Europe and Latin America to fight 'drugs and thugs'

European and Latin American leaders vowed yesterday to work together through international bodies to resolve disputes and common threats, in a veiled criticism of American unilateralism.

"We undertake ... to strengthen the multilateral system on the basis of the purposes and principles of the UN charter and international law," the 38 European Union and Latin American leaders pledged in a draft political declaration due to be adopted during the summit, which is taking place in Madrid.

In marked contrast to US positions, the draft document welcomed the planned establishment of an International Criminal Court, urged ratification of the Kyoto accord aimed at curbing carbon dioxide emissions, and rejected unilateral trade measures.

The meeting also focused on terrorism – an issue close to the heart of the host of the summit, the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, who considers the fight against it to be the priority of Spain's presidency of the European Union.

Tony Blair, who attended the summit, said yesterday that the world could not drop its guard in the war against terrorism. "The job is not yet done," he said.

Mr Aznar invited Mr Blair to lead the discussion on international co-operation against terrorism and drug-trafficking. The twin topics ("drugs and thugs") were intimately linked, sources said, since terrorist violence is frequently financed by money from drug dealing.

European leaders signalled their willingness to include the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (Farc) guerrillas in the EU's list of terrorist groups, drawn up after 11 September.

Farc had been excluded because some EU members said branding the group terrorists could close the door to future negotiations. That decision displeased Colombia and other Latin American governments. Colombia's President, Andres Pastrana, appealed to Mr Aznar for the organisation to be included.

"We all share the clear conviction of the terrorist character of Farc," Spain's Foreign Minister, Josep Pique, said after the closed session. EU ministers would give "special consideration" to Mr Pastrana's request and include Farc in the EU's list of terrorists "very soon, if possible at the next European Council meeting", Mr Pique said.

Sources said that the inclusion of an organisation on the list did not rule out the prospect of eventually negotiating with it.

In the wake of decades of violence in Colombia, in which failed attempts at negotiation with guerrillas have alternated with equally fruitless repression, Mr Pastrana is seeking European and US assistance to end the conflict. "Colombia is fully committed to the world campaign against terrorism in all its manifestations," Mr Pastrana said.

This chimes with Spain's campaign against the Basque separatist group Eta, since Farc is accused of harbouring Eta fugitives and providing them with arms and training.

Mr Aznar has been a staunch advocate of American anti-terrorist policies and has received technical and intelligence support from President George Bush.

Left-wing critics accuse Mr Aznar of subjecting yesterday's summit to a US agenda. "Aznar's government needed Bush's say-so to fix the agenda and timing of the summit," said Gaspar Llamazares, the leader of Spain's pro-Communist United Left party.

But the timing of the summit, with governments worldwide fixated on terrorist threats, favours Mr Aznar, who received full backing from Mr Blair. The Prime Minister, referring to the British Marines' continuing operations against al-Qa'ida in Afghanistan, told the meeting: "We all recognise that the problem still exists. Terrorists will exploit whatever problems there are in the world, from poverty to issues such as the Middle East."

Mr Blair and Mr Aznar met briefly, but put off talks on the future of Gibraltar until lunch in Downing Street on Monday.