A two-day summit meeting of the Council of Europe (COE), attended by leaders from across the continent, ended here Tuesday after issuing a Warsaw declaration and an action plan. Leaders stressed the role of common values in building and fostering peace on the continent.

The summit meeting, the third of its kind in the COE's 56 years of history, features speeches calling for protection of human rights, democracy, rule of law, as well as fight against terrorism, discrimination and racism.

"This summit gives us the opportunity to renew our commitment to the common values and principles which are rooted in Europe's cultural, religious and humanistic heritage," said the declaration released at the meeting.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told the summit meeting that Europe should be grateful to all those who contributed to the final unification of Europe which was politically divided for several decades after World War II.

The COE, as the oldest political organization on the continent with 46 member states, has played a crucial role in protecting and promoting the basic values enshrined in the human rights convention of the organization.

Polish President Aleskander Kwasniewski, who chaired the two- day event, said the meeting is committed to building a "conflict- free Europe," a Europe being an area of cooperative partnership and mutual confidence.

"I believe I am now voicing an opinion of the participants of the summit by saying that it opens up a new prospect for peaceful cooperation in Europe for many years to come," he said.

In the action plan the meeting adopted, European leaders set as their priority promoting of common fundamental values.

"We shall ensure the long-term effectiveness of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by all appropriate means," they said.

The action plan also stressed the importance of strengthening the security for European citizens, building a more humane and inclusive continent, and enhanced cooperation with other international and European organizations and institutions.

Rene van der Linden, president of the COE's Parliamentary Assembly, said the COE has unique and proven mechanisms and instruments for the protection of human rights and called for more and better cooperation between the COE and the European Union.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said Europe is a continent of many peoples, historical events, cultures and religions.

He also emphasized the special role of fundamental rights in building the European architecture, saying that what European countries share is the belief that some values are fundamental and universal.

"The Council of Europe has been the guardian of our common values for 56 years. It plays a crucial role in the interaction between European countries. It links 46 countries and 800 million people," he said.

Meanwhile, he called for renewed efforts to be made to eliminate injustice and violence still existing on the continent.

"Today, our values call on us to take a strong position against terrorism and trafficking in human beings -- challenges to our shared principles of human dignity and justice," he said.

Leaders at the meeting also agreed that protection of European heritage means more than just protecting the accomplishments of the COE over the past 56 years of its activity, and it also means the ability to identify new challenges.

To guarantee success of future cooperation and continuation of European unification and integration, European countries, on the basis of common values, should work more closely.

At the summit meeting, Ukrainian and Turkish leaders also expressed once again their strong desire to join the European family, saying they have pursued on the road for a long time and integration with Europe will be the goal they strive for.

The meeting, held against the background of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and fast integration process of Europe in both economic and political areas, is the latest effort by European leaders to ensure long-lasting peace on the continent.

They all stressed that creating a Europe without dividing lines has long been the dream of many European forefathers, convicted that only a Europe, which is free from conflict and division, can enjoy peace, stability and prosperity.

Source: Xinhua