Portugal's PM calls for cooperation in combatting global terrorism

Portugal's Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho called for "coordination of means and cooperation of forces" to combat global terrorism on Wednesday.

"Threats and aggression go beyond geographic borders and responses will have to be necessarily taken in network," Passos Coelho said at the customs service - Security Information Service (SIS) - premises near Lisbon, where the new SIS director, Neiva da Cruz took office, according to Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Passos Coelho said it was "timely" to "develop concrete preventative measures to avoid responsive decisions relating to terrorist acts," adding that the process involved "the capacity to detect those threats early" and investing in "risk reduction."

He said the government had sought to optimize the services' capacities to detect and prevent terrorism, despite financial constraints, pointing out that the "good functioning of national information" depended on a "well-coordinated structure and an efficient coordination between the existent services."

He added: "The capacity of services of information will depend also on a shift in attitudes, which will bring civil society closer, integrate a culture of safety, and will demystify common taboos with regards to the operational capacity and the purposes of the information."

He also said the SIS had a "difficult mission," being the "only body" responsible for preventing "sabotage, terrorism, and spying."

Neiva da Cruz said Portugal was "not immune" to terrorism, due to its "geographic location," and the "involvement of Portuguese nationals in the practise, sponsorship and promotion of jihadist terrorism."

The government also held a meeting on Wednesday with all parties represented in parliament to discuss measures against terrorism.

The meeting came following terrorist attacks earlier this month in Paris, France and concerns worldwide, with the U.S. government recently telling citizens to be wary of attacks "all over the world." Enditem