The world must remain alert against terrorism and try to maintain peace, said Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende on Sunday.

He made the remarks at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe which was also attended by US President George W. Bush, Dutch Queen Beatrix and thousands of civilians.

The ceremony was held at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at the village of Margraten, some 10 km east of the world-famous Dutch city of Maastricht.

"The struggle for peace affects and connects us all, across oceans and borders, across cultures and histories," said the Dutch prime minister.

"We must remain alert, for we are confronted again with enemies of peace who seek to undermine our legal order," he said at the ceremony

"The message of terrorists is violence and fear, (and) our message is dialogue and peace," he said, noting terrorism will not prevail.

More than 100 veterans of World War II also attended the ceremony.

"We must not leave anyone behind. We must never take freedom for granted. We must keep working with our partners in the West and East," he added.

Some 8,300 US soldiers killed in the war were buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial.

The Netherlands is the second stop of Bush's four-nation European tour after Latvia. He will also go to Russia and Georgia.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2005)