Frattini pleading for shared EU values, Christians in Prague

Prague, Feb 8 (CTK) - Multicultural Europe without shared values and principles will be weak, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said after meeting his Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg Tuesday.

European identity and its Christian roots should be defended more, Frattini said.

He said the Czech Republic and Italy agreed on the view.

Frattini said British Prime Minister David Cameron had also acknowledged that multicultural models fail if not supported by common shared values.

Cameron recently spoke about the failure of the policy of tolerance of minorities. He said on Saturday Britain had to build strong national awareness so that people do not turn to extremism. His statement was denounced by the opposition and the Islamic community in Britain.

Frattini and Schwarzenberg went on to speak about the necessity to protect human rights and Christians in the world.

"I highly esteem Frattini on account of his courage. It was him as the only one to have recently strongly stood up on behalf of Christians in the Middle East who have come under serious pressure in the past years," Schwarzenberg said.

Reacting to Tuesday's attack of Muslim extremists on Christian churches in Indonesia, Schwarzenberg said human rights of all, including Christians, had to be defended everywhere.

The French news agency AFP said Tuesday a group of Muslim militants had burnt down two Christian churches and plundered others in Indonesia.

They demanded the capital punishment for a Christian sentenced for blasphemy against Islam.

Frattini said he hoped the Indonesian government would take the appropriate steps.

Human rights are being absolutely denied, he added.

Frattini Tuesday met also Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Petr Necas.

Schwarzenberg and Frattini signed a new Czech-Italian agreement on cooperation in science and culture, which has replaced the old agreement from 1971.