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10 May 2005
MADRID — FBI director Robert Mueller said increased international cooperation was the only way to effectively battle terrorism as he met Spanish counterparts in Madrid.
“There is no agency, whether it be the FBI or any of the Spanish law enforcement or intelligence agencies – it is not possible for us to be successful alone,” Mueller said.
“To address these threats, we have to work together, share information, intelligence, expertise, experience,” he added after a meeting with Spanish interior minister Jose Antonio Alonso.
“Each of us recognises that to address the threats of today, whether it be terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, trafficking persons, any of the threats that transcend our borders, it is important for us to work together,” Mueller continued.
Spain is currently hosting Europe’s largest trial to date of Al-Qaeda suspects with 24 allegedly involved in the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
Mueller praised Spanish law enforcement agencies for their work in the case and also following the 11 March Madrid train bombings.
“The work that has been done by the interior ministry, the police, the guardia civil (police), the CNI (intelligence agency), the magistrates in the investigations following both of the attacks in the US or in Spain has been expertly handled, those responsible have been brought to justice,” Mueller said.
Relations between US president George W Bush and Socialist Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero remain chilly following the latter’s swift move to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq within weeks of his election 14 months ago.
The two leaders exchanged no more than glances when they met on Monday in Moscow at a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the second world war.
But Mueller said bilateral relations were solid.
“The American people have always been close to the Spanish people. We share
so much in common.
“We unfortunately share the experience of having suffered the loss of our fellow countrymen at the hands of terrorists. We are working together to ensure that this does not happen again,” he stressed.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news