Posted on 02/10/2006 2:43:48 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
COPENHAGEN, Feb. 9 — Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Thursday that attempts by European companies in the Middle East to disassociate themselves from Denmark or Danish products were "disgraceful."
At the same time, Mr. Rasmussen tried to shield the Bush administration and some of Denmark's partners in NATO from accusations that they had been tardy and overcautious in coming to Denmark's defense in the crisis, which he attributed more to attempts by Iran and Syria to cause diversions in the Middle East than to a few satirical cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper.
Looking tired after what he acknowledged had been a difficult week, Mr. Rasmussen said in an interview that attempts to gain commercial advantage at Denmark's expense had struck at the hearts of all Danes.
Mr. Rasmussen did not refer to a particular business organization or country. But his response came in reply to a question referring to attempts in the Arab world by companies associated with Nestlé, the Swiss food giant, and Carrefour, the French retailer, to distance themselves from Denmark. Danish industry estimates it has lost more than $55 million in sales in the Middle East since the furor began a week ago.
But the prime minister declined to criticize the Bush administration about its cautious defense of an ally. President Bush referred to his solidarity with Denmark for the first time on Wednesday, after five days of rioting in the Middle East against Danish interests.
"I have never doubted that Bush would stand up for Denmark," Mr. Rasmussen said. "He values faithfulness and loyalty. I was not surprised he decided to call me and express support."
Mr. Rasmussen reiterated that there would be no Danish apology for the cartoons.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
EU commissioner urges European press code on religion ...appeals to.. media ... to "self-regulate".
There's an 'R' word missing in that sentence.
I admire the Danes more and more. A small, proud nation standing up to the entire Islamic world? Brilliant and heroic.
The Western world should be rallying to Denmark's side right now and telling the Islamists to back off. Pick on someone your own size, you bastards.
Regards, Ivan
Iran IS telling them to pick on someone their own side!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1576188/posts
Side=Size. Sorry!
Danish history shows how vast their territories were. They were the home of all things viking, they owned sweden, greenland, iceland, the virgin islands, estonia, latvia, large parts of russia. Hamlet was prince of a very large part of europe. The danes have lost so much fom where they once were.
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