Schroeder Calls For Sensitivity To Muslims

[nokia]

From correspondents in Jeddah

February 12, 2006

The three-day forum was launched in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah, with Saudi and foreign participants including former US vice president Al Gore and Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mr Schroeder's call was linked to the row raging around the world over the printing of cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, which Muslims consider as blasphemous.

"European integration is built upon the foundation of respect of other cultures, tolerance and the recognition of diversity," Mr Schroeder told the seventh annual edition of the forum, whose theme is: "Honouring Identity and Celebrating common grounds."

"This includes refraining from acts that hurt honest religious sentiment. Unfortunately in the last few months this sensitivity has been lacking in many places, including Europe," he added.

"We must get back on the path of tolerance and respect of cultural and religious beliefs," said Mr Schroeder who was welcomed by the Saudi conference organisers as an "old friend."

[Sing_Sling]

And your point is? Should you not include your own words in a c&p - as well, should you not then include the complete c&p for it to make sense?

Why has there been relatively little debate about the cartoon issue in Thailand?

[Cassandra]

From correspondents in Jeddah

February 12, 2006

The three-day forum was launched in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah, with Saudi and foreign participants including former US vice president Al Gore and Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mr Schroeder's call was linked to the row raging around the world over the printing of cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, which Muslims consider as blasphemous.

"European integration is built upon the foundation of respect of other cultures, tolerance and the recognition of diversity," Mr Schroeder told the seventh annual edition of the forum, whose theme is: "Honouring Identity and Celebrating common grounds."

"This includes refraining from acts that hurt honest religious sentiment. Unfortunately in the last few months this sensitivity has been lacking in many places, including Europe," he added.

"We must get back on the path of tolerance and respect of cultural and religious beliefs," said Mr Schroeder who was welcomed by the Saudi conference organisers as an "old friend."

Ain't it wonderful.A call for tolerance and respect in a country where the practice of other religions than Islam is prohibited by law.

[GuestHouse]

Don't get me started.

[nokia]

Opps,sorry the page didnt load properly. Would the same thing happen in tolerant LOS?

-----

Schroeder calls for sensitivity to Muslims

From: Agence France-Presse From correspondents in Jeddah

February 12, 2006

THE Jeddah Economic Forum opened overnight with an appeal by former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for Europeans to show more sensitivity to the beliefs of Muslims and with Saudi calls for homegrown democratic change.

The three-day forum was launched in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah, with Saudi and foreign participants including former US vice president Al Gore and Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mr Schroeder's call was linked to the row raging around the world over the printing of cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, which Muslims consider as blasphemous.

"European integration is built upon the foundation of respect of other cultures, tolerance and the recognition of diversity," Mr Schroeder told the seventh annual edition of the forum, whose theme is: "Honouring Identity and Celebrating common grounds."

"This includes refraining from acts that hurt honest religious sentiment. Unfortunately in the last few months this sensitivity has been lacking in many places, including Europe," he added.

"We must get back on the path of tolerance and respect of cultural and religious beliefs," said Mr Schroeder who was welcomed by the Saudi conference organisers as an "old friend."

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"We want to build bridges between our cultures," he said.

While saying he was "distressed" over the publication of the cartoons, Schroeder denounced the violent backlash by some Muslim extremists that has led to the death of 13 people around the world.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is due in Saudi Arabia on Monday at the start of a five-stop Middle East tour to repair ties with the region strained by the cartoons.

He was due to meet in Jeddah with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, head of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference, before heading for more talks in the capital of the kingdom, which houses Islam's two holiest sites.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the cartoons crisis was mismanaged from the go by the Danish government while lamenting the rise of Islamophobia."

"The handling of the issue has been mis-managed," he said.

But Iran, which has taken a more hardline posture in the row, saw a more sinister motive in the publication of the cartoons.

"An ugly face of imposed globilisation or westernisation is the humiliation of non-western values ... insisting to publish cartoons of the holiest person for Muslims in the name of freedom of expression and breaking taboos," said Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Reza Sheikh-Attar.

Meanwhile, Saudi Information Minister Iyad Madani said the ultra-conservative kingdom, which has been under intense pressure to introduce reform, favoured homegrown democracy to the West's liberal system.

"When it comes to the challenge of democracy ... we accept democracy. But we keep in mind it is an enormously broad notion ... Direct democracy is a fairer form of political organisation than liberal (Western) democracy," he said.

In his annual State of the Union speech, US President George W. Bush called on Riyadh to expand political reform, and raised the oil-rich country's concerns by calling for a drastic cut in US oil imports from the Middle East.

"Saudi Arabia is a moderating force in this region and the world at large," insisted Mr Madani.

Saudi Arabia held landmark male-only polls last year to pick half the members of municipal councils, in the first introduction of elections in the kingdom as part of the slow process of reform tailored by the authorities.

Women in Saudi Arabia are forced to cover from head to toe when in public, and they are not allowed to travel or obtain an identity card without the consent of a male guardian. They are banned from driving.

But Mr Madani said "there is nothing in the Saudi legislation that forbids Saudi women to apply for a driving licence."

However if such a request was declined, women had the right to resort to justice, he said.

"It is a road that can only be travelled by those who believe in those issues," he said, apparently hinting that it was up to women themselves to take the initiative to win such rights.

[Sing_Sling]

Thanks, nokia.

It is a bit rich, isn't it . . . Wonder if they had pork scratchings and beer, followed by a schnapps chaser after . . .

[robitusson]

From correspondents in Jeddah

February 12, 2006

The three-day forum was launched in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah, with Saudi and foreign participants including former US vice president Al Gore and Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mr Schroeder's call was linked to the row raging around the world over the printing of cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, which Muslims consider as blasphemous.

"European integration is built upon the foundation of respect of other cultures, tolerance and the recognition of diversity," Mr Schroeder told the seventh annual edition of the forum, whose theme is: "Honouring Identity and Celebrating common grounds."

"This includes refraining from acts that hurt honest religious sentiment. Unfortunately in the last few months this sensitivity has been lacking in many places, including Europe," he added.

"We must get back on the path of tolerance and respect of cultural and religious beliefs," said Mr Schroeder who was welcomed by the Saudi conference organisers as an "old friend."

Ain't it wonderful.A call for tolerance and respect in a country where the practice of other religions than Islam is prohibited by law.

Yes, it is wonderful. You're absolutely right. We should show tolerance and respect.

[tavarich]

" islamaphobia " what do they expect. Violence and destruction over a cartoon as oposed to silence and apathy over the kidnappings and murder of people trying to bring help to these same people.

[Kringle]

The muslims can chop off your head and blow people up and all the so-called good muslims don't say a word to stop this. They are all guilty of murder until they stop this crappe. All the pc dipwits saying: "Oh please understand these people." What a crock of _________ To ____ with them.

Edited February 13, 2006 by Kringle

[Khun Yak]

" islamaphobia " what do they expect. Violence and destruction over a cartoon as oposed to silence and apathy over the kidnappings and murder of people trying to bring help to these same people.

Well if you can answer this question sufficiant you'll be up for the nobel peace price for at least a decade...

good question...

KY

Edited February 13, 2006 by Khun Yak

[cdnvic]

Nothing to do with Thailand so far

/closed