With growing concern, we are witnessing the
escalation in disturbing tensions provoked by the publication, in European
newspapers, of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that Muslims consider
deeply offensive. We shall all be the losers if we fail to immediately
defuse this situation, which can only leave a trail of mistrust and
misunderstanding between both sides in its wake. Therefore, it is necessary
to make an appeal for respect and calm, and let the voice of reason be
heard.
Last year, when the heads of government of Turkey and Spain presided over
the launching of work on the Alliance of Civilizations Project, we
did so based on a firm belief: that we needed initiatives and instruments to
stop the spiral of hatred and obfuscation that, in itself, constitutes a
threat to international peace and security.
The unfortunate events that we are seeing now only reaffirm our diagnosis
and our commitment to seek even more support for this cause.
Historically, Spain and Turkey have been at crossroads between East and
West. Therefore, we are very aware that the way in which close contact
between different cultures is handled can be enormously enriching, but it
can also set off destructive contentions.
In a globalized world, in which the relationships and exchanges amongst
different civilizations continue to multiply, and in which a local incident
may have worldwide repercussions, it is vital that we cultivate the values
of respect, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of our democratic systems
and we shall never relinquish it. But there are no rights without
responsibility and respect for different sensibilities. The publication of
these caricatures may be perfectly legal, but it is not indifferent and thus
ought to be rejected from a moral and political standpoint.
In the end, all of this lends itself to misunderstandings and
misrepresentations of cultural differences that are perfectly in harmony
with our commonly shared values. Ignoring this fact usually paves the way
for mistrust, alienation and anger, all of which may result in undesirable
consequences that we all have to work hard to avoid.
The only way for us to build a more just international system is through
maximum respect for the beliefs of both sides. We are fully committed to
observing the norms of international law and to the defense of the
international organizations that embody it. But neither laws nor
institutions are enough to ensure peace in the world.
We need to cultivate peaceful coexistence, which is only possible when there
is interest in understanding the other side's point of view, and respect for
that which it holds most sacred. These are the basic premises and main goals
of the Alliance of Civilizations promoted by Spain and Turkey.
(Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the prime minister of Turkey. José Luis
Rodríguez Zapatero is the prime minister of Spain. )
Recep Tayyip Erdogan y José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero son los primeros
ministros de Turquía y de España.
www.libertaddigital.com/noticias/noticia_1276272219.html
PARIS - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made a joint plea for respect and calm on Monday as many Muslims express anger about caricatures offending Muslim world that have been published in European newspapers.
Erdogan and Zapatero said in an article in the International Herald Tribune that they were increasingly concerned by the rise in tension provoked by the cartoons.
''With growing concern, we are witnessing the escalation in disturbing tensions provoked by the publication, in European newspapers, of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that Muslims consider deeply offensive. We shall all be the losers if we fail to immediately defuse this situation, which can only leave a trail of mistrust and misunderstanding between both sides in its wake. Therefore, it is necessary to make an appeal for respect and calm, and let the voice of reason be heard,'' noted Erdogan and Zapatero.
The two premiers said in the article, ''last year, when the heads of government of Turkey and Spain presided over the launching of work on the Alliance of Civilizations Project, we did so based on a firm belief: that we needed initiatives and instruments to stop the spiral of hatred and obfuscation that, in itself, constitutes a threat to international peace and security.''
''Historically, Spain and Turkey have been at crossroads between East and West. Therefore, we are very aware that the way in which close contact between different cultures is handled can be enormously enriching, but it can also set off destructive contentions, ''Erdogan and Zapatero underscored.
The two premiers indicated, ''in a globalized world, in which the relationships and exchanges among different civilizations continue to multiply, and in which a local incident may have worldwide repercussions, it is vital that we cultivate the values of respect, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.''
''Freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of our democratic systems and we shall never relinquish it. But there are no rights without responsibility and respect for different sensibilities. The publication of these caricatures may be perfectly legal, but it is not indifferent and thus ought to be rejected from a moral and political standpoint,'' they stated.
Turkish and Spanish premiers stressed, ''in the end, all of this lends itself to misunderstandings and misrepresentations of cultural differences that are perfectly in harmony with our commonly shared values. Ignoring this fact usually paves the way for mistrust, alienation and anger, all of which may result in undesirable consequences that we all have to work hard to avoid.''
''The only way for us to build a more just international system is through maximum respect for the beliefs of both sides. We are fully committed to observing the norms of international law and to the defense of the international organizations that embody it. But neither laws nor institutions are enough to ensure peace in the world,'' the two prime ministers said.
Erdogan and Zapatero added, ''we need to cultivate peaceful coexistence, which is only possible when there is interest in understanding the other side's point of view, and respect for that which it holds most sacred. These are the basic premises and main goals of the Alliance of Civilizations promoted by Spain and Turkey.''
Published: 2/6/2006 www.anatoliantimes.com
Erdoğan and Zapatero issue a joinjt
Muslim-Christian appeal to defuse escalating tension over publication in
European newspapers of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
In a joint Muslim-Christian appeal for calm, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Spanish counterpart, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said all sides would lose if mounting tension sparked by publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in European newspapers is not immediately defused.
“With growing concern, we are witnessing the escalation in disturbing tension provoked by the publication, in European newspapers, of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed that Muslims consider deeply offensive,” Erdoğan and Zapatero said in an article in the International Herald Tribune.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül said Turkey was engaged in diplomatic efforts to find ways to calm tension and warned Muslim protestors against undermining their rightful cause.
The foreign minister also warned the West and said hostility against Muslims was replacing anti-Semitism in some countries there.
The mounting anger in the Muslim world over caricatures coincided with the killing of a Catholic priest in Turkey's Black Sea province of Trabzon by a teenage gunman, raising concerns that the murder could be linked to the caricature protests.
Gül downplayed the possibility of a link between the murder and the cartoons. “We really think they are not linked,” he told reporters yesterday. “We believe it is entirely an individual act, but we don't know the reason behind it or who encouraged it.” The murder drew strong condemnation in both Turkey and in Europe.
© 2005 Dogan Daily News Inc. www.turkishdailynews.com.tr
‘Guns cannot be a solution; it [violence] is what those aiming for a
clash of civilizations wishes for. As Turkey, we never want to be trapped
by such discrimination,’ the prime minister says
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
The Turkish leadership is insistently trying to keep public calm regarding the publication in European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, despite describing its publication as a “provocation.”
Speaking at a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) held in Istanbul yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned violence as a way of reacting, saying that the way out from recent tension sparked by the publication of the cartoons should be diplomacy.
“Guns cannot be a solution; it [violence] is what those aiming for a clash of civilizations wishes for. As Turkey, we never want to be trapped by such discrimination,” Erdoğan said. He also said that the Turkish people and administration would not tolerate humiliation of any celestial prophets as they would not tolerate the humiliation of Prophet Muhammad.
He then called on Western politicians to take a firm stance against insults to Islam. “Otherwise, a shadow will be cast over the alliance of civilizations,” he added, referring to a United Nations-led initiative called “Alliance of Civilizations.”
The initiative was set in motion last November at a ceremony attended by Erdoğan and his Spanish counterpart, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Turkey and Spain are co-sponsors of the initiative designed to unite Western and Muslim states to fight radical Islam and “close the gap” between the Western and Islamic worlds.
Earlier in the weekend, Erdoğan announced that he penned an open letter with Zapatero, to be published today in the European press as part of the joint Turkish-Spanish initiative.
“We said [in the letter] that this [the cartoons] should be rejected, both ethically and politically,” Erdoğan said on Saturday. “This has no acceptable, no tolerable side,” he said. “It cannot be considered as part of freedoms either.”
Turkey, a strictly secular Muslim nation seeking to join the European Union, sees itself as a bridge between East and West and has undertaken a number of initiatives to bring the two sides closer.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül also termed the cartoons as a “provocation” and “irresponsible behavior” that has harmed efforts for reconciliation.
“Of course, freedom of press should exist everywhere but people's values should be respected,” he said. “These almost amount to provocations -- either inadvertent or deliberate on the part of some. I hope this affair will be closed without further escalation and everybody will see the mistakes they have made,” he added.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on Muslims around the world to show restraint over the publication in European newspapers of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed while describing the publications as a “trap” aimed at portraying Islam as violent.
The cartoons are “an open provocation, a trap ... [that aim] to show the world pictures of violence from the Muslim world,” Erdoğan said on Tuesday as he was addressing a parliamentary group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
“Neither Turkey nor the Muslim world should fall into this trap,” Erdogan said. “The Muslim world must demonstrate that it has the reason, the common sense and the maturity to fend off such provocations.”
The prime minister emphasized that Turkey would remain a land of religious tolerance and urged Turkish society to “not be fooled by provocation.”
Erdoğan expressed hope that Turkey's eventual membership in the European Union would help efforts to reconcile people from different cultures and religions.
“We have argued in favor of that [Turkey's EU membership] as an antidote for the culture of confrontation that threatens global peace,” he said. “And because we believe in that, we will stick to our EU target and continue to advocate our project for the alliance of civilizations with an ever stronger voice.”
Turkey wants EU Troika meeting:
On Monday night Erdoğan told reporters that he would ask the EU to hold a Troika meeting on the issue. He said he would also send separate messages to all global leaders, including prime ministers of EU member states and the leaders of Muslim countries. He didn't elaborate on the context of the messages, but he is expected to portray Turkey's stance favoring the alliance of civilizations.
On the same day Erdoğan addressed AKP deputies, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal also addressed his parliamentary group and touched on the issue of the Prophet cartoons. Baykal said Parliament should convene a plenary session and thoroughly discuss the crisis that has appeared in the wake of the cartoons' publication.
“We expect the government to make a serious attempt,” Baykal said. “We should all know that this issue [the crisis in the wake of publication of cartoons] is a time bomb that could hurl the world in a state of alarm and confusion.” He also urged the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to apologize to the Muslim world.
The drawings, first published in Denmark's Jyllands-Posten newspaper and reprinted in Norway, France and other European countries, include a portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban and one showing him as a knife-wielding nomad flanked by two women shrouded in black.
Baykal, whose CHP is a member of the Socialist International (SI)
association of left-wing political parties, said he recently had a
telephone conversation with Greek politician George Papandreou (the
recently elected president of the SI). He made a proposal to Papandreou
that the SI should take the initiative on the issue and should call for
common sense.
© 2005 Dogan Daily News Inc. www.turkishdailynews.com.tr
Spanish Socialist prime minister Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero yesterday published a letter to the International Herald Tribune, in which he made "a call for respect and calm," while "morally and politically rejecting" the publication of the controversial cartoons depicting Mohammed. Zapatero called for an "Alliance of Civilizations" to "stop hate," and weakly defended the freedom of expression by saying, "There are no rights without responsibility and respect for different sensitivities." Zapatero's letter was also signed by Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
UN, EU, OIC Issue Joint Statement to Overcome
Crisis
By Suleyman Kurt, Ankara
Published: Wednesday, February 08, 2006
zaman.com
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana have issued a joint statement calling for dialogue in order to overcome the caricature crisis causing tension between the Muslim World and the West.
The trio defining the caricatures as "offensive" in the joint statement they issued yesterday said, "We understand the deep hurt and widespread indignation felt in the Muslim World."
Annan, Ihsanoglu and Solana said the cartoon events make the need for renewed dialogue, among and between communities of different faiths and authorities of different countries, all the more urgent and called for restraint and calm, "in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect".
The text, prepared as a result of frequent diplomatic contacts, includes the following declaration:
"The anguish in the Muslim World at the publication of these offensive caricatures is shared by all individuals and communities who recognize the sensitivity of deeply held religious belief. In all societies there is a need to show sensitivity and responsibility in treating issues of special significance for the adherents of any particular faith, even by those who do not share the belief in question. We fully uphold the right of free speech. But we understand the deep hurt and widespread indignation felt in the Muslim World. We believe freedom of the press entails responsibility and discretion, and should respect the beliefs and tenets of all religions. But we also believe the recent violent acts surpass the limits of peaceful protest."
The statement strongly condemned the violent acts that took place during the international protests and it underlined that these kinds of attacks will only damage the image of a peaceful Islam. "These events make the need for renewed dialogue, among and between communities of different faiths and authorities of different countries, all the more urgent," the statement read.
EU, OIC could meet to quell cartoon furor
The New Anatolian / Ankara
www.thenewanatolian.com
Turkish FM Gul talks with Austrian counterpart Plassnik and OIC
secretary-general, asking for support to convene EU-OIC ministerial troika
'In principle all sides are showing willingness to come together and we're
working on details,' says Turkish diplomat. Ankara suggests hosting
meeting in Istanbul
Turkish PM Erdogan criticizes published cartoons, saying, 'This is open
provocation; a trap. We shouldn't be deceived by this trap.' Erdogan warns
cartoon protesters not to use violence
The New Anatolian / Ankara
The European Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
yesterday positively responded to Turkey's proposal for a high-level
meeting between the two organizations with the aim of calming down the
cartoon controversy.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday talked with his Austrian
counterpart Ursula Plassnik, representing the EU term presidency, and
asked for support for the meeting to be convened as soon as possible.
Gul also had talks with OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and
Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qerbi.
"In principle all sides are showing willingness to come together and we're
working on the details," a Turkish diplomat told The New Anatolian
yesterday. He said that Ankara has suggested hosting the meeting in
Istanbul as soon as possible but also added that Turkish side is flexible
and ready to meet at any other agreed place.
Turkey's initiative aims to bring the EU-OIC ministerial troika together
and issue a joint statement to calm down the cartoon controversy.
Diplomats are still in discussions over the details with their
interlocutors, Turkish sources said yesterday.
EU's Solana to travel to Muslim states over cartoon row
Wed Feb 8, 2006
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's foreign policy chief plans to travel to Arab and Muslim countries in an attempt to calm anger over the publication in Europe of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, an EU official said on Wednesday.
Javier Solana's trip, dates and details of which are still being finalised, will include a visit to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Saudi Arabia, the EU's Austrian presidency said.
Austria asked Solana "to explore with the OIC how best (it) can help reduce the tensions", a presidency statement said.
Solana joined U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and OIC head Ekmelettin Ihsanoglu in a joint statement on Tuesday deploring violent protests against the cartoons and urging governments to guard embassies and foreigners from attack.
"We believe freedom of the press entails responsibility and discretion, and should respect the beliefs and tenets of all religions. But we also believe the recent violent acts surpass the limits of peaceful protest," the three leaders said.
Solana's trip is part of a drive by EU leaders to seek cooperation with moderate leaders in the Islamic world in overcoming the clash of values between Europeans and many Muslims exacerbated by the cartoons.
Depicting the Prophet Mohammad is prohibited by Islam. One of the cartoons first published in a Danish newspaper and then in several European newspapers showed him with a turban resembling a bomb.
Protesters have attacked Danish missions in Syria, Lebanon and Iran as well as the Gaza office of the EU. An Iranian newspaper has launched a competition to find the best cartoon about the Holocaust in response to the cartoon of the Prophet.
Austria's Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel called for an end to the "spiral of mutual provocations and insults."
"Neither cartoons that vilify Prophet Mohammad nor denying the Holocaust or joking about the Holocaust fit into a world in which cultures and religions should live together with mutual respect," he said.
EU officials have said Solana was also in touch with the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council to seek assistance.
On Monday, Austria instructed its embassies in 19 countries of the Middle East, Asia and Africa to demand increased security measures for European citizens and premises after a wave of anti-European violence by angry Muslim protesters.
Turkey takes initiative to ease cartoon crisis
ANKARA, Feb. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said on Wednesday that Turkey continued to take the initiative in preventing escalation of the cartoon crisis.
Speaking at a weekly news conference, Tan said that the reaction of some Muslim countries to the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad was tough.
"Public opinion in Muslim countries considered the printing of the caricatures as an attack on the sacred values of Islam, on the other hand the issue was taken from a freedom of press and expression perspective in European countries," he said.
Tan stressed that lack of dialogue between the West and the Muslim world was being manipulated by fanatics at both sides.
"Freedom of expression is one of the basic principles of democracy. But one should act responsibly while exercising that right. On the other hand Turkey can in no way approve acts of violence," Tan added.
On whether the diplomatic missions of European countries in Turkey requested additional protection, Tan said that Turkey attached great importance to their security and the security forces were taking extensive measures in that regard.
Danish daily Jyllands-Poste first published 12 cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad last September, one of which depicted him wearing a bomb-shaped turban.
The cartoons, which were reprinted in some other European press, have provoked widespread protests and boycott of Danish products in the Muslim world. Enditem
UN Secretary General : Annan appeals to Muslims to accept apology over cartoons
(DPA) www.khaleejtimes.com
6 February 2006DUBAI - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called on Muslims Monday to accept apologies offered over the recent publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in European newspapers.
The appeal came in a speech in Dubai, where he was acknowledging receipt of the Zayed International Prize for Global Leadership on the Environment.
“I can think of no better place than here, in the heart of the Middle East, to add a few words about the anger felt by many Muslims about the recent publication of caricatures which they see as insulting to their religion,” Annan said.
“I understand, and share, their anguish. But it cannot justify violence, least of all attacks on innocent people.
“Once again, I appeal to Muslims to accept the apology that has been offered, and to act as I am sure Almighty God, who is compassionate and merciful, would wish them to do - that is, to act with calm and dignity, to forgive the wrong they have suffered, and to seek peace rather than conflict.”
He also urged all with authority or influence in different communities, both religious and secular, and men and women of goodwill in all faiths and communities, to engage in dialogue and build a true alliance of civilizations, founded on mutual respect.
ARAB LEAGUE CALLS FOR CALM
League of Arab States urges protesters to keep from violence
www.itar-tass.com
CAIRO, February 6 (Itar-Tass) -- The League of Arab States on Monday addressed a call to Moslems the world over to show calm and restraint. The statement circulated by the general secretariat of the biggest inter-Arab organization says dialogue must prevail over violence, despite Muslims indignation over the publication of insulting cartoons on Prophet Mohammad.
At the same time the statement points to the impermissibility of the insult to Islam and Muslims, which may adversely affect that dialogue.
The League of Arab States deplores the events in the Syrian and Lebanese capitals past weekend. Considerable damage was done to the Danish and Norwegian embassies during massive actions of Muslims in Damascus on Saturday. Crowds of protesters enraged with the publication of satirical cartoons burst the police cordon, seized the buildings of the diplomatic missions and set them on fire. The Danish consulate in Beirut was similarly attacked on Sunday and was gutted almost completely by flames. The Lebanese authorities had to send army units into the streets to disperse thousands of protesters.
BRUSSELS: The European Union stepped up pressure
on Arab and
Muslim countries to control protests over cartoons of
the Prophet Mohammad, reminding 19 nations of their treaty obligation to
protect diplomatic missions.
In a strongly worded statement issued late yesterday, EU president Austria
said it had instructed its embassies in the Middle East, Asian and African
countries to demand increased security measures for European citizens and
premises after a
wave of anti-European
violence by angry Muslim protesters.
Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said national authorities must
take the necessary steps to ensure security.
''The authorities in Egypt, Algeria, Ethiopia, Iran, Jordan, Indonesia,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,
Syria, Tunisia,
Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the Palestinian
Territories were also reminded of their obligations under the Vienna
Convention on Diplomatic Relations to protect the diplomatic missions of
the EU Member States,'' the statement said.
It followed the torching of Danish diplomatic missions in Damascus and
Beirut at the weekend, attacks on the EU office in Gaza last week and the
petrol bombing of the Danish embassy in Tehran yesytday.
EU ambassadors held emergency talks yesterday to discuss a response to the
violence triggered by the republication in several European
newspapers of cartoons first
published by a local Danish daily last September.
Depicting the Prophet Mohammad is prohibited by
Islam. One of the cartoons showed the Prophet with a
turban resembling a bomb.
''Following the violence of the last few days, Austria's diplomatic
representatives in Damascus, Ramallah and Beirut have also protested to
the governments concerned,'' the statement said.
''In the name of the EU, they have demanded that protection for European
citizens be ensured and further acts of violence prevented under all
circumstances.'' Austria also summoned the representative of the country
chairing the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and ''the concerns of
the EU were once again clearly expressed to the member countries of the
OIC'', the Austrian statement added.
An EU official said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was
in
touch with the main international organisations in the
Muslim world -- the OIC, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council
-- to urge them to help restore calm.
The official said EU institutions should focus on trying to get Arab and
Muslim states to control their streets and rein in violence rather than
engaging in a divisive debate over the limits of freedom of speech and
respect for
religion.
OIC urges UN watchdog to defuse tension
Wednesday, February 08, 2006 Staff Report
www.dailytimes.com.pk
ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has urged the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) to include the
Danish government and representatives of Danish civil society in the
ongoing debate on the publication of caricatures of the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) to defuse mounting tension over the issue.
The OIC contact group on Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues has written
to the UNHCHR, Lousie Arbour. In the letter, the group has asked the
UNHCHR to help diffuse the outrage caused by the Danish newspaper's
printing of the drawings of the Holy Prophet (pbuh).
Ambassador Masood Khan, coordinator of the Geneva-based group, in the
letter, requested that the UNHCHR plead with the Danish government and
relevant actors of civil society to contain the damage caused by the
publication of the caricatures
"The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is not just an icon. He lives in the
hearts and minds of Muslims all over the world and is revered as a divine
messenger, a lawgiver and a spiritual leader. To distort his message and
persona is to insult the 1.3 billion Muslims living in the world today."
Masood urged the High Commissioner to play a role in resolving the
situation in accordance with the Commission on Human Rights' resolution to
combat defamation of religions.
Cartoon row a 'global crisis'
Tuesday
07 February 2006 8:05 PM GMT
http://english.aljazeera.net
Violent protests over cartoons of Prophet Muhammad are being fanned by extremists and risk spinning out of control, Denmark's prime minister has said.
"We're facing a growing global crisis that has the potential to escalate beyond the control of governments and other authorities," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said as anti-Danish protests spread in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
The cartoons first appeared in a Danish newspaper last year, but have since been republished in several papers across Europe, as well as some in the Middle East.
Accusing "radicals, extremists and fanatics" of fanning the flames of Muslim wrath to "push forward their own agenda", he repeated a call for dialogue with offended Muslims.
"I want to appeal and reach out to all people and countries in the Muslim world. Let us work together in the spirit of mutual respect and tolerance," he said.
Rasmussen received a call of support from George Bush, the US president, and the backing of European Union allies, but there was no sign of the row abating.
Growing outrage
Protests in Muslim countries over the offending cartoons have led to violent clashes, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people in Afghanistan, Lebanon and Somalia.
UN peacekeepers from Norway, which has also attracted Muslim wrath after a Norwegian paper reproduced the cartoons, were attacked by mob in Afghanistan, while people and buildings from other European nations were also attacked.
Rasmussem said this showed that "this is not a matter between the Muslim world and Denmark alone", but it was above all Danish embassies and flags being stoned and burnt by Muslims.
After Denmark's Iranian embassy was attacked for a second day, Per Stig Moeller, the Danish foreign minister, called on Tehran to protect foreign diplomats. The prime minister warned Iran that it could be blocked from joining the World Trade Organisation if it carried out a threatened Danish trade boycott.
Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten has apologised for the cartoons published last September and the Danish government has tried to mollify Muslims without apologising for the newspaper.
The cartoonists have gone into hiding with police protection.
Some Danes fear the row has heightened the risk of a terrorist attack in
Denmark, which has 530 troops in Iraq.
Danish fears
In a poll by Epinion for Danish radio, about four in 10 people said publication of the cartoons meant that there was now a serious risk of an attack. More than half said the gap between Muslim and non-Muslim Danes had widened because of the cartoons.
The cartoon row raised concerns for the safety of Danish troops in Afghanistan and in Iraq, though there are no plans to pull out.
Soren Gade, the defence minister, said: "We have to change the patterns of how they patrol and take precautions to make sure we don't put them in danger." As well as troops in Iraq, Demark plans to double its 178-strong Afghan mission this year.
Gade also said Danish troops on UN peacekeeping missions in Muslim countries had changed into uniforms without the Danish flag for their own safety and aid workers in Pakistan had also removed the Danish flag from their camp.
Cancelled trips
Heeding security advice from their government, thousands of Danes cancelled plans to travel to the Middle East and Indonesia. Arla, a large Danish dairy company, has sent some workers home because of the Middle East boycott.
Fie Sandfeld of travel agency Star Tour said a dozen clients were being evacuated from Bali and about 3000 Danes had cancelled trips to Egypt, but most of those already abroad wanted to stay.
"We currently have 500 guests in Egypt and 200 in Morocco. We have offered to bring them home, but the vast majority are staying," Sandfeld said. "Only four from Egypt want to come home, otherwise we are hearing that things are calm and that they are not affected by the conflict."
Turkey, Spain call for calm in cartoon crisis
Reuters 06 Feb 2006
MADRID, Feb 6 (Reuters) - The prime ministers of Turkey and Spain made a joint plea for respect and calm on Monday after violent Muslim protests at the weekend against the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.
Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan and Spain's Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said in an article in the International Herald Tribune that they were increasingly concerned by the rise in tension provoked by the cartoons.
"We shall all be the losers if we fail to immediately defuse this situation, which can only leave a trail of mistrust and misunderstanding between both sides in its wake," they wrote.
"Therefore, it is necessary to make an appeal for respect and calm, and let the voice of reason be heard," they added.
Muslim protesters set ablaze the Danish consulate in Beirut on Sunday, a day after Syrians set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus and tried to storm the French mission in the Syrian capital.
Protests against the cartoons flared in Afghanistan on Monday and one person was killed and two were wounded when shooting erupted in an eastern town, police said.
Islam prohibits any depiction of the Prophet Mohammad.
In November, Zapatero and Erdogan launched the "Alliance of Civilizations" initiative to promote greater understanding between the Western and Arab worlds, citing Spain and Turkey's positions as historic crossroads between East and West.
"The unfortunate events that we are seeing now only reaffirm our diagnosis and our commitment to seek even more support for this cause," they said in the letter.
The publication of the cartoons in newspapers in a dozen countries, mainly European, has turned into a clash between press freedom and religious respect. The images, one showing the Prophet with a turban resembling a bomb, first appeared in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten.
Zapatero and Erdogan said that in a globalised world, a local incident can have worldwide repercussions.
"Freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of our democratic systems and we shall never relinquish it. But there are no rights without responsibility and respect for different sensibilities.
"The publication of these caricatures may be perfectly legal, but it is not indifferent and thus ought to be rejected from a moral and political standpoint," they wrote.
Bush Calls for Halt to Violent Protests Over Cartoon
Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said governments in Islamic countries must halt the violence sparked by cartoons mocking the prophet Muhammad and said press freedoms also mean the responsibility ``to be thoughtful about others.''
``I call upon the governments around the world to stop the violence, to be respectful, to protect property, protect the lives of innocent diplomats who are serving their countries overseas,'' Bush said during a meeting in the Oval Office with King Abdullah II of Jordan.
The king reinforced his criticism of the images while calling for peaceful protests. ``With all respect to press freedoms, obviously, anything that vilifies the prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, or attacks Muslim sensibilities needs to be condemned,'' Abdullah said. ``I hope lessons can be learned from this regretful issue.''
Calls for peace were ignored as four more protesters were shot dead during rioting in Afghanistan, Agence France-Presse reported, bringing the global death toll to 13. Eleven demonstrators have been killed since Friday in Afghanistan, with one death each in Somalia and Lebanon, the news agency said.
Warnings
Violence erupted in Muslim countries after a Danish newspaper printed cartoons depicting Islam's holiest figure, the prophet Muhammad. The cartoons also were published in other countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and the U.S. European embassies have been attacked and the Danish government told its citizens to leave Indonesia, Lebanon and Syria and warned them against travel through most of the Middle East.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan joined with representatives of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the European Union issued a joint statement calling for calm and for a recognition of the ``sensitivity of deeply held religious beliefs.''
Separately, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused the governments of Iran and Syria of encouraging the violence.
``I don't have any doubt that given the control of the Syrian government in Syria and given the control of the Iranian government, which by the way hasn't even hidden its hand in this, that Iran and Syria have gone out of their way to inflame sentiments and to use this to their own purposes,'' Rice said in Washington.
Expressions of Protest
Bush said the U.S. rejects the use of violence ``to express discontent with what may be printed in a free press.''
``Islam, like Christianity and Judaism is a religion of peace,'' Abdullah said. Rather than tolerance, ``the word that we should be talking about is acceptance.''
People who protest should do it thoughtfully, articulately and peacefully, he said.
``When we see a protest, when we see destruction, when we see violence, especially if it ends up taking the lives of innocent people, is completely unacceptable,'' the king said.
Some European newspapers have reprinted the cartoons to assert freedom of speech, and a French satirical weekly published a new Muhammad cartoon on its cover today and printed the 12 Danish cartoons on inside pages, a step that may inflame the issue.
Bush yesterday called Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark to express U.S. ``support and solidarity'' in the wake of violence, according to White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
Bush and Abdullah dined at the White House last night, along with some members of Congress, and Bush said they also conferred on Iraq, Iran and the Palestinians. Abdullah also met with U.S. Senate leaders today.
Bush asks governments stop violence over cartoons
By Tabassum Zakaria Reuters 08 Feb 2006
(Bush, Abdullah comments)
WASHINGTON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Wednesday said governments around the world should protect the lives and property of diplomats against the violence that has erupted over published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.
Bush said he and Jordan's King Abdullah discussed the Muslim reaction to the cartoons that he called "a topic that requires a lot of discussion and a lot of sensitive thought."
"We believe in a free press, and also recognize that with freedom comes responsibilities. With freedom comes the responsibility to be thoughtful about others," Bush said.
But, he added: "We reject violence as a way to express discontent with what may be printed in a free press."
Violence has flared around the Muslim world after caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad were first published in a Danish daily, and then reprinted across Europe. Muslims view the portrayal as blasphemous.
An Iranian newspaper in retaliation has launched a competition calling for cartoons about the Holocaust.
As he sat with King Abdullah after the two met in the Oval Office, Bush said, "I call upon the governments around the world to stop the violence, to be respectful, to protect property, to protect the lives of innocent diplomats who are serving their countries overseas."
Abdullah condemned the cartoons, but said protests should be conducted peacefully.
"With all respect to press freedoms, obviously anything that vilifies the Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, or attacks Muslim sensibilities I believe needs to be condemned," Abdullah said.
We must resolve the cartoon conflict through respectful dialogue.
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Spain's José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
By Helena Cobban February 09, 2006 edition www.csmonitor.com
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. - From northern Europe to Afghanistan and beyond, the row over the publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad has escalated. Four anticartoon demonstrators were killed in Afghanistan, Monday; others have died in Lebanon and Somalia. Protesters in Syria and Lebanon burned the embassies of Denmark and Norway. Feelings of fear and victimization on this issue remain raw.
How welcome, then, is a call for calm issued jointly by the prime ministers of predominantly Christian Spain and predominantly Muslim Turkey, Feb. 5.
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Spain's José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero wrote in the Paris-based International Herald Tribune that, "We shall all be the losers if we fail to immediately defuse this situation.... Therefore, it is necessary to make an appeal for respect and calm, and let the voice of reason be heard."
The two men - one a socialist, the other the leader of a moderate Islamist party - pointed out quite rightly that in today's interconnected world, "a local incident may have worldwide repercussions." Recalling the role their countries historically played at the "crossroads between East and West," they have called for strengthening the Alliance of Civilizations project that was established last year.
Because of the huge escalatory potential of this issue, it's helpful to step back a bit and recall how the current situation developed. We also need to "unpack" what is at stake for advocates of the different viewpoints.
The cartoons in question were published last September by Denmark's largest daily newspaper. The newspaper's cultural editor had invited cartoonists to submit for publication drawings of the prophet Muhammad. He knew full well that nearly all the world's 1.3 billion Muslims consider pictorial representations of the prophet sacrilegious - but he wanted to test the social limits, in ultra-liberal Denmark, around that taboo. Twelve cartoonists submitted pictures, and all were published. At least one represented the prophet (and, by extension, his followers) as a very violent personality.
Denmark's small Muslim community protested immediately. In addition, the ambassadors of a dozen Muslim countries and members of other Muslim groups wrote to Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen explaining how offended they felt by the images and asking him both to demand an apology from the paper and to apologize himself, on Denmark's behalf. Mr. Rasmussen said he would not intervene but advised them to sue the paper under Denmark's antiblasphemy laws. They reportedly did so, but, between October and today, reports of the Danish paper's sacrilege and the prime minister's refusal to apologize have circulated ever more broadly through the Muslim world. Rasmussen still has not apologized, though in a recent satellite-TV interview he said he was "deeply distressed that many Muslims have seen the drawings ... as a defamation of the prophet Muhammad," which falls short of an apology. In the meantime, more newspapers in Europe have taken up what they claim is a fight purely "for free speech," and have republished the images.
So isn't this really an issue of "freedom of speech" clashing with the desire to protect the sacred? And as the world's cultures interact ever more closely, how can such conflicts be resolved? One ground rule must be to forswear all use of violence, and to try to resolve these questions through respectful dialogue. Beyond that, we should reexamine our definition of violence and inject into our dialogue a discussion of "sacredness" itself.
Regarding violence, I think it's helpful to consider "symbolic violence" - that is, attacks against certain very dearly loved symbols of things - to be a very serious matter. The publication of sacrilegious images, like the trashing of religious images or the burning of national flags, might all be seen as acts of such "symbolic violence," and should surely be forsworn in the interests of nonviolence and mutual respect among peoples.
Regarding sacredness, many people in the West could constructively join a reexamination of what sacredness really is, and where it can be found. Is free speech "sacred" in the same way that a sincere believer's religion is sacred? (Personally, I don't think so: Even liberal societies accept constraints on the freedom of speech.)
Where the demands of religion and free speech conflict, how should that conflict be resolved? We can't even start to figure that out unless we build a clear, shared understanding of the nature of the sacred - something many Europeans now find hard to come to.
But most important now, we all, as global citizens, need to deescalate this crisis and to establish clear and respectful ways of discussing our concerns. Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Zapatero have led the way. All other world leaders should follow.
• Helena Cobban is writing a book on violence and its legacies.
Karikatür krizinde Erdoğan ve Zapatero'dan sağduyu çağrısı
Hazreti Muhammed'i tasvir eden karikatürlerin Avrupa basınında
yayımlanmasının ardından Müslümanlardan gelen tepkiler üzerine başlayan
gerginlik nedeniyle, Medeniyetler İttifakı girişiminin iki lideri olan
Başbakan Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ve İspanya Başbakanı Jose Luis Rodriguez
Zapatero, kamuoyuna hitaben ortak bir mektup hazırladı
06.02.2006 www.vatanim.com.tr
International
Herald Tribune ve bazı Avrupa gazetelerinde yayımlanan mektupta,
karikatürler nedeniyle son dönemde tırmanan gerginliğin aşılması için
taraflar sağduyulu ve birbirlerine karşı saygılı olmaya davet edildi.
Metinde şu ifadelere yer verildi:
"Avrupa'da bazı gazetelerde Hz. Muhammed'i tasvir eden karikatürlerin
yayımlanmasıyla başlayan hareket tırmanarak devam etmekte ve bu
karikatürlerden dolayı bazı Müslümanlar kendilerine direkt saldırı
yapıldığını düşünmektedir. Şayet bu olaylara bir 'dur' demezsek hepimiz
kaybedeceğiz, çünkü bu olayların artmasıyla iki taraf da birbirine karşı
güvenini kaybetmektedir. Bundan dolayı herkesi sağduyuya çağırıyoruz.
'KARŞILIKLI NEFRET, ULUSLARARASI BARIŞI TEHDİT EDER HALE GELDİ'
Geçen yıl Türkiye ve İspanya önderliğinde başlatılan Medeniyetler İttifakı
çerçevesinde biz tüm taraflara bu çağrıyı yapmıştık. Çünkü birbirine karşı
hissedilen nefret, artık uluslararası barış ve güvenliği tehdit eder hale
gelmiştir. Bu karikatür tartışması nedeniyle şu an yaşananlar, yaptığımız
çağrının ne kadar önemli olduğunu bir kez daha ortaya koymaktadır. İspanya
da Türkiye de, Doğu ve Batı arasında tarihi bir köprü olmuştur. Biz
inanıyoruz ki Doğu ve Batı arasındaki bu köprü, iki taraf arasında kültürel
farklılıkları gidererek ortak noktada buluşma sağlayabilir. Ancak aynı
zamanda bu kültürel farklılıklar yıkıcı da olabilir. Buna dikkat etmek
gerekir.
'KARŞI TARAFIN DUYGULARINA SAYGI GÖSTERMELİYİZ'
Global dünyada karşılıklı hoşgörü ve saygıyı tesis etmememiz halinde, bu,
dünyayı şiddete götürebilir. İfade özgürlüğü, demokratik sistemlerin
vazgeçilmez bir kilometre taşıdır ve asla bundan vazgeçmeyeceğiz, ancak bunu
tesis ederken karşı tarafın duygularına saygı göstermeliyiz. Demokratik bir
ülkede bu karikatürler tamamen yasal olabilir, ancak karşı tarafın
duygularını rencide ettiği takdirde bunu hem ahlaki hem de siyasi olarak
reddetmemiz gerekir.
'KARİKATÜRLER FARKLI KÜLTÜRLERDE FARKLI ŞEKİLLERDE ALGILANABİLİR'
Bu karikatürler farklı kültürlerde, farklı biçimlerde algılanabilir. Bugün
dünyanın yaşadığı olayın sonucu da budur. Uluslararası düzeyde daha adil bir
sistem kurmanın tek yolu, farklı inançlara sahip taraflara saygılı olmaktan
geçer.
Bizler uluslararası hukuka ve kurumlara bağlıyız. Ancak bazen ne hukuk, ne
de kurumlar dünyadaki barışı tesis etmede garanti sağlayabilir. Medeniyetler
İttifakı'nı başlatan iki ülke olarak biz saygının en önemli inanç olduğu
düşüncesi içindeyiz. Karşılıklı ve saygı ve anlayışı tesis edene kadar da bu
yöndeki çalışmalarımızı sürdüreceğiz."
Erdoğan-Zapatero: Nefret
dursun
"Medeniyetler İttifakı" öncüleri Başbakan Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ile
İspanya Başbakanı Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, International Herald
Tribune’de ortaklaşa yayınladıkları açık mektupta Hz. Muhammed
karikatürlerini kınadılar.
Karikatürlerin "etik ve siyasi açıdan" kabul edilmeyeceğini ifade eden iki
başbakan, "nefret sarmalı"nın durdurulması gereğini vurguladılar. Erdoğan ve
Zapatero, "Bu karikatürlerin yayınlanması tamamen yasal olabilir, ancak etik
ve siyasi açıdan reddedilmelidir" ifadesini kullandılar ve gerilimin
düşürülmesi gereğini vurguladılar.
HASSASİYETLERE DUYARSIZ KALINAMAZ
İfade özgürlüğünün demokratik sistemlerin temel taşlarından biri olduğunu ve hiç bir zaman ondan vazgeçilmeyeceğini ifade eden iki başbakan, ancak hakların olduğu yerde yükümlülüklerin de bulunduğunu, hassasiyetlere duyarsız kalınmayacağını belirtti.
İki başbakan, "Bunu gözardı etmek, güvensizlik, dışlanma ve öfkeye yol açabilir ve bütün bunlar hepimizin önlememiz gereken arzu edilmeyen sonuçları doğurabilir" uyarısında bulundular.
"MEDENİYETLER İTTİFAKI" MODEL OLABİLİR
İspanyol basınına da yansıtılan mektupta Erdoğan ve Zapatero, "Uluslararası
barış ve güvenlik için bir tehdit oluşturan nefret sarmalı"nı durdurmak için
girişimler ve araçlara ihtiyaç olduğunu vurgularken bunun için geçen yıl
ortaklaşa lanse ettikleri "Medeniyetler İttifakı" modelini önerdiler.
06 Şubat 2006, Pazartesi
www.hurriyet.com.tr
Danimarka'da Hz.Muhammed'in karikatürlerinin
yayınlanmasının ardından tüm dünyada müslümanların ayaklanması batıda alarm
zillerinin çalmasına neden oldu. ABD İslam ülkelerinin AB ile diyaloğa
çağırırken, İsveç'te AB ve Arap dünyasını birlikte harekt etmeye çağırdı.
ABD, karikatür kriziyle ilgili gelişmeler üzerine, ''Avrupa Birliği ve İslam
dünyası arasında daha ciddi bir diyaloga girilmesi'' çağrısı yaptı.
ABD Dışişleri Bakanlığı'nın Avrupa ve Avrasya ilişkilerinden sorumlu
yetkilisi Kurt Volker, hem Avrupa, hem de Ortadoğu ülkelerinin, dini
konularla ilgili sorunlarda ''daha duyarlı davranmaları gerektiğini''
belirtti.
Brüksel'de bulunan Volker, buradaki açıklamasında, ''umut ederim ki,
Avrupa'daki ve Ortadoğu'daki partnerlerimiz arasında, tüm bu konularda;
hoşgörü, ifade özgürlüğü ve sorumlu gazetecilik konularındadaha ciddi bir
diyalog olur'' dedi.
Suriye'de ve Lübnan'daki gösterilerde yabancı büyükelçiliklerin ateşe
verilmesiyle ilgili olarak ABD yönetiminin, Suriye hükümetini doğrudan
sorumlu görmesiyle ilgili olarak da Volker, ''Suriye'de ifadeözgürlüğünün
hangi düzeyde olduğu düşünülürse böylesine kitlesel gösterilerin
kendiliğinden olmayacağı açık'' ifadesini kullandı."
İSVEÇ, AB VE ARAP DÜNYASINI BİRLİKTE HAREKET ETMEYE ÇAĞIRDI
İsveç, AB üyelerinin ve Arap dünyasının, İslam dünyasını rahatsız eden
karikatürlerin yayımlanmasıyla çıkan şiddet olaylarının artmasının
engellenmesi için birlikte hareket etmeleri çağrısında bulundu. Dışişleri
Bakanı Laila Freivalds, İsveç televizyonuna yaptığı açıklamada, ''Bu krizin,
ülkeler arasında yakın bir işbirliğinin geliştirilmeye çalışıldığı durumu
yansıtmadığı ve ortak çıkarların gelişmesine yardımcı olmadığı konusunda
birlikte olunduğunu gösteren ve bunu ifade eden bir açıklamayapılması
gerektiğini'' kaydetti.
Freivalds, Lübnan'daki dini liderlerin şiddeti önlemeye çalışmasının olumlu
olduğunu, ancak Hıristiyan dünyasındaki din adamlarının da bu şiddete karşı
bir tepki olmayacağının teminatını vermesi gerektiğini söyledi.
Karikatürlerin yayımlanmasını protesto amacıyla yapılan gösterilerde dün
Beyrut'taki Danimarka konsolosluğu ile Şam'daki Danimarka ve Norveç
büyükelçilikleri ateşe verilmiş; önceki gün de Şam'daki İsveç
büyükelçiliğine zarar verilmişti.
LÜBNAN, DANİMARKA'DAN ÖZÜR DİLEDİ
Öte yandan, Lübnan, Beyrut'taki protestolar sırasında göstericilerin
konsolosluğu yakması nedeniyle Danimarka'dan özür diledi.
Danimarka'da Hz.Muhammed'in karikatürlerinin
yayınlanmasının ardından tüm dünyada müslümanların ayaklanması batıda alarm
zillerinin çalmasına neden oldu. ABD İslam ülkelerinin AB ile diyaloğa
çağırırken, İsveç'te AB ve Arap dünyasını birlikte harekt etmeye çağırdı.
ABD, karikatür kriziyle ilgili gelişmeler üzerine, ''Avrupa Birliği ve İslam
dünyası arasında daha ciddi bir diyaloga girilmesi'' çağrısı yaptı.
ABD Dışişleri Bakanlığı'nın Avrupa ve Avrasya ilişkilerinden sorumlu
yetkilisi Kurt Volker, hem Avrupa, hem de Ortadoğu ülkelerinin, dini
konularla ilgili sorunlarda ''daha duyarlı davranmaları gerektiğini''
belirtti.
Brüksel'de bulunan Volker, buradaki açıklamasında, ''umut ederim ki,
Avrupa'daki ve Ortadoğu'daki partnerlerimiz arasında, tüm bu konularda;
hoşgörü, ifade özgürlüğü ve sorumlu gazetecilik konularındadaha ciddi bir
diyalog olur'' dedi.
Suriye'de ve Lübnan'daki gösterilerde yabancı büyükelçiliklerin ateşe
verilmesiyle ilgili olarak ABD yönetiminin, Suriye hükümetini doğrudan
sorumlu görmesiyle ilgili olarak da Volker, ''Suriye'de ifadeözgürlüğünün
hangi düzeyde olduğu düşünülürse böylesine kitlesel gösterilerin
kendiliğinden olmayacağı açık'' ifadesini kullandı."
İSVEÇ, AB VE ARAP DÜNYASINI BİRLİKTE HAREKET ETMEYE ÇAĞIRDI
İsveç, AB üyelerinin ve Arap dünyasının, İslam dünyasını rahatsız eden
karikatürlerin yayımlanmasıyla çıkan şiddet olaylarının artmasının
engellenmesi için birlikte hareket etmeleri çağrısında bulundu. Dışişleri
Bakanı Laila Freivalds, İsveç televizyonuna yaptığı açıklamada, ''Bu krizin,
ülkeler arasında yakın bir işbirliğinin geliştirilmeye çalışıldığı durumu
yansıtmadığı ve ortak çıkarların gelişmesine yardımcı olmadığı konusunda
birlikte olunduğunu gösteren ve bunu ifade eden bir açıklamayapılması
gerektiğini'' kaydetti.
Freivalds, Lübnan'daki dini liderlerin şiddeti önlemeye çalışmasının olumlu
olduğunu, ancak Hıristiyan dünyasındaki din adamlarının da bu şiddete karşı
bir tepki olmayacağının teminatını vermesi gerektiğini söyledi.
Karikatürlerin yayımlanmasını protesto amacıyla yapılan gösterilerde dün
Beyrut'taki Danimarka konsolosluğu ile Şam'daki Danimarka ve Norveç
büyükelçilikleri ateşe verilmiş; önceki gün de Şam'daki İsveç
büyükelçiliğine zarar verilmişti.
LÜBNAN, DANİMARKA'DAN ÖZÜR DİLEDİ
Öte yandan, Lübnan, Beyrut'taki protestolar sırasında göstericilerin
konsolosluğu yakması nedeniyle Danimarka'dan özür diledi.
Yayın Tarihi: 06-02-2006
http://www.sabah.com.tr
El presidente del Gobierno español, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, y el primer ministro turco, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, han hecho hoy un llamamiento "al respeto y la calma" ante las "tensiones" provocadas por la publicación de caricaturas de Mahoma en una tribuna conjunta en el diario International Herald Tribune. "Todos seremos los perdedores si no conseguimos desactivar de inmediato esta situación", advierten los dos impulsores del proyecto de la Alianza de las Civilizaciones.
Ambos mandatarios reconocen en el texto que la publicación de estas caricaturas "puede ser perfectamente legal", pero que sin embargo "no es indiferente y, por tanto, debería ser rechazada desde un punto de vista moral y político". Zapatero y Erdogan argumentan que la libertad de expresión es "una de las piedras angulares de nuestros sistemas democráticos y nunca renunciaremos a ella", pero advierten de que "no hay derechos sin responsabilidad y respeto por las diferentes sensibilidades".
Las protestas por los dibujos de Mahoma, inicialmente publicados por un diario danés y reproducidos luego por una revista noruega y por medios de varios otros países europeos, han desembocado en sucesos violentos y la quema de legaciones diplomáticas escandinavas en Damasco y Beirut durante el fin de semana.
“Odio y ofuscación”
Zapatero y Erdogan señalan que lanzaron la Alianza de las Civilizaciones desde la convicción de que "necesitábamos iniciativas e instrumentos para detener la espiral de odio y ofuscación" que de por sí es "una amenaza para la paz y seguridad internacionales". "Los acontecimientos desafortunados que estamos viendo ahora sólo reafirman nuestro diagnóstico y nuestro compromiso de buscar aún más apoyo para esta causa", indican.
En un mundo globalizado en el que "un incidente local puede tener repercusiones en todo el mundo", es "vital que cultivemos los valores de respeto, tolerancia y coexistencia pacífica", recalcan el presidente del Gobierno español y el primer ministro turco. Consideran que "la única forma de construir un sistema internacional más justo" pasa por el "máximo respeto hacia las creencias de las dos partes" y advierten de que "ni las leyes ni las instituciones son suficientes para asegurar la paz en el mundo".
"Necesitamos cultivar una coexistencia pacífica", lo que sólo es posible cuando hay un interés en "entender el punto de vista del otro" y se respeta lo que considera como "lo más sagrado", señalan los mandatarios, al recalcar que éstas son las premisas básicas de la Alianza de Civilizaciones impulsadas por los dos países.
Una vez más, la Alianza de Civilizaciones no gusta al PP. Su portavoz en la Comisión de Exteriores del Congreso, Gustavo de Arístegui, ha calificado de "disparate" el artículo publicado por Zapatero, diciendo que sólo sirve para "perder la perspectiva de lo que verdaderamente importa", que a su juicio es cómo algunos radicales han aprovechado la circunstancia para atizar la violencia religiosa y “fomentar el enfrentamiento con Occidente”. Así, ha recordado que los dibujos llevaban publicados cinco meses en un periódico danés y que los interesados en encender la crisis “han tratado de incendiar el ambiente hasta que lo han conseguido".
"Estamos asistiendo, con una preocupación creciente, al aumento de unas tensiones alarmantes originadas por la publicación, en unos periódicos europeos, de unas caricaturas del profeta Mahoma que algunos musulmanes consideran profundamente ofensivas. Todos vamos a salir perdiendo si no somos capaces de poner calma inmediatamente en esta situación, que sólo puede dejar tras de sí un rastro de desconfianza y de desacuerdo entre las dos partes. Por tanto, es necesario hacer una llamada al respeto y a la calma y dejar que se oiga la voz de la razón.
El año pasado, cuando los jefes de Gobierno de Turquía y España presidimos la puesta en marcha de los trabajos referidos al proyecto de la Alianza de las Civilizaciones, lo hicimos con una firme convicción: la de que necesitábamos iniciativas e instrumentos para detener la espiral de odio y ofuscación que, en sí misma, constituye una amenaza a la paz y la seguridad internacionales.
Los acontecimientos desgraciados que en estos momentos estamos viendo no hacen sino reafirmar nuestro diagnóstico y nuestro compromiso en la búsqueda de apoyos aún más amplios a esta causa.
España y Turquía se han encontrado históricamente en el cruce entre Oriente y Occidente. De ahí, pues, que seamos absolutamente conscientes de que puede ser enormemente enriquecedora la forma en que se instrumente un contacto más estrecho entre diferentes culturas, pero también de que puede dar pie a diferencias destructivas.
En un mundo globalizado, en el que no dejan de multiplicarse las relaciones y los intercambios entre civilizaciones distintas y en el que un incidente de dimensión local puede acarrear repercusiones a escala mundial, es esencial que cultivemos los valores de respeto, tolerancia y coexistencia pacífica.
La libertad de expresión es una de las piedras angulares de nuestros sistemas democráticos y nunca vamos a renunciar a ella. Ahora bien, no existen derechos sin responsabilidad y sin respeto por las sensibilidades diferentes. La publicación de estas caricaturas puede ser perfectamente legal, pero no es indiferente y, por tanto, debería ser rechazada desde un punto de vista moral y político.
En último término, estas cosas se prestan a malentendidos y tergiversaciones de diferencias culturales que están en perfecta armonía con nuestros valores comunes. No tener en cuenta este dato prepara el terreno a la desconfianza, el distanciamiento y la ira, que pueden traer como resultado consecuencias no deseadas que entre todos tenemos que esforzarnos al máximo por evitar.
La única manera que tenemos de construir un sistema internacional más justo es a través del máximo respeto por las creencias de ambas partes. Nosotros estamos firmemente comprometidos a observar las normas de la legislación internacional y a defender las organizaciones internacionales que la encarnan. No obstante, ni las leyes ni las instituciones son suficientes para garantizar la paz en el mundo.
Necesitamos cultivar la coexistencia pacífica, que sólo es posible cuando existe interés en comprender el punto de vista del otro, y el respeto por lo que considera más sagrado. Estas son las premisas básicas y los objetivos fundamentales de la Alianza de las Civilizaciones que promueven España y Turquía."
Artículo publicado en Internacional Herald Tribune por el primer
ministro turco y Recep Tayyip Erdogan y el presidente del Gobierno español,
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Ambos son impulsores de la Alianza de
Civilizaciones.
La batalla también se libra en Turquía
DOMINGO - 12-02-2006
www.elpais.es
Esto no es una historia sobre las caricaturas, pero enfrenta también a la libertad de expresión con las minorías y la religión: en Turquía, país musulmán que ha iniciado las negociaciones para incorporarse a la Unión Europea, una quincena de intelectuales afrontan el peligro de ir a la cárcel por "insultos a la identidad turca". En la mayoría de casos, simplemente, se atrevieron a romper el tabú que aún rodea todo lo relacionado con la matanza de armenios -cristianos- durante la I Guerra Mundial a manos del Imperio Otomano.
Erguida sobre una islita en el lago de Van, al este de Turquía, rodeada de montañas nevadas, la iglesia de Aghtamar es quizá la mayor joya armenia en el país. Tras décadas de abandono, el templo, del siglo X, está siendo restaurado, todo un símbolo de que el tabú empieza a resquebrajarse.La restauración es uno de los pasos emprendidos por el Gobierno del islamista moderado Recep Tayyip Erdogan para dejar claro que Turquía respeta a las minorías y que está lista para adherirse al club.
Los treintañeros Ragip y Nurulla se han instalado en la islita a sueldo del Estado, con la misión de evitar que los exaltados nacionalistas repitan los asaltos de antaño. Simultáneamente, Orhan Pamuk, uno de los más respetados escritores turcos, recibía una citación judicial y se exponía a tres años de cárcel. El delito, afirmar en un periódico suizo que "30.000 kurdos y un millón de armenios fueron asesinados y nadie se atreve a hablar de ello".
Turquía ha encontrado la fórmula técnica para archivar el caso sin entrar en el fondo. Pero el artículo 301 del Código Penal aprobado el pasado junio, que castiga con cárcel los "insultos a la identidad nacional", persiste y amenaza todavía a una quincena de intelectuales, pese a las protestas de la Unión Europea. Ante la vaguedad de la definición, son los tribunales los que deciden qué se considera insulto y cuáles son los límites de la libertad de expresión.
"Estamos acostumbrados a estas cosas; lo sorprendente es que ahora se hacen basadas en una nueva ley que en teoría nos acercaba a Europa", explica Murat Belge, editor de Pamuk. "Aquí la ley no sirve para defender los derechos humanos, sino para castigar a los que se consideran enemigos".
También sobre Belge pende el artículo 301. El martes acudió junto a otros cuatro colegas ante el juez por criticar un auto que ponía pegas a una conferencia universitaria sobre el asunto armenio. Fue abucheado, al igual que Pamuk hace unos meses, y la vista se ha aplazado hasta abril.
La historia se remonta a 1915. En plena I Guerra Mundial y con el Imperio Otomano en descomposición, un grupo de oficiales quiso cortar de raíz la colaboración de los armenios, en su mayoría cristianos que vivían al este de Anatolia, con Rusia. A lo largo de ocho años, 1,5 millones de armenios fueron obligados a marcharse. Muchos murieron, ya sea asesinados o durante un desplazamiento tan sistemático y brutal que algunos historiadores internacionales califican de genocidio. Según Armenia, cuya frontera con Turquía sigue cerrada, las víctimas superaron el millón de personas.
En Turquía, el debate lo cerró por decreto la creación misma del Estado kemalista, en 1923, sobre las cenizas del enfermo de Europa. "Los armenios apoyaron a los rusos y atentaron contra civiles turcos; como reacción se devolvió el ataque y hubo miles de víctimas en ambos lados. Para prevenir una guerra civil y de religión se desplazó a los armenios hacia otro lugar", resalta Idris Bal, director del Centro de Investigaciones Globales de Ankara, próximo a la oficina del primer ministro.
El epicentro de la masacre
En los museos de todo el país se repite la versión canónica redactada desde Ankara. En Van, a 60 kilómetros de la iglesia de Aghtamar, el museo municipal está en obras, pero el libro oficial insiste en la "traición" armenia y la muerte de turcos. Hoy apenas quedan armenios en esta ciudad de 450.000 habitantes, que en 1915 fue el epicentro de la masacre.
Víctor Bedoian, de 52 años, es de los pocos ciudadanos de origen armenio en Van. Nacido en EE UU, nieto de supervivientes huidos de la ciudad, decidió hace cinco años instalarse en Van y abrir un hotel creyéndose libre del pasado. "No hubo problemas hasta que compré el terreno", cuenta. A partir de aquel momento se vio inmerso en una carrera de obstáculos: amenazas a los clientes, visitas de agentes secretos, advertencias de matones -"no queremos armenios"-, denuncias de la prensa teledirigida sobre "un compló armenio para recuperar Van". Finalmente, expropiación del hotel.
Pese a todo, Bedoian y su esposa, Kristy, siguen en la ciudad, al menos mientras pelean en los tribunales europeos para recuperar el millón de dólares invertido. "Regresé como empresario estadounidense; ¡ellos me han convertido en armenio!", se queja. Junto a su esposa, forma parte del exiguo círculo cristiano de la ciudad, que cifra en 30 personas. Ni se plantean abrir un templo. "¡Ya vi lo que pasó cuando traté de abrir un simple hotel!", exclama.
Los políticos sostienen sin fisuras que el asunto armenio está cerrado, aunque sólo la ultraderecha exige cárcel para los "revisionistas". El ministro de Justicia, Cemil Cicek, que encontró la argucia técnica para archivar el caso Pamuk, había pedido antes que se disculpara. Y Mehmet Agar, presidente del Partido de la Recta Vía, muestra su "total desacuerdo" con declaraciones que "no coinciden con la realidad histórica". Defiende, eso sí, el "derecho a la libre expresión". "Hay que caminar [hacia una mayor democratiza-ción] siguiendo la iniciativa del pueblo y no por presiones extranjeras", subraya.
El asunto provoca aún tanto resquemor que ni siquiera en el cosmopolita barrio de Estambul donde Pamuk tiene su estudio encuentran complicidades las tesis del escritor. "No es correcto hablar mal de tu país", afirma el camarero del Café Susam. Müge Sentürk, ejecutiva de 30 años, añade: "Los vecinos lo hemos apartado de nuestros corazones; nos apena que ataque a Turquía".
En Turquía viven unos 60.000 ciudadanos de origen armenio y la mayoría se concentra en Estambul. En el barrio de Kum Kapi quedan varias escuelas -en la fachada de la de Bezciyan, de 1830, sobresale una frase esculpida de Atatürk: "¡Qué feliz es una persona que se siente turca!"- e iglesias. En la de Santa María, una mujer que vende velas frunce el ceño cuando se le pregunta por 1915. "Aquí no tenemos problemas y cada vez que estos intelectuales quieren remover el pasado la gente empieza a mirarnos mal", afirma.
Su opinión y la de otros feligreses coincide con la del patriarca armenio de Estambul, Mesrob II, que ha mostrado su enojo ante la insistencia, entre otros, de Hrant Dink, de 52 años. Dink dirige el único semanario armenio del país, Agos, con una tirada de 6.000 ejemplares, y es también víctima del artículo 301. Debe afrontar tres casos judiciales. Uno de sus pecados fue declarar: "No soy turco; soy armenio de Turquía".
Pese a los problemas y a las "discriminaciones" de que dice ser objeto, Dink es optimista: "Aún no hay libertad total, pero el tabú se está resquebrajando", asegura en su despacho de Agos, que por la profusión de objetos armenios parece un museo en miniatura. "Hay progreso gracias a las negociaciones con la UE", recalca.
La UE es la gran esperanza de los demócratas en un país en que el Ejército ha dado tres golpes de Estado en los últimos 50 años en nombre de las esencias kemalistas. Paradójicamente, los mismos que sueñan con la UE son los que piden más cautela para que los intentos de los extremistas turcos de dinamitar las negociaciones no acaben triunfando. "Los europeos que ponen trabas a Turquía son los mejores aliados de los fascistas turcos", sostiene Murat Belge.
El tabú armenio empieza a agrietarse, pero el país afronta aún la misma encrucijada que se expresa en Van, donde la restauración de la iglesia de Aghtamar contrasta con la antigua ciudad devastada en 1915. La de nuevo cuño, levantada ya sin armenios a cuatro kilómetros de la antigua, se resiste aún a remover los cimientos de su pasado cubiertos por la nieve.
Dolidos por las viñetas
La Iglesia católica considera a Santoro el último mártir del cristianismo. Y aunque la tensión del momento contribuyó probablemente a su muerte, se trata de un hecho aislado en el que el fanatismo parece desempeñar un papel secundario. Tras las primeras investigaciones, las autoridades subrayan que el asesinato no tiene conexión directa con la agitación por las viñetas.
El chico, A. G., ha sido detenido, y su abogado niega que estuviera vinculado a un grupo radical. El padre apuntó otra causa: "Mi hijo no tenía ningún contacto con sectas religiosas; estaba en tratamiento psicológico".
El Gobierno turco, dirigido por los islamistas moderados, ha condenado todo desmán violento en un país de 72 millones de habitantes en el que los musulmanes son el 99,9% de la población. La minoría cristiana no llega a las 70.000 personas, la mayor parte ortodoxos de origen armenio. El primer ministro, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ha firmado, junto al jefe del Gobierno español, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, un artículo llamando a la calma e insistiendo en la Alianza de Civilizaciones. El Ejecutivo turco ha subrayado al mismo tiempo su malestar por la publicación de las viñetas e insiste en que la libertad de expresión debe tener límites: "La libertad de la prensa debe existir, pero los valores de los pueblos deben respetarse", afirmó el ministro de Exteriores, Abdulá Gül.
Las protestas por las caricaturas
se cobran su primera víctima mortal
Dinamarca recomienda a sus ciudadanos no viajar a países
islámicos
AGENCIAS - Kabul / Copenhague / Teherán
ELPAIS.es - Internacional - 06-02-2006 - 13:17
La crisis internacional por las caricaturas de Mahoma publicadas en diferentes medios europeos se ha cobrado hoy una víctima mortal en Afganistán, en un tiroteo durante una protesta contra las publicaciones de imágenes del profeta musulmán. En Irán, un grupo de unas 300 personas ha lanzado piedras, petardos y huevos contra la embajada de Austria en Teherán. Por temor a que las protestas sigan extendiéndose por el mundo musulmán, Copenhague ha desaconsejado a sus ciudadanos que viajen a un total de 14 países musulmanes.
En Afganistán, las protestas han tenido esta vez como escenario la ciudad de Mehtarlam, capital de la provincia de Laghman, en el este del país, donde varios miles de personas se han manifestado contra la publicación de caricaturas de Mahoma y han exigido el cierre de la embajada danesa en Kabul. Según ha explicado una fuente policial, durante la manifestación, las fuerzas del orden han disparado al aire para dispersar a la muchedumbre, que ha respondido lanzando piedras contra un puesto de la policía. Según la fuente, en la multitud había elementos radicales, que ha vinculado con Al Qaeda, que han respondido a los disparos. Una persona ha muerto y otras cinco han resultado heridas.
Afganistán es uno de los países a los que el Gobierno danés ha desaconsejado que viajen sus ciudadanos. El Ministerio danés de Exteriores ha emitido una nota en la que recomienda a los daneses que no se desplacen a Marruecos, Argelia, Túnez, Libia, Egipto, Sudán, Omán, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Qatar, Bahrein, Jordania, Irán, Pakistán y Afganistán. Es la respuesta oficial a los violentos incidentes de este fin de semana, que han tenido su epicentro en Siria, donde los manifestantes atacaron el edificio donde se encuentran las embajadas de Dinamarca y Suecia, y Líbano, donde los exaltados quemaron la embajada danesa en Beirut. En estos incidentes, una persona resultó muerta por asfixia por la quema del inmueble, 47 personas tuvieron que ser hospitalizadas, entre ellas 19 agentes de policía, y fueron detenidas otras 174.
En un comunicado, la diplomacia danesa justifica la recomendación en que “la evolución muestra que la crisis puede extenderse a otros países”, además de Líbano. Si bien no llega a recomendar la vuelta a Dinamarca de los ciudadanos que ya se encuentren en uno de los países de la lista, sí les aconseja que actúen “con la máxima prudencia”.
Ataque a la embajada de Austria en Teherán
En Irán, unas 300 personas han lanzado esta mañana piedras, petardos y huevos contra la embajada de Austria en Teherán. Además, han quemado banderas de países europeos y han pedido el cierre de las delegaciones de los países en los que los medios de comunicación han publicado los dibujos de Mahoma.
En Surabaya, la segunda ciudad de Indonesia, el mayor país musulmán del mundo, centenares de manifestantes han arrojado piedras contra el consulado de Dinamarca y se disponían a acercarse a la delegación de EE UU cuando la policía ha disparado al aire para evitar el ataque. En Yakarta, la capital indonesia, cientos de personas han vuelto a manifestarse frente a la embajada danesa, esta vez pacíficamente. Se trataba de unos 300 miembros del Partido por la Justicia y la Prosperidad, islamista, que han portado pancartas con consignas como “El Gobierno danés debe disculparse por haber difamado al profeta Mahoma” o “La libertad no implica insultar la religión”.
Asimismo, decenas de jóvenes se han vuelto a concentrar ante la oficina de representación de la Comisión Europea en la ciudad de Gaza, han lanzado piedras contra el edificio y han quemada la bandera de la Unión Europea que ondeaba sobre su tejado.
EUROPA PRESS 06-02-2006 www.elmumdo.es
MADRID.- El presidente del Gobierno, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, y el primer ministro turco, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, han realizado "una llamada al respeto y a la calma" en un artículo en el que afirman que la publicación de las viñetas de Mahoma "puede ser perfectamente legal, pero ser rechazada desde el punto de vista de la moral y la política".
En una carta publicada en el diario 'International Herald Tribune', los dos abanderados del proyecto de Alianza de Civilizaciones aseguraron que se necesitan "iniciativas e instrumentos que pongan fin a esta espiral de odio y ofuscación que constituye una amenaza a la paz y a la seguridad internacional".
Tras los "desafortunados acontecimientos" vividos estos últimos días, los dos dirigentes reafirmaron su compromiso "en la búsqueda de más apoyo para este objetivo". "España y Turquía han representado tradicionalmente dos puntos decisivos en Oriente y Occidente", aseguraron los mandatarios.
"Estamos seguros de que los contactos entre diferentes culturas pueden ser enormemente enriquecedores, aunque al mismo tiempo pueden desencadenar destructivas controversias", continúa el artículo. Zapatero y Erdogan destacan asimismo la importancia que "en un mundo en el que los intercambios entre civilizaciones se multiplican" tiene el cultivo de "valores de respeto, tolerancia y coexistencia pacífica".
Asimismo, los mandatarios subrayan el papel protagonista que la libertad de expresión juega en una democracia. No obstante, aseguraron que "no hay derecho sin responsabilidad y respeto a las diferentes sensibilidades". "La publicación de las caricaturas puede ser perfectamente legal, pero pueden ser rechazadas desde el punto de vista de la moral y la política", indicaron.
Zapatero y Erdogan instan en la misiva a "construir un sistema internacional más justo" a través del "máximo respeto a las creencias de ambas partes". "Necesitamos cultivar la coexistencia pacífica, lo cual es sólo posible si hay un interés y comprensión en el punto de vista de la otra parte y un respeto para lo que ésta considere sagrado".
"Estas son las premisas básicas y los principales objetivos de la Alianza de Civilizaciones promovida por España y Turquía", concluye la misiva.
Artículo / Zapatero y el primer ministro turco Tayp
Erdogan
Francisco Blanco Argibay
2006/02/06 www.antena3tv.es
Las embajadas españolas en los países islámicos refuerzan su
seguridad, aunque ya se encontraban en alerta máxima. El presidente del
Gobierno, junto con su colega turco, han hecho un llamamiento a la calma y
rechazan, moral y políticamente, la publicación de las caricaturas, aunque sea
legal. El Partido Popular se ha solidarizado con los países atacados y
defiende la libertad de expresión.
Las embajadas españolas en los países islámicos están en máxima alerta. Dice
el Ministro español de Interior que, aunque no se hayan registrado problemas,
se va a mejorar la seguridad ante eventuales ataques islamistas.
La postura del Gobierno español en esta crisis se ha visto reflejada en un
artículo firmado por Zapatero y el primer ministro turco Tayp Erdogan en el
diario internacional Herald Tribune. Con el título "respeto y calma" los dos
dirigentes afirman que aunque la publicación de las viñetas sea legal, deben
ser rechazadas desde el punto de vista moral.
En el Partido Popular critican que Zapatero ni siquiera haya condenado todavía
los actos de violencia. Mariano Rajoy afirma que Occidente tiene unos
principios y uno de ellos es la libertad de expresión.
Dice Rajoy que el límite en Occidente es la Ley y que Zapatero debería tener
en cuenta lo que está ocurriendo al hablar de la Alianza de las civilizaciones.
El líder popular ha expresado su solidaridad con aquellos que ejercen la
libertad de expresión y con los países cuyas embajadas han sido atacadas.
Martes, 07 de febrero de 2006 www.elconfidencial.com
Por su parte, el presidente del PP, Mariano Rajoy, antepuso la libertad de expresión al contenido de las caricaturas. El líder de los ‘populares’ destacó que ésta es uno de los "principios y valores" de Occidente y que, por tanto, "hay que preservarla".
"Todas estas cosas de la Alianza de las Civilizaciones que dice el presidente están muy bien, pero debería tener en cuenta alguna de las cosas que se están produciendo", comentó desde La Coruña, donde recogió firmas para pedir un referéndum sobre el Estatuto catalán.
La carta, que según fuentes próximas elaboró el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, fue enviada al Herald Tribune el pasado viernes, antes incluso de que las protestas por la publicación de las caricaturas degenerasen en los ataques a sedes diplomáticas occidentales en Líbano, Siria e Indonesia.
"También de nosotros (el PP) se dicen algunas cosas y nos aguantamos", puntualizó Rajoy, quien concluyó que "el límite en Occidente es la ley".
Por su parte, el presidente de la FAPE añadió sobre el artículo -publicado en la edición internacional del diario bajo el título ‘Un llamamiento al respeto mutuo y a la calma’- que "se olvida de que el tema más relevante que se desprende de toda esta polémica es la presión violenta que ejercen quienes rechazan estas viñetas, que, por sí mismas, son inofensivas".
"Oír la voz de la razón"
La carta conjunta de Zapatero y Erdogan instaba a "oír la voz de la razón" a la vez que pedía “iniciativas e instrumentos que pongan fin a esta espiral de odio y ofuscación que constituye una amenaza para la paz y la seguridad internacional". Los dos líderes animaban a "construir un sistema internacional más justo" a través del "máximo respeto a las creencias de ambas partes". "Estas son las premisas básicas y los principales objetivos de la Alianza de Civilizaciones promovida por España y Turquía", concluía la misiva.
Ayer el Gobierno danés estimó que la crisis de las viñetas de Mahoma ha pasado ya su peor momento, pese a que ayer las protestas en todo el mundo islámico se saldaron con seis muertos -cuatro en Afganistán, uno en Líbano y otro en Somalia-.
El presidente del Gobierno español no ha condenado aún la violencia
islamista
Zapatero y el primer ministro turco
afirman que, aunque legales, las viñetas sobre Mahoma son rechazables
La crisis de las viñetas de Mahoma sigue provocando
violencia y amenazas contra intereses europeos. Rodríguez Zapatero firma este
lunes una carta junto al primer ministro turco, Recep Taiyp Erdogan en el
"International Herald Tribune". Piden "calma y respeto" para superar la
crisis, defienden la libertad de expresión, pero rechazan los dibujos "desde
el punto de vista moral y político".
7 febrero 2006
Diarioexterior.com
Ambos políticos son los promotores de la denominada "Alianza de las
Civilizaciones". En el texto, Zapatero y el primer ministro turco hacen "una
llamada al respeto y a la calma" e instan a "oír la voz de la razón" en
relación con los disturbios provocados tras la polémica publicación de unas
caricaturas del profeta Mahoma en la prensa europea.
En este sentido consideran que se necesitan "iniciativas e instrumentos que
pongan fin a esta espiral de odio y ofuscación que constituye una amenaza a la
paz y a la seguridad internacional". Califican de "desafortunados
acontecimientos" los vividos en los últimos días, y destacan importancia que
"en un mundo en el que los intercambios entre civilizaciones se multiplican"
tiene el cultivo de "valores de respeto, tolerancia y coexistencia pacífica".
LIBERTAD DE EXPRESIÓN
Asimismo, los mandatarios subrayan el papel protagonista que la libertad de
expresión juega en una democracia y afirman que "no hay derecho sin
responsabilidad y respeto a las diferentes sensibilidades". "La publicación de
las caricaturas puede ser perfectamente legal, pero pueden ser rechazadas
desde el punto de vista de la moral y la política" , indicaron.
Zapatero y Erdogan señalan que "necesitamos cultivar la coexistencia pacífica,
lo cual es sólo posible si hay un interés y comprensión en el punto de vista
de la otra parte y un respeto para lo que ésta considere sagrado". "Estas son
las premisas básicas y los principales objetivos de la Alianza de
Civilizaciones promovida por España y Turquía", concluye la misiva.