[WCAR] Council of Europe responds to violent attack on a young ethnic-Hungarian woman in Slovakia

Strasbourg, 31.08.2006 -- The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe (PACE) René van der Linden today spoke out against
xenophobia and intolerance in Slovakia, following the recent violent
attack on a young ethnic-Hungarian woman.

"Xenophobia and intolerance are incompatible with the basic values of
democracy and represent a continuing threat to peace and stability
throughout Europe," said Mr van der Linden. "Democratic politicians must
take a stand against the use of racist or xenophobic discourse in
politics, which contributes to a climate of violence by legitimising
hatred and intolerance."

"Recent developments in Slovakia, where threats and insults against the
Hungarian minority, in particular, have increased in recent months, are
currently a source of great concern," he continued. "Whilst I welcome the
Slovakian authorities' condemnation of extremist acts, I call on them also
to condemn all instances of hate speech, in accordance with the
obligations of a member State of the Council of Europe to protect the
rights of national minorities."

Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit 
Tel: +33 3 88 41 31 93 
Fax : +33 3 90 21 41 34 




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