Attacks against the Christian minorities in Nigeria and Kenya

By Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

ROME, Italy, April 30, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi has firmly condemned the recent attacks against Christian communities in Nigeria and Kenya.

“I am horrified by news of the barbaric killing of members of the Christian minority in these two African countries. I condemn this atrocious massacre utterly and wish to express my profound condolences for the victims”, declared the Minister. Terzi underscored the need for “a growing commitment by the international community”.

In the principal international fora, and especially at European Union level, Italy has been advocating political initiatives to foster tolerance. On Monday 23 April, in Jakarta, he co-chaired an international conference on inter-faith dialogue with his Indonesian colleague, Marti Natalegawa. Terzi reiterated that Italy considers freedom of religion and belief to be an “absolute priority” and intends to promote, in bilateral and multilateral fora, constant and on-going activity by the international community “against any form of discrimination, restriction or violence against religious minorities”.