COPENHAGEN: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso defended Denmark on Tuesday in the cartoons row, telling the Danish media that freedom of expression was "not negotiable". "Freedom of expression is not something that we can negotiate, because it is an essential value in our open and democratic European society," Barroso was quoted as saying in Tuesday's edition of the Danish daily Berlingske Tidende. Barroso said he understood "that these drawings made a lot of Muslims in the world uncomfortable and angry. But I want to say at the same time that the principle of non-violence and freedom of expression is decisive for democracy". The 12 caricatures first appeared in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten on Sept 30 and have since been reprinted in numerous newspapers around the world. Muslims' reactions have in some places been violent, with three Danish embassy buildings set on fire, five official diplomatic missions closed, Danish products boycotted and a price put on Danes' heads in Afghanistan and Iraq. Barroso said the attacks on the Danish embassies in Damascus, Beirut and Teheran were "totally unacceptable". "That's why we are expressing our solidarity with Denmark. What has happened is unfair (because) Denmark has a long tradition of openness and tolerance, and also of helping others, of dialogue and of culture," he said.
"Freedom of expression is not something that we can negotiate, because it is an essential value in our open and democratic European society," Barroso was quoted as saying in Tuesday's edition of the Danish daily Berlingske Tidende.
Barroso said he understood "that these drawings made a lot of Muslims in the world uncomfortable and angry. But I want to say at the same time that the principle of non-violence and freedom of expression is decisive for democracy".
The 12 caricatures first appeared in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten on Sept 30 and have since been reprinted in numerous newspapers around the world. Muslims' reactions have in some places been violent, with three Danish embassy buildings set on fire, five official diplomatic missions closed, Danish products boycotted and a price put on Danes' heads in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Barroso said the attacks on the Danish embassies in Damascus, Beirut and Teheran were "totally unacceptable". "That's why we are expressing our solidarity with Denmark. What has happened is unfair (because) Denmark has a long tradition of openness and tolerance, and also of helping others, of dialogue and of culture," he said.
