Concerning Anti-Islam Video Film

PRESS RELEASE

Moscow, with concern, has received news that ultra-rightist Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders, despite many appeals and warnings, released the anti-Islam film "Fitna" ("Strife"), where Islam is essentially equated with terrorism.

The film and its maker have already come under fire from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the European Union, the Council of Europe, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and many Muslim states. Official Hague has condemned the extremist prank of Wilders. At the same time it is regrettable that a number of western representatives, citing the incorrectly understood "freedom of speech and expression," have taken the Dutchman under their wing.

Russia, a consistent champion of dialogue among civilizations, of mutual respect and consideration of the customs and traditions of diverse religious confessions, resolutely condemns the showing of this film and regards it as being provocative and capable of leading to the same adverse consequences as the recent publication of the Mohammed cartoons in a number of European media did.

March 31, 2008