LONDON - Home Secretary John Reid urged his European Union counterparts to make sure that anti-terror measures were consistent throughout the 25-member EU.
'It's very important that the measures that are taken in one country are reflected in other countries because we want equal security for all our countries,' Reid said while hosting the talks at the Home Office.
Reid expressed regret over the flight disruptions caused by the tight security imposed since Britain announced last week it had foiled an alleged plot to blow up US-bound airliners.
'I want to thank my European colleagues but also the many visitors to this country who have put up with the inconvenience of the last few days,' Reid said.
'It's not possible to fight terrorism without inconvenience. It's deeply regretful if someone loses their baggage. It's far more regretful if they lose their life,' Reid said.
'It's terrible if somebody is delayed, but a delay is more acceptable than death,' said the minister, flanked by his French and German counterparts Nicolas Sarkozy and Wolfgang Schaeuble.
'The inconvenience has not been imposed for the sake of imposing it. It has been imposed in order to defeat terrorism and to protect our public and that is what the three ministers have as our highest priority,' Reid said.
Britain is currently holding 24 people in custody in connection with the alleged plot.
In addition to Sarkozy and Schaeuble, also present were the interior ministers of Finland, Portugal and Slovenia as well as the European Commission vice-president Franco Frattini and the EU's counter-terrorism co-ordinator Gijs De Vries.
The Home Office said the meeting would 'brief EU colleagues on the emerging threat and current operation, accelerate EU action where necessary, and re-affirm the EU's commitment to counter-terrorism work.'
'International cooperation is absolutely essential to combat terrorism,' it stressed. newsdesk@afxnews.com afp/fp/gp COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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