The United Arab Emirates on Monday accused the European Union’s overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell of constructing “racist” remarks final week and summoned the boss of the EU delegation to the UAE.
The UAE overseas ministry condemned Borrell’s controversial remarks, by which he in contrast Europe to a backyard and the remainder of the world to a jungle, saying they have been “inappropriate and discriminatory” and “contribute to a worsening local weather of intolerance and discrimination worldwide.”
It requested for a written clarification of Borrell’s feedback and summoned Emil Paulsen, appearing head of mission on the EU delegation to the UAE.
In a controversial speech addressing future diplomats on the opening of the European Diplomatic Academy in Bruges final week, Borrell stated: “Sure, Europe is a backyard, we have now constructed a backyard. Every thing works,” citing the Continent’s political freedom, financial prosperity and social cohesion.
He then continued: “Many of the remainder of the world is a jungle, and the jungle might invade the backyard,” arguing that as a substitute of constructing a wall, diplomats must “go to the jungle.”
The remarks sparked criticism from politicians across the world, with Canada’s United Nations Ambassador Bob Rae calling it a “horrible analogy,” including “certainly historical past and our personal lived expertise train us that no a part of the world is free from violence.”
Borrell on Monday denied his message was racist or colonialist, saying that he supposed to reject the concept of “fortress Europe” and to encourage college students to interact with the world.
