Special report: 5th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks

    BERLIN, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that terrorism could only be defeated by boosting economic growth and democracy in crisis-hit regions.

    "Our fight against Islamist-motivated terrorism will only be successful if we strengthen democratic and economic developments in crisis regions and create more respect for human rights," Merkel was quoted by German DPA news agency as saying in Finland on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the America. She is in Helsinki for the Asia-Europe Meeting.

    "These threats can only be dealt with by joint action," she said, adding that the foundation of Germany's anti-terror policy was close cooperation with the European Union, NATO and UN partners.

    Merkel said the war in Afghanistan had shown that sometimes military force had to be used to fight terrorism and used in a way which respected international law and showed tolerance and respect for other cultures.

    The 25 EU leaders and 13 counterparts from the main Asian states held a moment of silence during their morning session in memory of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. Enditem