Interview: Violence in Europe a monster created by political errors, says Colombian writer

The violence European countries suffer is a monster created by their own political errors made in the Middle East, well-known Colombian writer Piedad Bonnett has said at the Lima International Book Fair.

Thursday's terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed more than 80 people, portrays this monster that haunts the 21st century, Bonnett told Xinhua.

"I believe each age has its monsters and this monster is terrible and difficult to fight," said Bonnett.

"It is making all suffer greatly, not only the victims, as we all see the horror of innocents dying."

The Colombian poet, playwright and novelist called on all societies to fight violence while criticizing European countries for having spoken "a language of hatred."

"Europe should find a language that allows for reconciliation, as violence cannot be fought with violence."

Europe has long been regarded as an example of peace by Latin American countries, but this perception has faded in recent years, she noted.

In her opinion, wrongdoings of Western countries worsened at the start of the 21st century with their outcomes being felt in a "devastating" manner.

The political and social ways of life in Europe have led to this crisis seemingly knowing no end, she said.

"There is too much laziness. We have lost the concept of solidarity. A discriminatory world is now taking its revenge," she warned.

"History may be showing us that the paths chosen by Western civilization are not the right ones. These must be rethought to find what wrong decisions could have caused such violence," said Bonnett.

Bonnett, who has written works such as Of Circle and Ash (1989) and It Was Always Winter (2007), is leading a delegation of 30 Colombian writers to the 21st Lima International Book Fair, which opened here on July 15 and runs through July 31. Endi