Caricatures are an important part of our culture of debate. They should defuse political spats through humor and irony. It is about making a strong statement but softening it with a wink. So Danes do not get too upset about caricatures. None of us is interested in insulting Muslims.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Categorized in : Strong Political Upset

I condemn the entry of a Russian so-called humanitarian convoy into Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian authorities and without any involvement of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

humanitarian territory red

Business as usual is dead. Green growth is the answer to both our climate and economic problems

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

climate growth business

That's what it's like when people have crawled very high up in a tree, then they sometimes need help to get down with ladders and ropes and other instruments.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

tree people needs

Some countries such as Iran and Syria are using the commotion to distract attention from their own problems with the international community. The Palestinians, who have been deeply divided since their election, have found a common enemy in Denmark that unites them. Extremists and fundamentalists are exploiting the conflict to promote their radical agenda and win new members.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

iran winning country

I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures [about Prophet Muhammad] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed in a scene in the wrong movie. But I don't see the fight as a clash of civilizations. Rather, we must focus on avoiding exactly this type of conflict. We have to return to dialogue, to mutual understanding and to an acknowledgement of freedom of opinion.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

fighting civilization believe

Myopia, in more than ninety-five percent of cases, begins between five and ten years of age. It increases largely because the myopic eye is given a minus lens.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

vision eye years

The good thing is that all the symbolic elements are gone, and that which really matters - the core - is left.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

elements matter gone

Ten years ago U.S. defence investment represented almost half of all defence expenditure in the whole alliance. Today it is 75%. This increasing economic gap may also lead to an increasing technology gap which will almost hamper the inter-operability between our forces.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

technology may years

The American people ask, and legitimately so, why should we carry the heavy burden to ensure international peace and stability. You also profit from it, so you should also take your share in the burden. That's Secretary Gates's message. I share that message.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

burden messages people

The Americans provide still more advanced military assets and equipment; the Europeans are lagging behind. And eventually it will be difficult to co-operate even if you had the political will to co-operate because of the technological gap.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

gaps political-will military

I am happy to announce that we have reached an agreement on the question of transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian Federation.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

federation regions agreement

I don't think more mega-summits is the way to secure effective implementation.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

mega way thinking

I was deeply distressed that the cartoons were seen by many Muslims as an attempt by Denmark to mark and insult or behave disrespectfully towards Islam or the Prophet Mohammed.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

denmark islam cartoon

Nato allies have been looking at various missile-defence options for some time. Nato itself is developing protections for our deployed troops.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

troops allies protection

Perhaps we underestimated the challenges in Afghanistan in the past. That's why we are now strengthening and intensifying our commitment.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

challenges past commitment

More than forty years of Communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe resulted in an unhappy and artificial division of Europe. It is this dark chapter of European history that we now have the opportunity to close.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

dark opportunity years

Russia should recognize the freedom of countries, such as Ukraine, to choose their alliances.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

ukraine russia country

Actually I can't imagine Nato troops on the ground and I think it's also important to send that very clear message to the UN and other organisations right now so that appropriate plans can be in place in due time and the Gaddafi regime can collapse soon.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

important messages thinking

But Iran has gone far beyond what is necessary for a purely civilian programme. It has concealed several nuclear facilities from the International Atomic Energy Agency, played hide-and-seek with the international community, and rejected all offers of co-operation from the U.S., the EU, and others.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

iran agency community

I know very well that Berlin attaches great importance to NATO and solidarity, in terms of sharing the burden. For this reason, I feel confident that the German government will take the right decision, one that serves both German and NATO interests.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

berlin government decision