Doc. 9622

13 November 2002

Combating terrorism through culture

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Sudarenkov and others

1.       Together with economic and political links, cultural ties are a permanent and essential component of dialogue between peoples. The term “culture” encompasses a society’s spiritual life – the sphere in which spiritual values, knowledge, norms and historical experience are created, collected and preserved. Consequently, culture provides an arena for on-going co-operation between peoples, and for mutual enrichment and understanding. Political disputes can temporarily interrupt or even completely destroy normal relations, especially if culture is used as a tool for national hostility, for consolidating one’s “friends” and attacking “the other’s’ culture. However, even between hostile nations, cross-border contacts are often maintained in defiance of the obstacles, both between the upper reaches of cultural life, and in other spheres. When political passions abate, cultures resume high-quality contacts.

2.       Unlike policy issues, international cultural ties demonstrate significant independence in relation to government regulation and are capable of exerting a “ricochet” influence on policy. Cultural influence differs significantly from the alignment of political forces. Inter-country connections draw on existing cultural ties and are stimulated by them to a large extent. Both large and small nations can participate in cultural co-operation, whether or not they enjoy statehood (some nations, such as the Roma/Gypsies, do not even have their own territory). Naturally, the influence of a large nation or civilization is much greater than that of small ethnic groups, but the latter can also exert a cultural influence on their regional neighbors and on international co-operation.

3.       The fight against terrorism must begin with reforms in education and the mass media. The phenomenon of terrorism can be explained by the fact that where a culture of fanaticism prevails in a given society, then terrorists’ ideas will fall on fertile soil. The pseudo-culture of terrorism is easily accepted by people who have received a superficial education; it takes root in the minds of those whose education was conservative in nature; such an education does not allow for pluralism.

4.       It is necessary to begin combating the pseudo-culture of terrorism, but it is also necessary to exercise great caution, so that the global struggle against terrorism does not become a war against cultures, religions or peoples.

5.       It is now extremely important to take concrete steps on behalf of the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly and all member States in the international fight against terrorism. There should be no place here for any sympathy towards individuals who have chosen the path of terror to achieve their own political aims.

6.       Accordingly, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

i.       strengthen co-operation and dialogue between the Council of Europe member States, so as to advance common values, mutual understanding and trust in the interest of the common fight against terrorism;

ii.       speed up preparation of the updated European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism, and the adoption of the additional Protocol to the existing 1977 Convention.

Signed : ¹

Sudarenkov, Russia, SOC

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Bakulin, Russia, UEL

Blankenborg, Norway, SOC

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Fedorov, Russia, EDG

Khripel, Russia, SOC

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Schreiner, France, EDG

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group