NATO Secrtary-General de Hoop Scheffer (file photo) (AFP)
Vienna, 3 November 2005 (RFE/RL) -- NATO today called on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to play a greater role in combating international terrorism.
NATO Secretary-General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer told the OSCE in Vienna today that its programs for arms control are an important weapon in the fight against terrorism, but that it can do more. He said the OSCE's 55 member states have the capacity to create a Europe-wide offensive against terrorism.
De Hoop Scheffer said NATO is hoping for important progress at next week's international conference in Vienna on combating terrorist financing.
De Hoop Scheffer also told the OSCE it should do more to engage its Mediterranean and Asian partners in joint efforts to combat terrorism. De Hoop Scheffer's statement was supported by the head of the U.S. delegation to the OSCE, Sharon White.