Lithuanian president calls for "adequate" European answer against terrorism

Europe is naive when it comes to evaluating threats of terrorism, Dalia Grybauskaite, Lithuania's president, said on Thursday.

"In Europe we have a lot of naivety, we assess threats of terrorists and their activities somewhat superficially and not seriously enough," Grybauskaite said in an interview with local radio broadcaster LRT Radio.

"We must admit very clearly that a cruel and unjustifiable war has been declared against all people of Europe, therefore, our reaction must be adequate; a war being carried out by terrorists must be met with war against terrorism," she stressed.

The Lithuanian head of state also noted that the current emotional response in Europe and debates about values was not relevant.

"They (the terrorists) don't discuss values; they encroach on human life, thus our reaction must be appropriate," Grybauskaite underlined.

She expressed her hope that Europe would "wake up."

Grybauskaite agreed that stronger cross-border cooperation and enhanced exchange of intelligence data, as well as cutting off terrorists' financing networks was part of the solution.

She also noted that terror groups were actively recruiting young people and more efforts were needed to fight terrorists' propaganda. Endit