organisation, and have continued to this day. Since restoration of the democracy, successive governments have worked along three lines:
- Strengthening of political co-operation and of the agreement between political parties:
To present a united democratic front ensuring that the advocates of terrorism meet with no support. An agreement was signed in January 1988 by all the Basque political parties with the sole exception of Herri Batasuna, which has been acting as the political mouthpiece of ETA terrorism. The majority of the Basque population have gradually taken an explicit stand against ETA. Peace organisations have been set up, numerous demonstrations against terrorism have been organised, and those who support ETA have become increasingly isolated.
- Intensification and improvement of police action:
The security forces have been democratised and modernised. They have undergone the onslaughts of terrorism with exemplary discipline and dedication to duty.
- International co-operation:
Since the beginning of the presidency of François Mitterrand, co-operation with France was improved and an effective co-operation is now in place. This has been an important element in efforts to curb ETA terrorism.
38. Apart from ETA which is responsible for the large majority of incidents in Spain, only the risk of extreme-left violence, perpetrated by GRAPO, remains, although greatly diminished. Fortunately, there has been no international terrorism in Spain for some time.
SWEDEN
39. Since 1986, no terrorist incident has occurred in Sweden.
SWITZERLAND
40. A certain number of incidents have taken place in Switzerland since 1986, about the third of which can be attributed to domestic extremism, either on the extreme-left or the extreme-right. The other incidents can be attributed to nationalism either Swiss or foreign. The Swiss Federal Police, together with the Centre for Research on Security Policy, is preparing a sophisticated data base enabling a scientific analysis of the overall phenomenon.
TURKEY
41. The Turkish authorities have submitted statistical information on the number of incidents and victims in Turkey since 1986. These are set out in the Appendix. It would appear that the majority of casualties were caused by assassination or during clashes between terrorist groups, notably the PKK, and the security forces.
UNITED KINGDOM
42. The United Kingdom authorities have submitted information on terrorist incidents from 1985 to 1990. A distinction is made between incidents that took place in Great Britain and those that occurred in Northern Ireland. The provisional IRA have claimed responsibility for, or are believed to have been responsible, for most of the incidents which have taken place in Great Britain. A small number of actions were carried out by Welsh extremists. However, the worst single incident was caused by international terrorism at Lockerbie (259 passengers and crew of Pan Am flight 103 and eleven inhabitants were killed).
43. Terrorist threats are not restricted to political or commercial actitivity, but also pose considerable problems to social life, including manifestations. Some of these, such as the famous annual Crufts Dog Show held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, nowadays require extensive security arrangements. It is interesting to note that the preparation of essential security arrangements commands considerable resources and precise planning. Emergency procedures are now required to be established and every person involved in the exhibition is expected to be fully aware of these procedures.
44. At the start of every day a test broadcast is made over the public address system to ensure that it is fully operational, and special sound signals are prepared. It is essential that the building can be cleared rapidly, and that there are enough supervised routes and clear exits planned, so that there will be no danger of panic.
45. At this exhibition, if need arises, an emergency message is set to be repeated at intervals of fifteen seconds, and arrangements are made for the re-assembly of exhibitors in designated areas outside the building. The organisers have had to make clear that they are not responsible for any damage, loss, or injury where individuals do not evacuate the building in accordance with the instructions or advice given. Individuals are constantly reminded that they must maintain a constant check on their particular location to ensure that unidentifiable property does not pass unnoticed.
46. Similar arrangements apply to all national exhibitions and social activities which are held in public or in large private establishments.
III. THE GOVERNMENTS' RESPONSE
47. Several member states have set up special forces to deal with terrorists, such as the SAS in the United Kingdom, the Grenzschutzgruppe (GSG) - 9 (a military unit) in Germany and the Grupo Especial de Operaciones (GEO) in Spain. However, in most cases the inmediate response must come from ordinary policeman, whose role requires considerable courage, determination and skill.
a. Council of Europe
48. Following Recommendation 1024 (1986), a European Conference of Ministers responsible for Combating Terrorism was held in Strasbourg on 4 and 5 November 1986. Apart from adopting a declaration and three resolutions, the conference set up a group of Ministers' counsellors on terrorism. This group met several times between January 1987 and April 1990. Because a Committee of Experts on the Application of Penal Law to Acts of Terrorism had been set up in 1989, the group decided to conclude its work in April 1990. In the course of its meetings, detailed information on member states' law and practice was gathered. The group further discussed questions relating to the transfrontier movements of terrorists, co-operation with the member states of the European Community, information of non-member states of developments within the Council of Europe, co-operation with the mass media and questions relating to the abuse of diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities as well as terrorism directed at diplomatic or consular representatives.
49. The Committee of Experts on the Application of Penal Law to Acts of terrorism met in December 1989 and December 1990 but was informed by the Committee of Ministers that no provision was made for its activities in the 1991 work programme. In its final activity report, the committee regretted that it had been unable to conclude the study it had been entrusted with. It also expressed the hope that it might be possible in the near future to continue the study of the legal problems relating to the combat of terrorism. In its opinion, there was need and scope for further discussion. Although no final conclusions were adopted, the committee drew attention to the necessity to limit the application of the special legislative measures in order to respond to specific terrorist threats strictly to the situation requiring them, also bearing in mind the obligations arising from international human rights instruments such as the European Convention and the United Nations covenants. In addition, the efficacy of special anti-terrorist legislation should be regularly reviewed.
50. It would appear from the cessation of the aforementioned activities that the member states of the Council of Europe do not consider the organisation an appropriate framework for practical co-operation to combat terrorism. In reply to Written Question No. 333 of our former Irish colleague, Mr Bruton, the Committee of Ministers drew attention to the importance of the activities of the European Communities Trevi Group as well as to the International Police Organisation (ICP0) Interpol and stated that the Council of Europe's European Committee on Crime Problems did not wish to duplicate their activities.
b. European Community
51. The TREVI (Terrorism, Radicalism and International Violence) Group, which comprises the Interior and Justice Ministers as well as the Police Chiefs of the European Community member states, was set up in 1977 (Austria, Canada, Morocco, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States have observer status). It has established a programme of action relating to the reinforcement of police co-operation to combat terrorism and other forms of organised crimes. This programme contains improved arrangements for the exchange of information, through the extension and development of the network of liaison offices and through co-operation in training and in exchange of technical expertise. It has also introduced improved means of communication to facilitate direct contacts between member states' police services. A further part of the programme is aimed at improving co-operation between member states at both external and common frontiers and cover such matters as intensified supervision of external land, sea and air frontiers and improved co-operation in common frontier zones. At their recent meeting in Lisbon on 11 and 12 June 1992, the Ministers considered, inter alia, the creation of a European Police Organisation, EUROPOL, and police co-operation with Central and Eastern Europe. Because of the confidential nature of its work, the TREVI group makes only scarce information available.
52. In 1985, Germany, France and the Benelux countries signed the Schengen Agreement aimed at abolishing border controls so as to permit the free movement of persons. It contained both short- and long-term objectives. For the latter four working groups were created: police and security, movement of persons, transport and customs and goods. The results of this work was laid down in a new agreement which was signed on 18 June 1990. Italy, Spain and Portugal also signed the agreement, Greece is an observer to this "Schengen group" and Denmark has shown interest. The agreement inter alia provides for extended police co-operation and exchange of information. The so-called Schengen Information System, based in Strasbourg, will, once fully operational, constitute a data-base enabling more efficient anti-terrorist measures. If ratified as foreseen, the agreement should enter into force on 1 January 1993.
c. United Nations Security Council
53. In an unprecedented act, at the initiative of France, the United Kingdom and the United States, the United Nations Security Council on 21 January 1992 unanimously adopted Resolution 731 calling on Libya to hand over the two individuals held responsible for the Pan Am 103 bombing and to co-operate with France regarding the investigation into the UTA 772 bombing, and insisted that Libya "promptly, by concrete actions, prove its denunciation of terrorism". Since Libya refused to comply with this resolution, the Security Council on 31 March 1992 voted to impose economic sanctions, including an international air embargos on Libya (Resolution 748).
IV. CONCLUSIONS AND PROPOSALS
54. As demonstrated by the replies to the questionnaire, since 1986 terrorism has continued to claim many lives both in Europe and elsewhere. In Council of Europe member states, the greatest number of casualties have been caused by domestic groups such as the IRA in the United Kingdom, the PKK in Turkey and ETA in Spain.
55. The most deadly single incidents were the result of Libyan terrorism. On 21 December 1988 Pan Am flight PA 103 was destroyed over Lockerbie in southern Scotland by a bomb. As already indicated, 259 passengers and crew died, as well as eleven residents of the small Scottish town.
56. Two Libyans have been charged with conspiracy, murder and contravention of the 1982 Aviation Security Act; Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed el Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah are the two accused. Megrahi is said to be a senior officer in Libya's intelligence services, as well as having links with the Libyan Arab Airlines. Fhimah is also alleged to have belonged to Libyan intelligence and as being a station officer with Libyan Arab Airlines in Malta.
57. The Scottish Law Officer in the British Government, the Lord Advocate, has presented a detailed statement which alleges that these two men purchased timing devices from a Swiss company, and that these were tested in Libya; that they purchased plastic explosives in Malta between 1986 and 1988, and that they sought to obtain more timers from the company in Switzerland in 1988. They are accused of buying clothing and an umbrella in Malta in 1988, and of placing a suitcase containing this clothing, an umbrella and an improvised explosive device, on an Air Malta flight to Frankfurt, which was to be carried via Heathrow to New York.
58. The Pan Am aircraft flew over Lockerbie 25 minutes behind schedule, if it had been on time it would have exploded over the Atlantic, and it would have been impossible to collect evidence. Scottish police searched an area of over 800 square miles, and among the debris they found a fragment of the Swiss timing device. It is alleged that the company only made twenty of these timers capable of detonating an explosive device, and that all of these were sold to Libyan Government agents.
59. A French Magistrate had earlier ordered the arrest of six Libyan officials for their alleged involvement with another incident when a French flight, UTA 772, exploded over the Tenere Desert in Niger killing 171 people.
60. The economic costs have been considerable. Apart from the direct damage caused, governments and private institutions in member states have been compelled, as result of the continued terrorist threat, to make considerable security arrangements to protect people and property. Not surprisingly, these measures entail a considerable cost. In addition thereto, there have been the economic effects of interferences with people's daily lives, such as the operation of public transport. On several occasions, the Rapporteur, as well as many other British parliamentarians, not to mention thousands of commuters, have suffered substantial delays as a result of bombs placed or reported at mainline rail terminals in London.
61. Although no or very little terrorist activity has taken place in the Council of Europe's new member states in Central and Eastern Europe, their authorities have expressed considerable concern about the possibility of such actions. The establishment of diplomatic and commercial installations of Western states and Israel have created a number of potential targets. In addition, when these countries were socialist republics, several international terrorist organisations were based on their territories. Furthermore, counter-terrorist measures are not as developed as those in Western countries and the lack of resources may hamper their development. In addition, rapidly increasing organised crime, the emergence of extremists on the political domestic scene, the presence of large numbers of illegal elements and deteriorating living conditions are all factors which could contribute to the emergence of political terrorism.
62. It would therefore appear essential that Western Europe, in addition to its general assistance programmes, shares its considerable experience in combating terrorism with these new democracies. As Schengen and Trevi have only a very limited geographical scope, the position of the Committee of Ministers that the Council of Europe would duplicate the former's activities, is questionnable. The Council of Europe is at present the only organisation bringing together member states from Western and Central Eastern Europe and it has considerable experience in the field of legal co-operation. The Committee of Experts on the Application of Penal Law to Acts of Terrorism for instance already considered in 1990 that there was need and scope for further Council of Europe action. With the oganisation's membership approaching thirty states in the near future, their arguments would appear to carry even more weight. The Committee of Ministers should therefore review its position and enable the Council of Europe to respond to these new challenges.
A P P E N D I X I
Letter addressed on 9 April 1992 by the Clerk of the Assembly to
Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives to the Council of Europe
(and to Secretaries of observer and special guest delegations)
...
Discussing the fight against terrorism at its recent meting in Paris, the Political Affairs Committee, whose Rapporteur is Mr Peter Hardy (United Kingdom, Labour), decided that the time has come to update its previous work in this field which culminated in the adoption of Recommendation 1024, adopted in January 1986.
To facilitate the work of the Rapporteur, I should be most grateful for your help in obtaining from your competent authorities, up-to-date (since 1986), information on the following:
1. Number of terrorist incidents;
2. Number of casualties/injuries sustained;
3. Material damage sustained (in this respect the Rapporteur is ready to threat as confidential, if that is the wish of your authorities, estimates of damage to the tourist industry).
In addition to the above statistical information, the committee and its Rapporteur would be grateful to receive national assessments of the causes espoused by terrorists (whether of a nationalist, ideological or other motivation).
To meet the work schedule envisaged by the committee, such information would need to reach my office by the end of May or, at the latest, mid-June.
...
Heiner Klebes
A P P E N D I X II
1.1.87-1.5.91 Number of terrorist Victims Main
incidents killed wounded origin
___________________________________________________________________________
AUSTRIA 5 3 - Middle East
BELGIUM 45 9 37 International
BULGARIA(1) 54 4 6 Domestic
CYPRUS 28 9 20 International
CZECHOSLOVAKIA 0 0 0 -
DENMARK 0 0 0 -
FINLAND 5 0 0 Anti-immigrant
FRANCE * * * *
GERMANY over 1200 no complete data given Domestic
GREECE 121 30 96 Extreme left
and Middle East
HUNGARY 0 0 0 -
ICELAND 1 0 0 Extremists
IRELAND * * * *
ITALY 386 10 31 Domestic
extremists
LIECHTENSTEIN 0 0 0 -
LUXEMBOURG 0 0 0 -
MALTA 1 0 0 Unknown
NETHERLANDS 12 6 11 International
(PKK,IRA,ETA)
NORWAY 0 0 0 -
POLAND 24 1 16 Domestic
PORTUGAL 1 1 2
SAN MARINO 0 0 0 -
SPAIN 153 133 640 Domestic
SWEDEN 0 0 0 -
SWITZERLAND 98 14 21 Domestic
extremists/
International
TURKEY 3427 2336 1997 Various
UNITED KINGDOM(2) 77 244 110 IRA and
(Northern Ireland 3647 454 6408) International
1. Bulgaria figures for period 1986-1991
2. UK figures for period 1985-1990
* No reply received
Reporting committee: Political Affairs Committee.
Budgetary implications for the Assembly: None.
Reference to committee: Recommendation 1024 (1986).
Draft resolution: Unanimously adopted by the committee on
10 September 1992.
Members of the committee: MM. Reddemann (Chairman), Sir Dudley Smith (Vice-Chairman) (Alternate: Sir Anthony Durant), Mrs Baarveld-Schlaman (Vice-Chairman), MM. Alvarez Cascos (Alternate: de Puig), Antretter, Baumel, Björn Bjarnason, Bokov, Bratinka, Caro, Cem (Alternate: Maruflu), Cimoszewicz (Alternate: Iwinski), Espersen, Fahey (Alternate: Nolan), Lord Finsberg, MM. Fioret, Fiorini, Flückiger, Gabbuggiani, Galanos (Alternate: Hadjidemetriou), Mrs Haller, Mrs Halonen, MM. Hardy, Hellström, Irmer, Kelchtermans, König, Mrs Lentz-Cornette, MM. van den Linden, Machete, Martins, Masseret, Mimaroglu (Alternate: Güner), Moya, Oehry, Pangalos, Panov, Papadogonas, Psaila Savona, Schieder, Sebej, Seeuws, Simko, Mrs Suchoka, MM. Szent-Ivanyi, Tarschys, Thoresen, N ... (Alternate: Mezzapesa).
NB. The names of those members who took part in the vote are underlined.
Secretaries to the committee: MM. Sorinas et Kleijssen.