Mr Mooraj is blaming France for an issue that remained ignored by all for the past 10 years.
ISLAMABAD: This is with reference to an article of June 7 by Anwer Mooraj titled “The rose is wilting under Sarkozy” on the Roma’s situation in France.
Human rights constitute the core values on which the European Union (EU) was founded. France has always been a very open country, open to foreign influences, to different cultures, to all religions. This being said, let’s not be hypocritical when dealing with the Roma’s situation. Mr Mooraj is blaming France for an issue that remained ignored by all for the past 10 years. What French President Sarkozy did was to decide to tackle the issue and to get all the EU member states involved in finding a solution.
The freedom of circulation, one of the fundamental rights of the European Union, should not be used as a legal cover for human trafficking, prostitution, begging and criminal activities in general. Those indulging in such activities must be dealt with without any complacency.
The French government provided the European Commission with all the information it needed. The commission was satisfied with it and acknowledged the legality of the French measures regarding the Roma. The assertions made in the article are therefore biased and inaccurate.
By deciding to act, President Sarkozy highlighted the true issue, that of the Roma’s integration within their respective countries in the EU. All the 27 member states must find a practical answer. Thanks to the French initiative, the European Council has decided to make this issue one of its priorities.
Daniel Jouanneau
Ambassador of France to Pakistan
Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2011.
