Speeches & Remarks
Interview with Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State For European and Eurasian Affairs
DR News
February 6, 2006
Steffen Gram:
There were wishes in Denmark for a more explicit U.S. support. Why did it not come more explicitly?
Daniel Fried:
When the government of the United States heard about the outrageous and inexcusable attacks on the Danish Embassy, we immediately issued a strong statement of solidarity. And I want to repeat our full and unconditional support for Denmark and the Danish people in the face of these violent attacks on your premises and threats against your people. There is no excuse for this, there is no explanation, and we do not qualify our condemnation or our statement of solidarity.
Steffen Gram:
There was also an expression that these cartoons were offensive, leading to speculations in Denmark on whether the U.S. did not come out more forcefully because of fear of jeopardizing wider U.S. interests in the Middle East.
Daniel Fried:
The question of the cartoons is a different one. Different newspapers, in the United States and in Europe, have debated whether they should exercise editorial judgment and publish the cartoons. That's a question for a free press. We believe in a free press, and we believe that in a free press editors make judgments. But that does not mean that we equivocate in any way in our condemnation against these outrages perpetrated in Damascus and also the attacks in Beirut which may have had an element of outside incitement in them. We do not equivocate, we condemn.
Steffen Gram:
What would you advise Denmark to do now? How long time do you think this crisis will go on?
Daniel Fried:
I think that Prime Minister Rasmussen has spoken out forcefully and very clearly. I think he has handled this very well in his recent statements. He has recognized the importance of freedom of the press, but he has also made clear that he recognizes that the cartoons were offensive. The cartoons were offensive – we should recognize this. But those who complain about the offensive cartoons should also take care to remember that in the Middle East there are offensive anti-Israeli, anti-Semitic, and anti-Christian cartoons. So sensitivity is a two way street.