Brussels, 17/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz have strongly condemned the attacks against diplomatic missions in several countries.
“I want to state very clearly that there can be no justification for such violence. I condemn those who use religion to fuel extremism”, Ashton said.
In two separate press releases, Ashton and Schulz have called on the national authorities in all the countries concerned to act swiftly to ensure the security of diplomatic missions and to protect diplomatic staff.
“I strongly condemn the use of religion to incite hatred and violence. In the same manner, I strongly denounce any attempt to ridicule Islam”, Schulz stated.
“It is vitally important that leaders across the affected regions should call immediately for peace and restraint, as has already been the case in many countries. I call on all governments and the religious and secular leaders to promote tolerance and dialogue”, Ashton went on to say.
The president of the Parliament urged leaders “to avoid all kind of inflammatory rhetoric”. Schulz said that people and leaders must not mistake the deed of isolated hateful individuals with the policies of states and institutions.
International criticism. Describing the anti-Islam film as “hateful”, Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon called for “calm and restraint”, while the Security Council said than the violence against the diplomatic missions was unjustifiable. Dozens of Muslims demonstrated in the Arab world on Friday to denounce an anti-Islam film. Fresh violence claimed six lives in Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and Sudan. (CG/transl.fl)