Strasbourg, 19/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The United Nations and the EU are “natural allies” in the response to the many global challenges to be faced - in particular, tackling poverty, climate change and nuclear disarmament -UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday 19 October. On the 60th anniversary of the European human rights convention, the head of the UN above all warned the EU of the new politics of “polarisation” of immigration, particularly of those of Moslem origin.
“The 21st century challenge is tolerance within. Inclusion, building diverse communities, is as complex a task as the one Europe faced after the Second World War. Migrants suffer disproportionately, whether from within Europe or beyond. Unemployment. Discrimination. Unequal opportunities in schools and the workplace,” Ban regretted, adding that in his view, the situation has scarcely improved since his predecessor Kofi Annan appeared before MEPs in 2003, when he called on Europe to “seize the opportunities presented by immigration”. “As a friend of Europe, I share profound concern. A dangerous trend is emerging. Some play on people's fears. They accuse immigrants of violating European values. Yet too often, it is the accusers who subvert these values - and thus the very idea of what it means to be a citizen of the European Union. Europe's darkest chapters have been written in language such as this,” he went on, stating that, today, “the primary targets are immigrants of the Muslim faith”. “Europe cannot afford stereotyping that closes minds and breeds hatred. And the world cannot afford a Europe that does this. Modern Europe is based on human rights and values deeply impregnated with humanity. Our ambition is, then, that of a united continent, not divided by ethnic or religious differences. A Union in which all children, whatever their parents' origins have the same chance of success,” he stated. (E.H./transl.rt)