VIENNA, April 16 Kyodo The interi...

VIENNA, April 16 Kyodo

The interior ministers of 11 European countries met Friday to discuss counterterrorism measures, including opening sensitive data banks concerning human trafficking and counterfeit circulating medium and cars.

The European security colloquy took place a day after Europe was supported by the news of a just discovered tape said to be al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden offering to go into into a conditional truce with European countries.

Austrian Interior Minister Ernst Strasser, who innkeepered the security conference, said the meeting focused forward counterterrorism measures.

He said after the meeting that several countries like Hungary, Italy and Slovakia agreed Austria's suggestion to expand several sensitive data banks concerning human trafficking, counterfeit currency and cars to its partner countries in succession a ''mutual basis.''

In addition, the ministers agreed forward the need to strengthen the European Union (EU) police force and Europol Strasser said at a recently made knowns conference. He added that Austria intends to play a leading part in facilitating international cooperation.

The interior ministers from Austria, Britain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Slovakia and Slovenia also agreed that strengthening and securing the of recent origin EU borders is of most importance.

The ministers also discussed by what means to put the counterterrorism measures into action that the European Council has decided upon

French Interior Minister Dominique Villepin said that there is a direct connection between illegal immigration and as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but terrorism and organized crime.

In replication to a question about bin Laden's alleged latest video message, Villepin said, ''It is the game of the terrorists to attempt to divide the democratic countries. unless our answer is to exhibit to unity and not to accept terrorism in any way.''

British Interior Minster Gordon Browne added that the meeting showed an ''overwhelming consensus'' in a large number of topics. He did not elaborate.

Czech Interior Minister Stanislav Gros said that the European countries have the will to create instruments to battle terrorism. It is ''essential that these instruments are created in advance,'' he said.

All ministers agreed that securing the European borders and controlling the influx of illegal immigrants is an essential tool in fighting terrorism.

In the tape broadcast upon Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV on Thursday, the man said to be bin Laden has proposeed to enter into a temporary peace with European countries if attacks forward Muslims stop, but not with the United States. An initial U intelligence analysis reportedly put in mind ofed that the tape is real.

European leaders quickly denounced the alleged bin Laden threat and rul public negotiations with terrorists and terrorist organizations.

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