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Interview with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius; The Muslim Community Reacts; Massive Manhunt for Paris Attack Suspects; Danish Cartoons from 2005 Sparked Riots; Imagine a World

Aired January 08, 2015 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN HOST: Live from Paris, on a day of mourning here across the country, France's 9/11, says the newspaper, "Le Monde," the

biggest manhunt in memory here continue as security forces hunt down two brothers wanted for the massacre of 12 people at the "Charlie Hebdo"

headquarters.

Live this hour, an international exclusive interview with the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius.

Also this hour, live pictures of that symbol that says Paris, the Eiffel Tower, which is about to go dark to remember the dead.

And while this defiant drawing reminds us all that the pen is still mightier than the sword.

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AMANPOUR: Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the program. I'm Christiane Amanpour, reporting live from Paris, which is a city on edge, a

city in mourning, but fighting back with unprecedented solidarity. I'm standing just a few meters away from where this shocking crime took place,

which is, of course, the headquarters of the France satirical weekly, "Charlie Hebdo."

The nation's iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower, has just turned off its lights. Police continue their urgent manhunt, as we said, for the two

brothers who, they say, brutally slaughtered so many at the offices of the magazine.

France is capping a national day of mourning. It was called by the president, Francois Hollande, and at midday the country stood still. The

Paris Metro and even far away in the Alps ski lifts stopped to mark this solemn moment.

School children fell silent; flags fly at half-staff and for 10 full minutes the bells of Notre Dame Cathedral rang out across the capital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR (voice-over): Now Muslim leaders here in France have strongly condemned the attack and they, in turn, are urging imams at mosques around

the country to do so again at Friday prayers tomorrow. France, as we said, is in mourning. It is bloodied, but it is unbowed. A massive silent march

is planned for this Sunday. And the newspaper itself, "Charlie Hebdo," will be on the stands again as usual next Wednesday, vowing to print 1

million copies this time, which is 20 times more than the 50,000 it usually sells every week.

Now the latest on the investigation in a moment. But first earlier this evening, I spoke to the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius about the

police manhunt and France's fight against terror and the overwhelming outpouring from around the world in support of what this nation has gone

through.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANPOUR: Foreign Minister, welcome to the program.

Today "Le Monde's" title says this is France's 9/11.

Does it strike you that this is such a severe blow to France to call it that?

LAURENT FABIUS, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): It is a very, very, very deep shock and it's true that this is the biggest attack

that France has experienced for 15 years and not any attack, not just because of the extent of it, was an attack on journalists, your colleagues.

So it is true that people are deeply shocked by what happened yesterday. They've been spontaneous meetings of people in many cities and other

countries as well and I and the president of the republic have received appeals from -- calls from throughout the world.

So this is a time to reflect why these terrorists struck. They struck because of what France is, what she is and what she does. France is a

country of freedom.

AMANPOUR: And it has been dramatic, the outpouring of French people all over this country and the outpouring all over the world. People refuse to

be afraid and to be cowed by this.

What can you tell me about the investigation?

How are you going to get these people?

Do you think you will?

FABIUS (through translator): I hope so. At this very moment, whilst we're speaking, those people have been noticed, found in a department not far

from Paris. It is true that the police services were so present that two hours following the carrying out the attack, they were identified, the

terrorists were identified. And I certainly hope that we're going to catch them, judge them, condemn them but at the same time, that is the work of

the justice and the police.

AMANPOUR: Did the other attack in France this morning in Paris have any connection to yesterday's attack?

FABIUS (through translator): We don't know yet. Perhaps there is a tiny connection. That is when there is a spectacular attack, something that

happens all over the world, even if there's not an organic connection, people can see what is happening in the same way, thinking if people do the

same thing. But we have not establishment whether or not they're organic connections.

AMANPOUR: What can you tell me about these men, the Kouachi, Said and Cherif Kouachi, who are wanted, the biggest manhunt in French history right

now is underway to get them.

They were known to the authorities.

How is it possible that they were able to slip through the dragnet?

FABIUS (through translator): I'm not going to speak to personally about those people because for the moment, inquiry is underway and not going to

do anything to give away information.

But what is sure is that the way in which this attack was organized and perpetrated shows that there's a complete change in terrorist methods

because not only what we know is that those persons are French nationals, but also that attack was targeted. They wanted to target journalists, in

particular the attacks were often committed by foreign people and they were what one would call blind attacks. And yet these were targeted. And this

change is something that can be looked at together with another change, not just in France, but in other countries, too, in other relation, that is to

say that we have many people who originate from Europe but they may originate from Asia or America or South America, who are -- have

connections with the terrorists' operations in Syria and Iraq.

If we just take the case of France, our investigations show we've already taken it extremely strong measures in order to enforce this, we need to

know these figures are public. There are little more than 1,000 people concerned. And as such, a number whose lives there in Syria, certain

number there and others have come back from we're following, we need to follow these people around 1,000, including at 30 percent of women, 30

percent of young people and 20 percent (INAUDIBLE) people have converted. That is radically new.

AMANPOUR: Do you know whether these brothers had been to Syria or Iraq?

FABIUS (through translator): I'm not going to give information about that.

AMANPOUR: France has been warning for a long time that it would face blowback from what's happening in Syria and in Iraq. You were very afraid

of something like this happening. It's happened.

Do you think there's more? Are you still seeing a lot of chatter? Do you think this is a one-time attack? Or are you prepared for more?

FABIUS (through translator): We have known for a long time that not only in France but throughout the countries of Europe, United States, England,

all the countries of the world are threatened. What we really have to understand is that these terrorists, whether they be nationals of the

countries foreign, that this is a world threat. It is not just about those countries. We look about this threat, terrorism. We have known for a long

time that we have been threatened. We have stopped a number of attacks already. But unfortunately, we cannot undermine 100 percent of the attacks

in all cells as a consequence, the international work cooperation must be stronger and stronger yesterday I phoned John Kerry. I phoned my

colleague, Philip Hammond from Great Britain and they said to me that they welcomed the fact that we were working and cooperating together. And it's

the same thing with the Arab countries. This is very important that there have been declarations from many Arab countries who condemn it in the most

firm way, these attacks. We've heard the leader of the -- leader of a big mosque in Egypt, who said that quite clearly it's the reverse of what Islam

said. And this is also something that we need to empathize, that these are people who claim to act in the name of Islam. But it's the contrary of

Islam. They want to make divisions between Muslims and non-Muslims. And we need to have the reverse reaction, that is to say face with their will

to -- their wish to make us afraid. We need to be united.

AMANPOUR: Mr. Foreign Minister, France has had to defend basic values over the years, the value of democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of

expression.

But you yourself once said about this very magazine, "Charlie Hebdo," that it was pouring fuel on fire, that it was being very, very provocative.

How difficult is it, do you think, to have this kind of freedom of expression?

Do you think they went too far?

FABIUS (through translator): No. You are right to ask me the question because we have to be extremely clear. Press freedom -- you're a

journalist. Press freedom is a sacred principle. There is no democracy without freedom; there's no freedom without freedom of the press.

That does not mean that you always like what you read and maybe "Charlie Hebdo" sometimes has been provocative. That is their raison d'etre. But

there are laws. If we're not satisfied with what's in the press, the United States and Great Britain or in France, there are possibilities to go

to court.

But in no case to commit terrorist acts to kill those who've just carried out their work, it is very important that this newspaper, "Charlie Hebdo,"

carries on existing because if despite everything we are saying the journalists are now, some being killed, if it was to stop, then those

terrorists would have won what they (INAUDIBLE).

So press freedom is freedom. When there are things that can be debated or that are disputed, there are courts. But never, never violence.

AMANPOUR: Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, thank you very much for joining me tonight.

FABIUS: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

AMANPOUR: And we will delve further into that issue shortly after a break, because within France, Islamic groups, as I said, have been urged and are

urging imams across the country to condemn the attacks when Friday prayers rolls around tomorrow.

The pressure to do so is high as Islamic countries have also begun to denounce the attack. Pakistan's foreign ministry making this statement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TASNIM ASLAM, PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN: On this particular day you would have also seen the reaction across the Muslim world,

including Pakistan. We have condemned the attack because we are opposed to all kinds of terrorism, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: Now Iran's foreign ministry has also condemned the slaughter and as you heard the foreign minister say, the authority on Sunni Islam in

Egypt at the al-Azhar mosque has made a strong statement as well.

What do French imams and the Muslim community here need to do now? That is coming up next.

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AMANPOUR: Welcome back to the program.

There has been widespread revulsion in response to this terror attack, not least in the Muslim community here and around the world. It's been

reported that terrorists shouted out that the attack was, quote, "avenging the Prophet," after "Charlie Hebdo's" cartoons.

But one of the policemen killed in that attack was himself a Muslim, named by authorities as Ahmed Merabet. And there is, of course, a fear of a

backlash against the Muslim community in this difficult atmosphere now.

Elsa Ray is from the Collective against Islamophobia. Herself, she is a French Muslim and she joins me live now via Skype from Dijon.

Elsa, thank you for joining me. First and foremost, as a Muslim, I need to ask you what your reaction is, not to the slaughter, of course, but to the

cartoons that "Charlie Hebdo" has been putting out over the last several years.

ELSA RAY, COLLECTIVE AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA: Well, I believe that as many Muslims, we do not agree with those types of humor and this is very hard

for us, to see those kind of cartoons.

But even if we do not agree with that, there is no justification for the terrible things that those two people did.

AMANPOUR: What do you hope to see and do you support this call for imams all across France to actually go ahead and again condemn this at Friday

prayers tomorrow?

RAY: Yes, I think it's very important that the Muslim community in France -- gets united to actually denounce these terrible attack and call for

unity for Muslim people but also non-Muslim people. It's very, very important that while the representatives of the Muslim community in France

do call for unity and condemn those attacks, and it's very important as well that NGOs from the civil society also call for unity and brotherhood

and condemn the hate, all type of hate in our society.

AMANPOUR: There have been a few incidents that have been reported over the last 24 hours of a backlash against some in the Muslim community,

apparently no wounded, no victim, but certain attacks.

How afraid do you think the Muslim community is now?

RAY: Well, the Muslim community and is now very much concerned and afraid. As soon as we heard that the attackers were Muslim, we knew that there

would be a backlash and this is now the reality. And the Muslim community is very concerned, especially because there have been several attacks

against mosques, but also against individuals.

Many verbal abused and also physical abuse, so obviously the Muslim community is very afraid and very concerned. And I believe this is the

work of the French authorities, to ensure the security of the entire nation, including Muslim community.

AMANPOUR: Now you heard the foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, say that one of the aims of these types of attacks, of these types of people is to

divide the community, to divide Muslims from non-Muslims.

I just want to read you what the head of the French Islamic community said, that it was a barbaric attack on democracy and freedom of the press, but he

also said that this is a deafening declaration of war, what happened yesterday, that times have changed and we're now entering a new era of

confrontation.

Elsa, we have all tried so hard to be tolerant over the last many, many years of this kind of extremist violence. We've all tried to separate the

extremists from the law-abiding peaceful massive majority of Muslims here and around the world.

But something has gone wrong here.

Why do you think it is that radical Islam is being used as the vehicle, as some have suggested, for this whatever it is, this politics, this rage,

this alienation, whatever it might be?

RAY: Well, I believe it's a question with many answers. First of all, it's true that the international context, especially since 9/11, is very,

as you know, difficult and complicated and we know that the situation in Western and Eastern countries are very tense and difficult.

And we know that this context has a big influence on Europe. It's very true all over Europe, not only for France, but the problem is also is that

we face a very strong economical and sociological crisis and therefore we have -- we have observed for the past years a rise of the extremist -- all

type of extremism not only religious extremism but also political extreme right wing parties, et cetera.

And the consequences are disastrous for the society. And the division between native people, immigrants, believers, non-believers, et cetera,

there is more and more and more division within the society and it's all of that explains that some people get more violent and that hate calls always

for more hate. And that's what we need to really put a stop today and get united and say we have to stop these vicious circles of hate.

AMANPOUR: Indeed, it's a long, hard job. Elsa Ray of the Collective against Islamophobia, thank you so much for joining me.

RAY: Thank you.

AMANPOUR: And the shooting has inspired sympathy across countries, cultures and creeds. And today, the head of the Catholic Church, of course

Pope Francis, also came forward, praying that the victims may have a respite from the cruelty of man, he said, and also asking God to change the

hearts of their attackers.

Now after a break, the latest on the investigation.

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AMANPOUR: Welcome back to the program and I am standing in a dark and very lonely alley; behind me you can see police vehicles and policemen because

just there is the building of "Charlie Hebdo," which suffered such a catastrophic assault yesterday. Twelve people in total were killed.

As we've said, a huge manhunt is still underway for the perpetrators of this crime, a crime that is the worst terrorist attack in France in 50

years, according to the Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

Police raids are taking place across the country and we go for the latest on the investigation to CNN's Atika Shubert, who is at a police operation

which is underway in the village of Longpont in France -- Atika.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The tiny village of Longpont appears to be the epicenter of this manhunt. It's a village of

really only a few hundred people. It's located just about 4 kilometers down that road. You can probably see the flashing light of the police car.

That is the closest they will allow the press to get near the area. What we know is that earlier in the day, police heavily armed like SWAT teams

were conducting house-to-house searches in the village center.

As we understand it, they have now pushed further into the surrounding area. And just to give you an idea, this is a very rural part of Northern

France, a lot of farmhouses, open fields, but also a very heavily wooded area here. It's a forest that's several thousand hectares wide. So it's a

huge area to cover. If the suspects have gone in there, it will take a long time to try and comb through and find them.

Now we're assuming that this is the epicenter of the hunt because this is where all the police activity is. You've seen convoys going in; we've seen

all kinds of tactical equipment being brought in. But police have not confirmed those details and they have not told us why specifically they are

searching in this area.

There have been reports that the vehicle they hijacked has been found nearby, but we have not been able to confirm that with police so far --

Christiane.

AMANPOUR: And, Atika, remind us again of what led to the actual identities, one of them apparently left an I.D. in the car. And while I

have you, do your police sources, whoever you're talking to, think that they went north to escape the country, to get across the border or what do

they think?

SHUBERT: Well, what we know is that one of them, Said Kouachi, apparently left his I.D. in the original car that they were driving. This is how they

were firstly able to identify him. He was living in the town of reams. And that's where we were earlier. We saw there was an apartment there that

was raided, heavily armed police went in. And then forensics teams then, that happened overnight.

Then at 10:30 this morning, a report from a gas attendant that two armed men had come in and robbed him of fuel and food, then quickly left. And he

recognized them as the two suspects, called that into police who were at that gas station earlier. And we saw a number of plainclothes officers and

forensics teams there at the cash register, looking at items and what appeared to be possibly also CCTV footage.

So this is how they followed the trail to here. That gas station is just about 12 kilometers southwest of us.

Now that somehow led them here to the N2 highway just where Longpont, the country road to Longpont branches off. Why specifically Longpont, we're

not sure yet, but that is where they're conducting the house-to-house searches earlier and where we expect they are still searching. Now we did

see helicopters searching in this area and it's likely it will continue into the night -- Christiane.

AMANPOUR: Atika, of course as we said, one of the biggest manhunts in living memory here in France and let's not forget that there was another

shooting this morning, south of Paris. They are calling it a terrorist attack but they are not linking it yet. The authorities are not linking it

to what happened yesterday.

Now in the meantime, dozens of cartoonists from around the world have also condemned the "Charlie Hebdo" attack by doing what they know best: putting

pen to paper.

Australian caricaturist David Pope reacted by tweeting a powerful sketch that shows a stunned gunman standing by a body, which reads, "He drew

first."

The image has over 69,000 retweets.

And even more viral reaction was the "Je suis Charlie" slogan, illustrated in Jean Jullien's "Gun vs Pencil" cartoon.

And just like French newspaper "Le Monde," the Dutch artist Ruben Oppenheimer likened Wednesday's direct attack on the press with America's

9/11.

In satirist Joep Bertrams' drawing, "Charlie Hebdo" stands as defiant as ever, fighting back with the ultimate weapon: laughter.

Now earlier today, Parisians, as I said, gathered in the pouring rain to remember the victims. It started as a solemn affair. But after the

traditional silence came rapturous applause, as people who had gathered celebrated the lives of those who knew the danger of their work but did it

anyway.

And I will ask France's justice minister what is next for the people of her country right after a break.

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AMANPOUR: Good evening, everyone, and welcome back to the program.

Here I am, reporting just meters away from the scene of the shocking slaughter yesterday at the "Charlie Hebdo" newspaper in Paris. And just

moments ago, the Eiffel Tower went dark as the French mourned the loss of 12 of their countrymen.

As we've just heard from my colleague, Atika Shubert, the alleged perpetrators remain at large and one of the biggest manhunts in recent

French memory is underway for them.

And I'm joined now by France's justice minister, Christiane Taubira.

Minister, thank you for joining me.

What can you tell me at this hour about the investigation, anything that you can tell me about where you are in searching for these people?

CHRISTIANE TAUBIRA, FRENCH JUSTICE MINISTER: You know, as a prosecutor, he's a man inside. And inside he seems here to the midday to a turn of the

investigation procedure in order with large authorization, judicial characterization, in order to allow the investigators to investigate in a

large area.

My job myself as minister of justice is to provide all the means, all the effectives and that's what I did even before this awful attack. I had

decided to reinforce the prosecutor's antiterrorist staff as well as the judges so at the very beginning of this month, there were seven extra judge

rejoining the prosecutor staff and the judge.

AMANPOUR: And that is because the terrorist threat was very, very high. I understand that you don't want to talk about the current search. But what

have you been able to give then, how many police, security officials, intelligence, even military have been deployed.

TAUBIRA: Yes, sure, we decided to reinforce all the terror alert in such places such as schools or big transportation and also religious places.

And also official buildings. But some military force is joining police forces and also we have a (INAUDIBLE) where civil ministers participate in

order to coordinate the public action.

AMANPOUR: These people are still armed, according to authorities, the two brothers, the Kouachi brothers are still heavily armed.

How much of a concern is it to you that they may strike again?

TAUBIRA: Yes. We know that it's quite possible. Happily until now, they did not succeed to do so. And they know that in the world country, police

forces and military forces are available and ready to work, to search and to protect the French citizens. But it's our first duty to protect all the

citizens, all our fellow citizens.

AMANPOUR: Do you think they can leave the country?

Do you think they can cross the border?

TAUBIRA: We took all precautions and we are working with all the countries. You know, we, France, have such a big solidarity. And I'd like

to thank President Obama and the whole American people for their support. And all over the world, people are very supporting with France. And we are

working with European countries in order to not allow these people to pass any frontier.

AMANPOUR: And we also heard today that Paris was being ringed, in other words that the gates into Paris were being increasingly monitored because

perhaps they were on their way back here.

TAUBIRA: Yes. We know that they are here in the country --

(CROSSTALK)

AMANPOUR: -- back to the capital.

TAUBIRA: Every time, every minute, things change. You know? So we are following things because it's very important, very important for us, for

the justice, to catch these people and to be sure that they are the authors, they are these criminals. So we are determined to succeed. So we

are very, very careful of what we are talking about.

AMANPOUR: You say they're still in the country, to the best of your knowledge. Who are these men? What do you know about them? Did they go

to Syria or Iraq?

TAUBIRA: One of them, a few years ago, it was in 2005 and a second in 2008, in 2005, he went to Yemen.

AMANPOUR: To Yemen?

TAUBIRA: To Yemen --

AMANPOUR: Which one went to Yemen?

TAUBIRA: One of the brothers.

AMANPOUR: Said or Cherif?

TAUBIRA: It's not important.

AMANPOUR: Well, I ask you because some law enforcement we're hearing from believe that Said went to Yemen in 2011 and you seem to be saying that.

TAUBIRA: I'm talking about 2005 and 2008 because that's what we are sure of.

AMANPOUR: You're sure that one of them went to Yemen?

TAUBIRA: One of them went to Yemen because there was a judgment, a judgment and he went in jail. And in 2008, he tried to go to Iraq, but he

was stopped by the police forces. So (INAUDIBLE) justice. And people have to just wait the time for justice to --

AMANPOUR: To work.

TAUBIRA: -- evidence, yes, and to inform.

AMANPOUR: And you heard, obviously, that some eyewitnesses heard these terrorists yesterday say, "Tell the media this is Al Qaeda in Yemen."

Do you believe that this is Al Qaeda? Or Islamic State? Or individual terrorists?

TAUBIRA: Yes, we have to be sure of that. It's very important to be sure before talking, because we don't want to panic people. It's very important

for us to ensure security for all French people. But at the same time, we have to be very serious, very firm, very sure of everything we say.

So all these elements are part of what a judge, a prosecutor and the policemen use in order to reach the truth. And people can think about --

talk about this, but for us, the government and also the judges, we have to be very careful and be sure before talking.

AMANPOUR: Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, thank you very much indeed for joining us tonight.

TAUBIRA: Thank you for (INAUDIBLE).

AMANPOUR: Thank you.

And for the people of Paris, of course, it is a local tragedy. But the world also trembles with fear and rage at a fate that could be and has been

their own.

Newspapers around the globe have immortalized their murdered French comrades at "Charlie Hebdo." Just across the Channel ,the British paper,

"The Independent," has used its own cover cartoon to give those who threaten freedom the finger, while French Canadian newspaper, "La Presse,"

offered a grim depiction of the assassination of liberty, crossing out the 12 lives lost.

The Netherlands "Metro" was more hopeful, showing a bullet-ridden but resistant "Charlie Hebdo," grasping its right to expression.

But this support may be little consolation to Paris, a city known for its historic beauty. It's bittersweet to see famed, romantic landmarks like

Notre Dame paying tribute to those who fell in the attacks yesterday.

And when we come back a former NATO chief and former Danish prime minister, all too familiar with the dangers of a cartoon. An exclusive interview

with Anders Fogh Rasmussen after a break.

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AMANPOUR: Former Secretary General, former Prime Minister, thank you for being with us.

What is going through your mind as you see what happened here yesterday, something that you had to deal with in part 10 years ago in your own

country?

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN, FORMER SECRETARY GENERAL, NATO: Well, there are too many similarities but fortunately, we didn't have such a serious attack in

Copenhagen. But in the wake of the publication of the Danish cartoons, we saw violence in a number of Arab countries. We saw burning of Danish flags

and Danish embassies.

AMANPOUR: What do you think is going to be the next steps here? I ask you as a former prime minister, you know what the authorities in France are

having to deal with right now.

And also a former NATO secretary general; given the general atmosphere that you've talked about so many times before you stepped down, of what's going

on with the blowback from Syria, from Iraq, with the increased radicalization in Europe right now?

RASMUSSEN: This is obviously an international security challenge, which will take strength and cooperation among partners and allies to deal with.

But we learned some lessons in Denmark, in the wake of the so-called cartoon crisis.

Firstly, that we had to strengthen our domestic security; secondly, that it's crucial to stay firm on freedom of expression and have a free and open

debate about everything including religion so that new generations have no doubt that this is a basic principle of our free societies.

And thirdly, we also learned that integration is about values. Value-based integration is essential; it's not just about providing jobs and education

for immigrants, it's also important that they understand the basic values upon which we have built our societies.

AMANPOUR: Europe right now is, as you know, in the grip of some extreme right-wing politicians and parties here in France , the National Front, is,

many people say, an Islamophobic party.

In Germany, we have seen weeks and months of demonstrations against what they say is the Islamization of culture. We've also seen pushback in

Germany and we're seeing in other parts of Europe.

How dangerous is the domestic politics that are going on in Europe right now, you know, and we see this kind of attack happen in this kind of

atmosphere?

RASMUSSEN: Well, still, I think these movements only represent a minority. The huge majority of populations welcome immigrants who want to

contribute to our societies, work and create values in our societies.

And it's of utmost importance to also distinguish between Islam as a religion and Islamism. And it's only a small minority of Muslims who

represent these extremist views.

So I think essentially it's of utmost importance that politicians take people's concerns seriously and that we have a free and open debate about

everything. If you try to hide problems, then it will end up in an explosion. We need a free and open debate.

AMANPOUR: Put your secretary general hat back on for a moment and tell me what the world needs to do to prevent these safe havens in Syria, in Iraq,

and to try to make sure that this blowback doesn't keep coming back.

That has been the security establishment's nightmare for so long and it certainly was a nightmare here in France. And it seems to have happened.

RASMUSSEN: We need several strands of work. First of all, I think the international community as a whole has an obligation to fight the terrorist

organizations like the so-called Islamic State and other international terror networks. While I appreciate that the United States has taken the

lead of an international coalition to fight the Islamic State, secondly we also need strengthened efforts to prevent the so-called foreign fighters

from returning to their home countries and execute terrorist attacks.

And then finally I think we need a strengthened information sharing and intelligence sharing in order to prevent such terrorist attacks.

AMANPOUR: Do you think what happened here is a departure from terrorist attacks? Or is it more of the same?

Many people are saying what happened here yesterday is a game-changer.

RASMUSSEN: Yes, in a way, I think you're right. It might be a game- changer in many respects. On the one hand, unfortunately it might also inspire other extremists to carry out violent attacks and this is a reason

why we need continuously to have security at high alert.

But I also think it's a game-changer in another respect, namely that more and more people realize what is at stake. The attacks yesterday were

attacks on freedom, on free press and freedom of expression. And that's what it is about.

And now it's essential that we stand up for these basic principles.

AMANPOUR: Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO secretary general, former Danish prime minister, thank you so much for joining me tonight.

And we just might remember just as the former prime minister has just said, Laurent Fabius saying to us tonight that without freedom, there's no

democracy and without freedom in the free press, there is no democracy.

And where the tragedy here is taking a toll on all of its people, they're in mourning in any way they can, even France's famous ski lifts stood still

for the noon silence today.

After a break, we take a look at this press tragedy through the eyes of France's newspapers. Media mourns media when we return.

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AMANPOUR: And finally tonight, the mood here is somber but it is defiant. The newspaper front pages in France today reflect that and the attack's

blatant assault on freedom and democracy.

Here's a look at their powerful covers.

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AMANPOUR: And that is it for our program tonight outside the headquarters of "Charlie Hebdo," which suffered such a grievous assault yesterday.

Thanks for watching. Good night from Paris.

END