Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/444527
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 11 JANUARY 2015 13 is an issue that has global ramifica- tions." Yet the emergence of ISIS, at least, is widely associated with the aftermath of the Iraq war: which in turn suggests that the condi- tions for the same unrest which we all agree now threatens Western core values, were in fact created by western military involvement in the Middle East. There are, of course, limits to this argument: it is impossible to say what would have happened had Saddam Hussein not been toppled in 2003… especially in view of the Arab spring. But many argued against the Iraq war at the time precisely on these grounds: that it would result in global desta- bilisation. Is this a case of reaping what one sows? Depetris acknowledges that the situation in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East is connected to the causes of the terrorist attack in France… but only because the ter- rorists want the two issues to be linked. "I think it's linked, for instance, on the internet and social net- works, because the people trying to recruit young jihadists are making this kind of amalgam: that 'we have to fight against Western countries in Iraq and Syria"… "the West is responsible for all your suffering"… and they use hatred killings to in- cite others to commit crimes in Western countries. In that way, yes, there is a connection. But the issue of radicalism in Europe, and what is happening in the Middle East, are very different." Either way, one immediate effect of the Charlie Hebdo attack was to dramatically increase vigilance lev- els in France: where the country's terror threat alert system – Vigipi- rate – has been raised to maximum. As Depetris earlier mentioned, the values under attack are not cher- ished only in France, but also in the rest of Europe. The entire EU may well be considering whether or not to step up anti-terror efforts… which may also imply expanding government control in sensitive in- telligence gathering and security ar- eas. Are there any plans to respond to this threat level by strengthening anti-terror legislation in France? And does he expect there will be any talk in this direction by other European governments? "Maybe it's too early to say. But there is, and it still exists, a link between European countries. We do have very regular meetings in Brussels, and there is the means to exchange information, for intelli- gence services to cooperate and to establish networks. In the field of the fight against terrorism of jihad- ists, this kind of European network already exists, and it works quite well. In fact, we don't know all kind of affairs that happen, but we can be sure that previously, a bomb or terrorist attack would have been prevented by the work of the Euro- pean police and armed forces. It's working. But we can't expect 100% prevention. These kinds of attacks occur and we must be vigilant; but we have avoided many others, and I hope we will continue to do so." Lastly, we have been talking a lot about values… and one value which was very central to Charlie Hebdo – part of its entire raison d'etre, in fact – is perhaps best encapsulated by the French word 'laiciete'. We tend to translate that as 'secular- ism', and the word is much used in the local context: where we have had a few issues touching on sepa- ration of Church and State over the years. Everyone seems to have their own definition of the word... so it would be nice to have a French perspective on what is, ultimately, a concept intricately linked with the French identity. How would he define laiciete? "Well, you're right to mention that secularism is linked with France: it is directly linked to the law of the separation of Church and State, which dates from 1905. It was the occasion to reaffirm our Republican consensus on laici- ete. What does it mean? That the French Republic does not recognise one specific religion, since all reli- gions are recognised equally. You can worship, you can practice your religion… of course we all agree to that… provided you make it a pri- vate issue, not a public one. Public spaces in France are not supposed to be part of religious discourse or used for religious propaganda. But obviously – and this is respected everywhere – you are free to be- lieve whatever you wish." Interview Despite the horror of last Wednesday's massacre in Paris, Frederic Depetris, deputy head of the French diplomatic mission to Malta, is confident that European values are still strong Charlie now… PHOTO BY CHRIS MANGION