NEW EU COUNTER-TERROR CHIEF WELCOMED

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 25th Mar 2004

Gijs De Vries

The appointment of Dutch Liberal Democrat Gijs De Vries as the European Union's first counter-terror tsar has been warmly welcomed by London Liberal Democrat Euro-candidate Jonathan Fryer.

"As a former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, as well as a former Dutch Interior Minister, Mr De Vries is admirably qualified to bring the necessary balance between being tough on terror while safeguarding human rights," former Bromley Councillor Mr Fryer said in Beckenham.

"As Mr De Vries was actually born in New York, he should also have an advantage in dealing with the Americans, who don't always see eye-to-eye with Europe about security issues," Mr Fryer continued.

"Most Londoners are already aware of the infamous US-run Guantanamo Bay prison camp, where detainees don't even have access to lawyers," Mr Fryer said. "But how many people are aware that the US authorities now ask for up to 34 different kinds of so-called security information about passengers

flying into the US from Britain and elsewhere -- including details of bank statements?

"Europe has values and standards which must not be sacrificed under pressure either from extremist groups or from Washington. And I am confident Gijs De Vries will fight our corner on these crucial issues."