20/03/2012 President
Strasbourg, 20.03.2012 – Following the shootings in Toulouse, PACE President Jean-Claude Mignon this morning visited the Aquiba School in Strasbourg, in order to express his sympathy and voice the Parliamentary Assembly’s solidarity with the Jewish community. “I asked to be present here today in order to express our support and sympathy, and to reflect together on joint action to eradicate the scourge of anti-Semitism, xenophobia, racism and all forms of intolerance”, he said during a discussion with pupils.
He continued: “We are all still in shock at what happened yesterday in Toulouse. This was a carefully planned act, and it unquestionably targeted the whole Jewish community. This is why I say loud and clear that we are all members of your community, who stand by you in your grief. The Council of Europe was founded after the horrors of the Second World War in order to prevent history repeating itself. In view of the increasing resurgence in Europe of various forms of intolerance and violence, and the propagation of ideas that jeopardise minorities and discourse which incites to racial hatred, made more accessible than ever by the Internet, I personally pledge to step up parliamentary action against anti-Semitism and all other forms of intolerance.”
Alongside the pupils and the Principal of the Aquiba School, the Chief Rabbi of Strasbourg, the Principal of the Beth Hannah School and other representatives of the Strasbourg Jewish Community, the President joined in a minute’s silence in memory of the victims.