FM Peres Suggests International Task Force for Combatting Terrorism

(Communicated by Foreign Minister's Bureau)
September 12, 2001

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres today suggested that NATO, together with the armed forces of Russia and additional states, be formed into an international task force for fighting terrorism. According to the Foreign Minister, there are international armed forces designed for fighting enemies who no longer exist, and they should be converted to the fight against the dangers threatening civilization. These forces are prepared and equipped and their conversion will save time and money. This task force should form a strategy for combatting terrorism and terrorists, while emphasizing suicide terrorism.

Foreign Minister Peres also called on all the world's religious leaders - Christians, Muslims and Jews - to strongly condemn the phenomenon of suicide bombers and act with determination against them.