Turkish premier addresses lawmakers at the Council of Europe

STRASBOURG (A.A) - 13.04.2011 - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday addressed European lawmakers at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.
Erdogan warned against what he described as "increasing polarization in Europe," adding that politicians in certain countries even tried to earn political leverage on these grounds.
"Rising racism, discrimination, intolerance in Europe is a source of concern for other nations as much as they are for the European nations. We cannot read the history over wars, conflicts and polarization or we risk failure in building the future on peaceful grounds," Erdogan said. 
"Those who cannot erase Crusades from their memories cannot promise peace and tolerance to their own societies," he said.
Erdogan said politicians had the responsibility to show necessary leadership and courage to this dangerous pace. "Oppressing basic rights and freedoms in a bid to win votes is an injustice done to all European nations," he said.