Interview with Tony Blair, British PM

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. The international community has reason to thank the United Nations and Lakhdar Brahimi, in particular, for its success in bringing the Bonn talks to a successful conclusion. We now have a route map to broad-based government based on consent. The future may be unsure and the consensus fragile, but I do believe that Afghanistan can rebuild a future for its people and its place in the community of nations. And we stand ready to help them do that.

Do you think that General Musharraf can maintain control of Pakistan? And do you see a solution to the conflict over Kashmir?
General Musharraf has been exceptionally courageous in taking the hard decisions he did early on. The international community, quite rightly, will wish to respond to General Musharraf's crucial support for the coalition and its aims. Meanwhile, we will continue to deal evenhandedly with both Pakistan and India in their dispute over Kashmir. Incidentally, Pakistan is a sovereign nation and has been for longer than my lifetime. The UK's dealings with Pakistan are on the same basis as with any sovereign country - a basis of equity.

One of the root causes of Islamic terrorism is apparently the lack of a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. Can you coordinate with President Bush to pressure both sides to return to the negotiating table?
I remain convinced that peace is the only solution to the Arab/Israeli conflict. Both sides will have to sit down together sooner or later to resolve their differences and begin the dialogue that I believe can and will lead to a final settlement based on mutual respect: security for Israel and a Palestinian state living in peaceful co-existence alongside the state of Israel. I hope that this will be achieved sooner rather than later. If not, then more people of both sides are going to die needlessly. If the will can be found to put aside the bitterness from the past in the interests of a new beginning, the parties and the region as a whole can be assured that the international community, led, I hope, by the US and the EU, will support the peace process every step of the way.

Recent events have apparently altered the relationship between Moscow and Washington. How do you see the relationship developing?
The events of September 11th have changed a great many things. Russia's resolute support for the global coalition against terror is an instance of how old relationships and postures can be transformed if the willingness to cooperate exists. I have proposed, for instance, a change in NATO's relationship with Russia and subsequently among NATO allies. I am not expecting miracles overnight, but I do see in President Putin a leader who has the vision to pursue policies that both further Russia's interests and contribute to global stability and security. I have every confidence in Presidents Bush and Putin to build a constructive relationship, which is in all our interests. But I leave it to them to speak for themselves.