Brussels, 17/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - In a statement approved at the start of proceedings, the External Relations Council "firmly condemned" the hateful terrorist attacks on 15 November on two synagogues in Istanbul, killing more than 20 innocent people. It expressed its solidarity with the Turkish government and people and sent its condoleances to the families of the victims. The Council stressed that terrorism and anti-semitism had to be combatted by all the international community. The European Union said it remained committed to combatting all forms of anti-semitism and religious intolerance.
Javier Solana expressed his "horror" at the attacks, noting in a press release that they were an "unacceptable expression of intolerance and rejection that had to be eradicated". On behalf of the European Commission, President Prodi condemned "terrorism in all circumstances" and visited the synagogue in Milan last Saturday to express his personal sympathy to the Jewish community.