” “"The European Commission is aware that the publication of a few cartoons on European papers offended a lot of Muslims. However, this does not excuse the acts of violence that have been committed in the weekend". Joahnnes Leitenberger, spokesman for the Barroso Commission, condemned again, today, the attacks to the diplomatic headquarters of the EU and member countries in Palestina, Lebanon and Syria, asking them to restore "a peaceful debate on freedom of the press and freedom of expression". The EU is trying to find a common strategy to address the situation that has escalated to international proportions; consultations are under way between Barroso, the Austrian Chancellor Schüssel (president on duty of the EU Council) and Javier Solana, High delegate for foreign policy. Solana condems "outright the violence" of these last few days and repeats that "it is high time everyone did something to calm down the situation and strengthen relations of friendship and mutual respect". Still in Brussels, the Dutch Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, secretary general of the Nato, states: "We are not willing to compromise on freedom of the press. As a Catholic, sometimes I take offence when I see cartoons about the Pope. I can understand the offended religious sentiment, but this doesn’t mean we should tolerate violence and assaults on embassies". ” “
