COPENHAGEN, 22 March 2016 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) issued the following statement on today's terrorist attacks in Brussels:

"On behalf of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I condemn in the strongest terms today’s savage terrorist attacks at Zaventem airport and the Maelbeek metro station near European Union institutions in Brussels, which claimed many lives and injured many others. These barbaric acts are an affront not only to Belgium, but to the entire civilized world.

“The civilized world has no other option than to redouble our efforts and boost our co-operation to dismantle the groups which commit these atrocities and stop those who would espouse their inhumanity. In practical terms, that means better sharing of intelligence, better exchange of best security practices, and more active work to counter the false ideology of violent extremism in our own societies and abroad. It also means our utmost efforts to stop terrorism at its sources, including through support for a political solution in Syria and other states in which terrorist groups have gained a foothold. Tackling this scourge requires the concerted, collective efforts of communities, religious leaders, societies and governments.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the loved ones of the victims and to the people and government of Belgium. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”