Source: Bernama (Malaysia)
Source type: News Agency
Published on: 06 Oct 2010

From Jackson Sawatan BRUSSELS, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's call for a global movement of the moderates has evoked wide and spontaneous support among European and Asian leaders who attended the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) Summit here.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who reiterated the call during his intervention on the second and final day of the summit on Tuesday said leaders reacted positively to it.

"Among those who expressed support during their interventions are heads of delegations from Denmark, Latvia, Holland, France, Malta, India, Portugal and China," he told Malaysian journalists here.

Several leaders also came up to him and congratulated him for the speech.

"This movement of the moderates is an underlying movement to ensure that the moderates occupy the centre in terms of international issues. As the moderates take hold of the centre and become dominant in terms of global issues, chances are we will be able to find solutions to global problems and threats," he said.

Najib first made the call in his maiden speech at the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly last week where he urged world leaders to embark on building a "Global Movement of the Moderates" from all faiths to reclaim the agenda for peace and pragmatism, and to marginalise the extremists.

The prime minister said he also reiterated at the Asem Summit the need to promote inter-faith dialogues.

"I've also said that the biggest challenge for us now is to prevent the extremists from getting more attention than the moderates. The moderates should voice out more openly," he said.

He added that in a plural society, one should move from tolerance to acceptance to celebration of diversity.

He also spoke on the Palestinian issue and said that the world, particularly the European Union, should play their role towards the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state based on the two-state solution proposed by the United Nations.

To a question, Najib said the movement "has got to run its course".

"It cannot be next week or next month you expect that things to happen to the contrary.

"But that does not mean that this movement should not continue as an underlying value system that will make the world a lot safer and ensure global peace and security," he said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Asem foreign ministers who observed the summit were impressed by what the prime minister had said.

"They said the call was realistic and deliverable."

Najib arrived here on Sunday accompanied by wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

While here, he hosted an Aidilfitri dinner for Malaysians in Belgium and Luxembourg, met captains of industry, attended a media roundtable with international news organisations based here and held bilateral meetings with Asian and European leaders.

Najib also launched the Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

Asked on what he thought of the summit here, Najib said: "It has enabled us to send a strong message. I think there is now a great recognition that these two regions are very important to each other."

He said: "Asia is the locomotive for global growth and we see Europe as a big market."