The Belarusan National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum issued a statement on the terrorist attack in Berlin.

Statement

of the Belarusan National Platform
of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

“On the terrorist attack in Berlin”

Peter Dettmar, Ambassador of Germany in Belarus

Andrea Wiktorin, Head of EU Delegation to Belarus

December 21, 2016

We, representatives of the Belarusan civil society organizations, united in the framework of the Belarusan National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, express our deepest condolences to German people, whose citizens evening December 19, 2016 suffered from the appalling terrorist attack in the heart of the country — Berlin, one of the most cross-cultural and peaceful cities in Europe.

These days all Belarusan democratic community is together with your country experiencing this tragedy, deeply mourning the victims and survivors — peaceful people of Germany. We pass your words of support to the German people, and especially the people in whose house the trouble came.

Bloody and cynical act of terrorism committed on the eve of the bright family holidays — Christmas and New Year, in order to intimidate the citizens of Germany and all over Europe. The attack at the Christmas market in Berlin has subjected not only civilians, but also the values that we all deeply share — freedom, equality, democracy, humanism, and first of all — human life, which is the absolute supreme value in itself.

Particular outrage is the fact that this terrorist attack directed against a country that generously gives shelter to migrants from countries where there is a war. Today we call on all civilized nations to unite in upholding these values and countering wild and mindless terrorism.

We call on the European Union, the partner countries of Germany in the fight against international terrorist groups to take adequate security measures to protect its citizens. However, these measures should not lead to the incitement of ethnic hatred, growth of xenophobia, radicalism, discrimination and harassment of refugees and ethnic minorities in Europe. Otherwise, goals of terrorists will be achieved.

We believe that the civilized world can unite and defend its citizens and human values. It is important to make it through solidarity and meaningful action in the interest of human rights and our people.

Belarusan civil society organizations — participants of the Belarusan National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

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