IP: EU trying to distance itself from Italian PM's [stupid djf]comments

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Italian Premier Puts Down Islam

By SUSAN SEVAREID

Associated Press Writer

September 27, 2001, 11:32 AM EDT

MANAMA, Bahrain -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's contention 
that Western civilization is superior to Islamic culture compounded fears 
Thursday in the Middle East that America's war on terrorism will be a war 
on Islam.

European leaders distanced themselves from Berlusconi's comments, which 
came as the United States tries to build a coalition with Islamic countries 
against terrorism after the Sept. 11 suicide attacks.

Berlusconi's remarks Wednesday in Berlin "crossed the limits of reason," 
Amr Moussa, secretary general of the 22-nation Arab League, said in Cairo, 
Egypt. "We don't believe there is a superior civilization, and if he said 
so he's utterly mistaken."

Coalition-building with Middle East nations already is difficult because 
many have uneasy truces with homegrown Islamic extremists that easily could 
be shaken -- and moderate Muslims could harden their views if they feel 
their faith is under attack.

Speaking at a news conference after talks in Berlin with German Chancellor 
Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Berlusconi said, 
"We must be aware of the superiority of our civilization, a system that has 
guaranteed well-being, respect for human rights and -- in contrast with 
Islamic countries -- respect for religious and political rights." He added 
hoped "the West will continue to conquer peoples, like it conquered communism."

Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, sitting next to Moussa at a news 
conference at Arab League headquarters in the Egyptian capital Thursday, 
condemned Berlusconi's contention.

"It's totally contradicting the values in which we believe," said Michel, 
leader of a European Union mission to the Mideast trying to drum up support 
for an international coalition against terrorism.

> <snip>



> http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-attacks-berlusconi0927sep27.story?coll=sns%2Dap%2Dnationworld%2Dheadlines



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