Anti- Islam Begins To Replace Anti- Semitism In Western World, Gul Published: 2/25/2006
ANKARA - ''Anti-Islam began to replace Anti-Semitism in Western world and preventive legal precautions on this are not sufficient,'' Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday while meeting members of Parliamentary Human Rights Commission. Gul stated that Turkey gradually reinforced its reforms and started to meet Copenhagen political criteria with the reforms fulfilled in the past 4 years. ''We are all proud of Turkey's current position. All those reforms were made as our nation deserved them. They have not been made to satisfy the circles outside Turkey,'' Gul noted. ''Important developments have been occurring in the world. Globalization has risks as well as its advantages. There are many dangerous developments recently. Cartoon crisis is one of them. We have regarded the reactions as efforts to undermine efforts among societies to for a better compromise and solidarity. Unfortunately, there were ugly attacks. Freedom of press is certainly the principle of democracies and open society. We are trying to make freedom of speech prevail all over the world,'' Gul said. ''However, while we defend freedom of expression, we underscore that it absolutely does not mean an attack and insult on religions, beliefs and identities of people. Some see it as a contradiction. Freedom of press and expression are complementary elements,'' he emphasized. Gul indicated that this crisis could be prevented if only the related people had acted with prudence, ''politicians and intellectuals in some European countries acted cautiously and said freedom of press does not mean disrespect to beliefs of others. Incidents could be prevented in those countries before reaching to serious dimensions.'' he said. ''The crisis escalated dangerously in some countries. This was something which some people desired,'' he stated. Gul emphasized that reactions should take place in a legal way, adding ''if overreactions occur and incidents turn into violence, then rightful reactions would turn to unjust reactions. Burning the flags of other countries and insult on ambassadors are wrong.'' ''Turkey is in close contact with the OIC. EU also exerts efforts. EU President Austria's Foreign Minister talked to me and other ministers,'' Gul said, noting that, ''unfortunately, Anti-Islam began to replace Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism, Christianity enmity and attack on churches are forbidden in many European countries. We say it is necessary to include Islam and other countries inside this,'' Gul said. Stating that 20 million Muslims were living in Europe and that there was Turkish population in Europe, Gul said, ''escalation of incidents brings onto agenda discrimination and open or secret wrong implementations against them. If this escalates reciprocally, the world faces with more threat. Prudent leaders, media organs and state executives should be very careful and call the world to calmness and moderation. Respect to human rights and democracy believing in democracy, freedom of religion are universal values.'' http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=109782 Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
