Karamanou (PSE).
– (EL) Mr President, the debate on the outcome of the UN Conference on
Racism is particularly topical following the tragic events on 11 September.
Unfortunately, the global coalition against terrorism appears to exist
alongside a xenophobic revival, as Mrs Diamantopoulou said earlier, and a
tendency to demonise whole groups of people, mainly Muslims and Arabs.
According to the international press, the majority of the public in Holland,
62% to be precise, in a country with a long tradition of democracy, considers
that the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington will seriously impede the
social integration of Muslims in Holland. At the same time, there is support in
Germany for reviewing the legislative framework governing religious
organisations. A few days ago in Britain, a nineteen-year-old Muslim girl and a
taxi driver were the victims of an unprovoked attack. During this morning’s
debate on asylum and immigration, several members in the House expressed
anti-Islamic views.
These developments are most worrying.
Europe’s experiences from the horrendous wars of the twentieth century
highlight the danger to peace and democracy and to human dignity of racism,
xenophobia and nationalism. In the light of recent events, the European Union
and the Member States need to strengthen their legal mechanisms for fighting
racism and to take initiatives at global level to reduce the gap between
countries and to ostracise violence as a means of resolving differences.
Fighting terrorism and dispensing justice should never call our democratic
achievements and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights into
question.
Finally, I should like to thank the
President-in-Office, Mr Michel, and the European delegation as a whole for
helping to make the UN Conference in Durban a success.