Europe should defend ethnic minorities and the freedom of religion because both national communities and traditional Christian values are exposed to attacks, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade, told MTI in Strasbourg.
Europe was strong only when it adhered to its traditional Christian values that are now under attack, Szijjártó said before the Monday session of the Council of Europe (CoE) Parliamentary Assembly.
There is an endeavour dictated by the strong liberal mainstream that Europe should forget its Christian values, he said. It is regrettable that this endeavour is coupled with considerable anti-Semitism in Western Europe, Szijjártó said, referring to the clearly anti-Semite demonstrations that erupted in western capitals after Israel had defended itself from a terrorist organisation’s attack.
Szijjártó also said that several European countries had approved legislation that restrict the rights of national minorities. “There is a pressing need in Europe to halt these tendencies,” the minister said
Hungary, which is holding the rotating CoE presidency until late November, will spare no effort to guarantee the free exercise of religion and respect for minority rights in Europe, he said.
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