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CARTOON CRISIS: PAKISTAN URGES EU AND UN TO PROVIDE CONCRETE SOLUTIONS
Islamabad, 21 Feb. (AKI/DAWN) - Pakistan has said that the United Nations and the European Union, particularly Denmark, have to redress the damage caused by the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed and demanded that practical steps be taken to prevent the recurrence of such acts. What we want from the European Union now is concrete steps. Its not enough to say that in their society there is no tolerance for discrimination and they regret the hurt the cartoons caused. This needs to be backed up with laws, said Pakistani foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam."In this case we do expect the European Union to put in place some laws which would ensure that in future there are no such incidents," she said. "We are not against the freedom of expression but certainly freedom of expression as we have said repeatedly is not a license to insult other people, Aslam reiterated. She also added that while it was the right of every Muslim to protest against the cartoons, the government expected the demonstrations to be peaceful. When they turn into violent acts we also damage our image, said Aslam. Aslam said that Pakistan along with other members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) had taken up the issue with the EU, the entire membership of the United Nations and the international community at every possible forum. She added that the OIC had also asked European countries to adopt a code of conduct for their media which would take into account the sensitivities of Muslims and also curb defamation in any form or manifestation. This would include mocking and criticizing prophets, she said, underlining that the code of conduct should make it an ethical offence. On expectations from the UN on this front, Aslam stated: We also want the United Nations to take a number of steps. One, the UN should adopt an International Communication Order which should cover limits of freedom of speech in case of religious symbols, she said. In addition to that we would also explore the possibility if the United Nations can adopt prevention that would require states to curb defamation of religions, she said. Aslam confirmed that while Islamabad had recalled its ambassador from Denmark, the Pakistan mission there was still operating. She said diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Denmark were in tact. We have more than 25,000 Pakistanis (in Denmark), we just cannot abandon them, she said adding that the Pakistan mission was providing consular services to the Pakistani community. Posted by: Ebbosing Slavins7298 2006-02-21 |
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