"To fight terrorism more efficiently we need to know about its root causes," said Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, addressing the Assembly today. "Hate is often the result of fear, which comes from ignorance, frustration and an insecure identity. Extremists are trying to spread the message of hate in the name of God. Yet nothing is further from true faith than hatred. On the contrary, those who have a strong faith are often better able understand and respect the beliefs of others," he said. "This is tolerance."
We should not let differences in culture or beliefs take a negative direction and develop into conflict, the Norwegian Prime Minister told the Parliamentary Assembly. Mr Bondevik called on political leaders to help build bridges between the different faiths and cultures in an increasingly multicultural Europe. He urged them to promote and protect the Council of Europe's fundamental values - human dignity, the rule of law and mutual respect and reconciliation – since these were vital in supporting reconciliation and preventing conflicts.
The File
Speech
Speech
Questions and Answers in Parliamentary Assembly
Office of the Prime Minister