Respect and freedom” “

The European Union has chosen to stick to its line of dialogue and prudence in responding to the fallout of the satirical cartoons depicting Mahomet published in various papers of the old continent, and judged by many to be “offensive” and “inappropriate”. It has thus reaffirmed the value of freedom of expression, though combined with an indispensable “sense of responsibility”. At the same time it has upheld the need to respect the convictions and religious credo of each people, both inside and outside the frontiers of the European Union. UNACCEPTABLE VIOLENCE. The developments of the affair, which has aroused violent protests in Gaza, then in Damascus, Beirut and in various other countries with Moslem majorities, are being closely monitored in Brussels. To this new phase of international tension is ascribed the death of several demonstrators (in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Somalia…); according to some commentators, it has even led to the assassination of the Italian priest don Andrea Santoro in Turkey. The European Commission, to avoid any misunderstanding, immediately declared that “it would not change the aid policy implemented by the Union in favour of the Palestinians”. “We will not suspend the aid as a result of the occupation of our office in Gaza”, said a Commission spokesman in Brussels. For his part the current President of the European Council, the Austrian WOLFGANG SCHÜSSEL, condemned “the series of attacks and threats against European citizens and properties”, culminating in the assault on the office of the EU representation in the Palestinian territories and in the “fire-bomb attacks on the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus”. These acts were called “unacceptable” by the Council President, who appealed to “all the competent authorities” for efforts to prevent any form of violence. The Danish government, through the mouthpiece of its Foreign Minister STIG MOELLER, has appealed in turn for the “protection of its own citizens” and their properties in every country, and called for the “re-establishment of a climate of dialogue” and the isolation of “those who wish conflict” between the West and Islam. CONSULTATIONS UNDERWAY. On Monday 6 February it was the turn of JOAHNNES LEITENBERGER, chief spokesman of the Barroso Commission, to speak out: “The European Commission is conscious that the publication of some cartoons in the European press has offended many Muslims. However, that does not justify the acts of violence perpetrated last weekend”. Consultations are in course between the President of the Commission José Manuel Barroso, Austrian Chancellor Schüssel and Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief. JAVIER SOLANA has himself condemned “the violence in an unconditional manner” and declared that “it’s time for everybody to act to calm the situation and consolidate relations of friendship and mutual respect”. The Dutchman JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER, Secretary General of NATO, declared in a statement also issued in Brussels: “There can be no compromise on freedom of the press. As a Catholic I’m sometimes offended by certain cartoons of the Pope. I understand offended religious feelings, but that does not mean tolerating violence and assaults on embassies”. FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY. The situation has also been commented on by the Council of Europe and by the Vatican. “The violence, destruction and hatred which have marred some of the protests against the publication of caricatures of the prophet Mahomet over the weekend are utterly unacceptable but I am confident – said TERRY DAVIS, secretary general of the Council of Europe – that they are not supported by the vast majority of people of Islamic faith”. Terry Davis gave his interpretation of the events in a press release issued in Strasbourg on 6 February. He added: “Everyone needs to act on the basis of dialogue and mutual respect”. “As far for the cartoons themselves, I must stress that all freedoms, including the freedom of expression, come with responsibility”. CO-EXISTENCE DEMANDS RESPECT. Davis also stressed that the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees freedom of opinion: “The European Court of Human Rights has also repeatedly ruled in favour of this freedom, even in cases when the views expressed were offensive. But having the right to cause an offence does not mean that it is right to do so. It is the responsibility of editors and journalists to use good judgement in deciding what should or should not be published. The publication of caricatures may not have transgressed any legal boundaries, but it certainly violated ethical norms based on mutual respect and on the acceptance of other people’s religious beliefs”. The spokesman of the Holy See, JOAQUIN NAVARRO VALLS, declared for his part: “Human co-existence demands a climate of mutual respect, to foster peace among men and nations. Freedom is not an absolute value, but is, together with others, conditional on something more important, which is the human being. The right to freedom of thought cannot involve the right to offend the religious feelings of believers”.