EU presidency blasts anti-Islam film

(BRDO PRI KRANJU) - The European Union's Slovenian presidency on Friday slammed an anti-Islam film from a Dutch lawmaker, which it said served "no other purpose than inflaming hatred."

"The European Union and its member states apply the principle of the freedom of speech, which is part of our values and traditions," the presidency said in a statement.

"However, it should be exercised in a spirit of respect for religious and other beliefs and convictions," it added.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, attending talks with his EU counterparts in Slovenia, said "we hold fast and firm to European values of freedom of speach".

However he added that "in each of our countries there are legal and judicial systems to ensure that that freedom is not used to incite religious or racial hatred."

Miliband, speaking to reporters as he arrived in Brdo pri Kranju near Ljubljana at the start of two days of talks, said, "one can and should combine strong commitment to values of freedom and speach with, at the same time, respect for religious and racial diversity."

Danish Foreign minister Per Stig Moeller said he disagreed with the film that would serve extremists to attack the vast majority of Muslims "that want cooperation with the western world."

"Which doesn't mean you should have self-censorship, but you should think about what you are doing," Moeller told journalists speaking in English on the sidelines of the two-day EU conference in Slovenia.

He added Islamist repercussions could not be ruled out since "those who want them will use it (the film) and will use everything they can find also in the future for making repercussions."

The Netherlands was relieved Friday at mild initial reactions to a controversial anti-Islam film posted on the Internet by far-right deputy Geert Wilders amid lingering fears that reception abroad may not be as calm.

On Thursday the Dutch government was quick to say it regretted that the film finally aired, despite calls on Wilders to reconsider.

Supporting The Hague's reaction, the EU presidency said: "We believe that acts, such as the above mentioned film, serve no other purpose than inflaming hatred.

"It is not through the violence but through an open dialogue of opinions under the protection of the freedom of expression that mutual understanding can be deepened and mutual respect can be built," it added.