Interview with Tony Blair, British PM (page 1 of 2)

You have taken the lead in Europe in the fight against terrorism - in whose interest?
It's in everyone's interests that we win the fight against international terrorism. Terrorism is a global problem and a threat to interests everywhere. Which makes it imperative to find a global solution. Anyone who has watched the robustness with which the European Union has responded to the threat since September 11th will appreciate how important it is that the EU plays a lead role in that fight. Closer intelligence cooperation, more streamlined investigation and judicial procedures, and faster extradition are all key to making the lives of terrorists, would-be terrorists and their financiers and backers much, much more difficult. Europe as a whole has sent out a clear signal that there will be no safe havens within our borders. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States but also with every nation in the world that is committed to this task: to eradicate from our world the threat of terror.

As the Labour Party leader, you are expected to focus on social issues. As prime minister, your focus has shifted to diplomacy. Who is the real Tony Blair?
Any prime minister must face a whole range of challenges at home and abroad. I am no exception. We have made the reform of our public services - health care, education and transport - as well as the continued prudent management of our economy our key objectives at home. Abroad we must face the challenges of the moment as they arise as well as plan ahead for the big challenges that face our planet: maintaining stability worldwide, tackling world poverty, helping the African continent to reintegrate as an equal partner in the global economy, freeing up trade, managing the effects of globalization, protecting our environment. Pursuing national interests does not preclude rising to global challenges. Indeed, we are bound in the long term to fail to fulfil our national promise if we deliberately neglect the bigger issues that affect all and which have ultimately to be addressed by all.

Whatever the fate of Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, do you feel that the coalition can partly or totally eradicate international terrorism?
After the terrible events of September 11th, the world can no longer tolerate terrorism as a means to achieve political ends. The values of democracy must prevail and we will prevail. I simply do not know how long it will take.

London and other European capitals have been accused of being soft on terrorist organizations or even of unwittingly harboring them.
The UK has never offered sanctuary to terrorists. This country knows as much about terrorism as any other. We have been involved in a struggle with terrorist organizations operating out of Northern Ireland for more than 30 years. What ultimately defeats terrorism is the removal of the pretext, which serves as political camouflage for the evil intentions of those who choose to maim and kill innocent people in the name of the cause. Dialogue between protagonists is the only sure way ever to resolve longstanding and bloody disputes. That said, we have been able to abuse the judicial process to avoid extradition over a long period of time. That is a failure we are now putting right.

Taking into account Afghanistan's tumultuous history and complex ethnic makeup, how can a lasting peace be established in the country and the wider Central Asian region?
The Bonn agreement is the answer, or the beginning of the answer, to your question. Of course, there can be lasting peace in Afghanistan, and I should like to pay tribute to the courageous step the parties took in Bonn to start the process of reconstruction - political and flowing from that, economic.