Davutoglu warns against racism at osce meeting
YAYINLAMA
GÜNCELLEME
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned against growing racism and xenophobia in Europe, noting that today's socio-political environment is dangerously similar to that which prevailed in the aftermath of the Great Depression in the early 20th century. Given the economic and financial strains currently besetting European countries, "The socio-political environment unfortunately resembles aftermath of the Great Depression of 1929, while racism spreads with the increase in unemployment," Davutoglu told a ministerial council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vilnius, Lithuania. "This requires all of us, in the OSCE area, to be vigilant and take appropriate measures to prevent the radicalization of such extremist ideologies. Let us not forget that this is a serious threat to our common values and to the security and safety of individuals." Davutoglu traveled to Vilnius after a visit to Germany, where he visited the families of victims of a neo-Nazi group that was recently discovered to have killed eight Turks, one Greek and a policewoman between 2000 and 2006. During his speech, he thanked German authorities for "condemning firmly the inhuman crimes" of the terrorist cell that "with the motivation of far-right extremism and hatred against foreigners."