Religion | 24.04.2011
Pope urges Europe to welcome migrants from North Africa
In his traditional Easter message to the world Pope Bendict XVI contrasted the joy of the Easter season with the violence and strife in North Africa and the Middle East and called on Europe to welcome more migrants from war-torn areas like Libya.
"Here, in this world of ours, the Easter hallelujah still contrasts with the cries and laments that arise from so many painful situations: deprivation, hunger, disease, war, violence," he said in his "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) address.
He urged diplomacy in Libya, where NATO is involved in a mission to contain a deadly conflict between forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi and rebel factions demanding his resignation.
Respect for human rights
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Around 100,000 flocked to St. Peter's Square in Rome
The 84-year-old pope presided at mass for more than 100,000 people who had flocked to a flower-strewn St. Peter's Square in Rome.
The pope, who delivered his Easter greetings in 65 languages, appealed to European governments to welcome those trying to escape war in their countries.
"May help come from all sides to those fleeing conflict and to refugees from various African countries who have been obliged to leave all that is dear to them," he said.
Over the last month, a row over how to handle thousands of refugees from North Africa, has caused ructions in the EU, with Italy complaining that it has been left to its own devices dealing with migrants flocking to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa.
Pope Benedict also urged peaceful co-existence in Ivory Coast, which has been embroiled in a violent and deadly conflict, triggered by a standoff between ousted President Laurent Gbagbo and newly-elected President Alassane Ouattara.
First TV address
On Good Friday, in a pre-recorded program broadcast on Italian state television, the pope responded to seven questions put forward by selected lay people around the world. It marked a new attempt by the head of the Roman Catholic Church to freshen up his image.
The program took the format of an Italian TV chat show, with a moderator and a panel of experts before a studio audience. He answered questions about ongoing conflicts in Africa and the Middle East as well as controversial issues such as euthanasia.
Author: Nicole Goebel (Reuters, dpa, KNA)
Editor: Andreas Illmer
法國意大利
相互推卸責任
法國挑頭發起對利比亞軍事行動，但在安置非法移民上與另一個參與對利軍事行動的歐盟國家意大利互相推脫責任。
一名法國總統府人士22日說，《申根協定》有缺陷，需要考慮建立一種機制，允許在歐洲聯盟邊境外部出現“系統性混亂”時暫停執行協議，直到問題解決。
《申根協定》規定，持有任何申根區國家有效身份証件的人可在所有申根國家境內自由流動，不受邊境檢查。
北非國家突尼斯、利比亞局勢動蕩引發難民潮。據聯合國難民署統計，自今年2月以來，兩萬多名非法移民乘船經地中海來到意大利最南端的蘭佩杜薩島。
意大利官員多次呼籲歐盟承擔安置責任，但歐盟拒絕。意大利稍後開始向這些非法移民發放有效期6個月的居留証。按照《申根協定》，持這種居留証的人可以自由進出所有申根國家。
由于突尼斯通用法語，不少突尼斯非法移民獲意大利居留証後試圖進入法國。法方對意大利政府這一做法表示強烈不滿。
《申根協定》
能否繼續存在？
《申根協定》簽署于1985年6月，現有25個歐洲國家加入，大約4億民眾可無需出示護照，自由進出這些申根國家。來自北非的非法移民潮令這份協定面臨新挑戰。一些申根國家圍繞難民問題產生嚴重分歧，使歐盟陷入兩難境地。不少人擔心，協定能否繼續存在？
法國極右翼政黨國民陣線主席馬琳‧勒龐希望法國退出協定。
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