- Title: AUSTRIA: EUROPEAN MONITORING CENTRE ON RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA OPENS IN VIENNA.
- Date: 7th April 2000
- Summary: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (APRIL 7, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: EXTERIOR OF HOFBURG GOVERNMENT COMPLEX 0.05 2. MCU: SIGN SAYING "OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION MONITORING CENTRE (EUMC) ON RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA" 0.10 3. GV: PARTICIPANTS ARRIVING FOR OPENING CEREMONY 0.14 4. MCU: AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER TALKING TO PARTICIPANT 0.21 5. GV/PAN/MV: EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENT ROMANO PRODI AND AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT THOMAS KLESTIL ARRIVING (2 SHOTS) 0.35 6. SV: PRODI, KLESTIL, EUMC DIRECTOR JEAN KAHN, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT NICOLE FONTAINE SEATED 0.41 7. GV: DELEGATES LISTENING 0.45 8. MCU: SOUNDBITE (English) EUMC VICE-PRESIDENT ROBERT PURKISS: "To avoid any misunderstanding, the management board wishes to state that in view of the composition of the present government of Austria, and sharing the concerns expressed in the statement of January 31 by the Portuguese presidency of the EU on behalf of the 14 member states, we decided not to invite government representatives." 1.19 9. GV: AUDIENCE APPLAUDING 1.23 10. SCU: PURKISS (LEFT) AND AUSTRIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER SITTING, LISTENING TO PRODI'S SPEECH 1.29 11. MCU: SOUNDBITE (Italian) PRODI: "It is possible to recognise some current signs of xenophobia in Europe - don't underestimate them, don't reduce them to mere folklore. "And let us never tire of testifying to the events which happened before in this century which is now ended. All this will not disturb peace in Europe: to the contrary - this is the only authentic way to stability in Europe". 2.04 12. MV: PARTICIPANTS AT OPENING CEREMONY 2.10 13. MV.ZOOM OUT: SOUNDBITE (German) KLESTIL: "As president of Austria, I will stand up for this very important task with all my power. I would like to thank all of you for participating in this very important event for the future of Europe." 2.45 14. CU: SOUNDBITE (German) AUSTRIAN JOURNALIST ALEX SCHULLER: "As fas as it was planned long ago that this centre be opened here. Now the significance of it being here in Vienna is increased because of everything that was happening here in the past weeks. "Maybe this will activate a discussion about racism and its trivialisation." 3.19 VIENNA, AUSTRIA (FILE) 15. VARIOUS: FORMER FREEDOM PARTY LEADER JOERG HAIDER PRE-ELECTION RALLY; HAIDER ON STAGE SPEAKING, SUPPORTERS CHEERING (7 SHOTS) 4.03 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 22nd April 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- Country: Austria
- Reuters ID: LVAEG9SIMYPTUFTS1CGGX4NGO35I
- Story Text: European Commission President Romano Prodi has attended
the opening ceremony for the European Monitoring Centre on
Racism and Xenophobia in Vienna.Prodi warned Europe not to
"forget the lessons of history".
The European Union formally launched its early warning
system on racism and xenophobia on Friday (April 7) with an
appeal to member states to fight growing intolerance which
threatens Europe's peace and stability.
Opening the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and
Xenophobia in Vienna, at a ceremony overshadowed by the
presence of the far-right Freedom Party in the Austrian
government, European Commission President Romano Prodi said
the continent could not afford to forget the lessons of
history.
He said: "It is possible to recognise some current signs
of xenophobia in Europe.Do not under-estimate them: do not
reduce them to mere folklore.
Prodi went on: "And let us not tire of testyfying to the
events that happened before in this century.All this is not
desturbing the peace in Europe, to the contrary it is the only
authentic way towards stability in Europe", Prodi said.
Members of the Austrian coalition government were not
invited to attend the ceremony, although Austrian Foreign
Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner attended the inauguration, as
a member of President Thomas Klestil's delegation.
Robert Purkiss is vice president of the Monitoring
Centre's board.He told the conference: "In view of the
composition of the present government of Austria, we decided
not to invite representatives of the Austrian government to
our opening ceremony".
Austrian President Thomas Klestil expressed his support
for the centre, and said he would use all his power as
president to stand up for what he called "this important
task".He said: "As president of Austria I will stand up for
this very important task with all my power.I would like to
thank all of you for participating in this very important
event for the future of Europe."
Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament and
Maria Belen Roseria, representing the EU Presidency of
Portugal, were among those attending from the European Union.
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