Central Asian peace process crucial

Martin Winter, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Brussels

In the successful, if sometimes complex, international coalition against terrorism, the European states are now defining their future role. They have built its foundation on rock-hard solidarity.

As well as standing unanimously behind military action in which (like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) it is not a participant, the European Union has helped to organize support outside Europe for this action. That has given it political leeway of which the EU must take advantage unless it wants to go down in history as a failure.

France and Germany have set the tone.

An Afghanistan liberated from terrorist rule must be helped back on its feet with dignity. A Western protectorate is out of the question. This won't be easy, but there is no other way. After the essential military action, only a convincing peace operation in Central Asia will eliminate the terrorists' political and geographical space for the long term.

The EU cannot support this alone, but without Europe it simply will not work. For Europe has a uniquely wide range of economic and political instruments that only need to be used correctly. The EU's joint foreign and security policy needs to take a new look at Central Asia.

Sanctions against Pakistan have already been lifted. Policy on Iran should be re-examined. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan must not be lost sight of again. And greater pressure must be put on all direct and indirect participants in the Middle East conflict.

Leverage must be applied where it hurts these countries, in the field of economic cooperation with Europe. Association treaties of varying intensity, agreements to enter political dialog, support in the World Trade Organization and development aid tied to conditions are sufficiently attractive to produce an effect.

The Barcelona process, whereby the EU has tried half-heartedly for years to tie all states bordering on the Mediterranean into a dialog, must be animated in the near future. Europe must offer political and economic benefits in return for peace. That implies warning that anyone who does not accept this deal will be punished by painful isolation.

Admittedly, if this is to work the EU must ensure that no member-state tries to go it alone and pursue its own policies behind the others' backs. And ready as Europe must be to adjust its policy toward certain countries, it would be wrong to ignore their problems with freedom and human rights.

In that case, nothing would have been gained.