Brussels, 28/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The EU fully supports the position of the Netherlands government concerning the online publication of the film “Fitna” by far right Dutch MP Geert Wilders. On Thursday 27 March, the prime minister of the Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende, regretted that the film was available. “We feel the film's only aim is to offend”, Mr Balkenende stressed during a press conference, welcoming the Dutch Muslims' call for calm. Mr Wilders repeated that his film on the Koran, which was initially placed online on the site of his political formation, the Freedom Party (PVV), was not intended as a provocation. Speaking through a spokesman, the European Commission welcomed, on 28 March, the very measured reaction from the populations targeted in the film and does not anticipate any particular threat to security further to the film's distribution. The Socialist Group at the European Parliament says this film gives a distorted image of reality by seeking to demonstrate that all Muslims are potential terrorists. “The diffusion of this film is part of a systematic campaign to denigrate Muslims with a view to promoting a far right party”, state Martin Schulz, PES President at the EP, and Jan-Marinus Wiersma, Vice-President.
In a statement published the same day, the Slovenian EU Council Presidency explained: “The European Union and its member states apply the principle of freedom of speech which is part of our values and traditions. However, it should be exercised in a spirit of respect for religious and other beliefs and convictions. Mutual tolerance and respect are universal values we should uphold. We believe that acts, such as the above-mentioned film, serve no other purpose than inflaming hatred. It is not through the violence but through an open dialogue of opinions, under the protection of the freedom of expression, that mutual understanding can be deepened and mutual respect can be built”. (A.B.)