Racist policy denied

  • 2011-09-07
  • From wire reports

RIGA - Harmony Center released a statement on Sept. 2, emphasizing that the party dissociates itself from racist comments made by the party’s interior minister candidate Janis Adamsons, reports LETA. The director of the Arabic Culture Center in Riga, Dr. Hossam Abu Meri, previously circulated an open letter, accusing Adamsons of racism and xenophobia.

In the letter, Meri points to Adamsons’ comments on a regional television program aired on Latvian Television Channel 7 (LTV7). “As I understand, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has possibly already agreed to take in 40,000 to 60,000 Arabs in Latvia. I have always believed that as a part of the white race, we will find a common view, because we have a similar mentality. We sometimes have different points of view, but we have similar core values. The Muslims will arrive here, and I do not know what we will do,” said Adamsons.

He admitted to having said those things, and will not take his words back.
“I do not have anything against Arabs, Chinese or Japanese. I am very happy to see them as tourists in our country and I myself would be happy to visit the countries they come from. But I wish to live in an environment that is closer to my values,” said the politician.

Harmony Center emphasizes in its statement that the party has always opposed any form of discrimination. The party believes that everybody should be treated with respect, regardless of their gender, age, nationality, wealth, language, religious or political beliefs.

Therefore, Harmony Center says it dissociates itself from Adamsons’ comments and apologizes to anyone who might have been offended by them. The party will continue to implement its human rights policy and oppose any form of discrimination.