In Strasbourg, French PM pleads for new "culture of security"

In a Friday address to inaugurate the 84th European Faire of Strasbourg, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended his counterterrorism record in the context of a political season centered on security reinforcement.

Faced with an "unprecedented threat" of terrorism, "we are waging a war, we are at war. This threat obliges us all to change strategies," declared the head of the French government in front of the economic and political establishment of the Grand Est region of France, gathered for the opening of the European Fair.

"Tomorrow we could be struck again. This is not to resign ourselves, this is to speak the truth. It is necessary, therefore, to build a new culture of security," Valls said.

"Even when we will have crushed Daesh, and we will crush it, the Salafi discourse and radicalization will always be there, for a generation, perhaps for several generations," he insisted. "You have measured the phenomenon in Strasbourg. This is a city which regularly organizes events on an international scale. It has been targeted by terrorist plans," he added.

"We must be capable to react and rebound. This is a global policy to put into action in all sectors of society," said the prime minister, defending the police raids carried out in radicalized religious sites in France that concluded with over 30 people being questioned. No less than 15,000 people suspected of radicalization are being monitored in France, he affirmed.

In welcoming the prime minister, Socialist mayor of Strasbourg Roland Ries also put the accent on "the combat to be fought against terrorism" in one of the French cities most favored by tourists, as well as being the European capital where the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights are seated.

While the holding of mass gatherings has been the subject of fiery debate in France, especially after the deadly terrorist attack on July 14 in Nice (Southern France), Roland Ries pleaded for the security of events, "rather than to renounce their organization," and called for "the vigilance of everyone."

In the context of terrorist threats, 54 percent of the additional security forces were deployed for the organization of the 84th European Fair of Strasbourg set to last until Sept. 12 and expects more than 200,000 visitors.

Tunisia, guest country of honor for the event, was praised by the French prime minister which announced the organization of a high-level French-Tunisian council before the end of the year.

The European Fair of Strasbourg is a commercial event held every September. More than 1,000 exhibitors coming from widely varied horizons, from agriculture to crafts, as well as household goods, wellness, cuisine and sports, will be present for the 84th edition. Enditem