Your Majesty, Excellencies, Mr. Secretary-General,
Distinguished participants, Ladies and gentlemen,

Tomorrow a year will have passed since the people of Madrid were subject to ruthless bombing attacks. The objective was clearly to kill as many as possible. This was not only an attack on innocent people. It was also an attack on democracy and on all the values we believe in. It defies comprehension that people can choose to take completely innocent lives, lives of people they do not know – even children – for some cause. There is no excuse for terrorism. No goal can justify it.

We owe it to the victims to make every effort to prevent such atrocities. More than 40 years ago President John F. Kennedy let the world know that the US would “pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty”. We should take his words to heart.

All of us here are part of the global partnership that is working relentlessly to track down terrorist groups. We are doing so by military and police efforts and we are doing so by financial and judicial means. These efforts must continue unabated. But these measures alone cannot prevent terrorism. We cannot do away with terrorism on the battlefield or in the courtrooms. Terrorism must also be defeated in people’s hearts and minds.

In order to achieve this, I believe that the following issues must be addressed:

Firstly, democratic, economic and social development is necessary to give those in need hope for a better future. Research indicates that there is often a feeling of frustration – individual or collective – behind terrorism. It can be a feeling of humiliation on behalf of one’s ethnic group or religion, or a personal grievance. The rule of law and respect for human rights are the first and the best way to counter terrorism. We must provide outlets for human ambitions, for hopes and beliefs, but also for anger and grief.

Secondly, extremist ideologies are a cause of terrorism. As an ordained Lutheran minister, I am especially concerned about the abuse of religion in the making of a terrorist. Love, respect, brotherhood and tolerance are central to all the great religions. Terrorism is totally alien to them all. Through dialogue we must build on the values that unite us.

Thirdly, countless children are today being raised in an atmosphere of hatred and intolerance. Education can and should be our primary tool to achieve the opposite. It should promote tolerance and mutual respect. Parents have a special responsibility here. They are their children’s first teachers, and must teach them not to hate or to take pride in collective hate. The same applies to school curricula and religious teachings. Equal access to education, allowing all children to realise their full potential, is vital.

To sum up, development, respect for human rights and democracy are our best protection against the terrorist threat.