Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/602004
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2015 VI Paris attacks Barack Obama, US president It's an attack not just on the people of France. But this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values we share. We're going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice and to go after any terrorist networks that go after our people. Pope Francis There is no religious or human justification for [the attacks]. I am close to the people of France, to the families of the victims, and I am praying for all of them. I am moved and I am saddened. I do not understand, these things are hard to understand. Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war, one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres, destruction. David Cameron, British prime minister To the French people, my message is simple. Nous sommes solidaires avec vous. Nous sommes tous ensemble. We are with you, we are united… I have spoken to Francois Hollande. I expressed our solidarity with France and said we will do whatever we can to help. Boris Johnson, Mayor of London We regard Paris as our sister city, a place for which we have deep reserves of love and admiration and respect. We are two capitals united in our values - democratic freedom, openness and tolerance. The people who launched the attacks last night have no such values. They wish to undermine the things we hold most precious. They want to set neighbour against neighbour. They want to spread fear. They will not succeed. As President Hollande has rightly said, they must and will be defeated. We stand ready in London to do everything in our power - to do whatever it takes - to assist in a struggle that embraces us all. Angela Merkel, German Chancellor Those whom we mourn were murdered in front of cafes, in restaurants, in a concert hall or on the open street. They wanted to live the life of free people in a city that celebrates life. And they met with murderers who hate this life of freedom. This attack on freedom is not only aimed at Paris. We are all targets, and it affects all of us. For that reason we will respond together. Vladimir Putin, Russian president I would like to confirm the readiness of Russia for the closest cooperation with our French partners in investigating the crime that took place in Paris. In this difficult time for France, I ask you to pass along words of sincere sympathy and support to the relatives and those near to those who were killed and wishes for a fast recovery to all those who were hurt at the hands of extremists. Justin Trudeau, Canadian prime minister We have offered all of our help and support to the government of France, to the people of France at this time. And we'll continue to engage with our allies around the world in ensuring the safety of Canadians and others both here at home and around the world. Malcolm Turnbull, Australian prime minister It is a global struggle for freedom against those who seek to suppress it and seek to assert some form of religious tyranny; a threat in the name of God but [which] is truthfully the work of the devil. Narendra Modi, Indian prime minister News from Paris is anguishing and dreadful. Prayers with families of the deceased. We are united with people of France in this tragic hour. Marine Le Pen, President of the National Front Islamist fundamentalism must be destroyed, radical mosques must be closed and radicals clerics must be expelled. French terrorists must be stripped of their citizenship and banned from this country. Hassan Rouhani, Iranian president In the name of the Iranian people, who have themselves been victims of terrorism, I strongly condemn these crimes against humanity and offer my condolences to the grieving French people and government. Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with French President Francois Hollande and with the people of France in our common battle against terrorism. Jens Stoltenberg, Nato secretary general I am deeply shocked by horrific Paris attacks. We stand together with the people of France. Terrorism will never defeat democracy. Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip and I have been deeply shocked and saddened by the terrible loss of life in Paris. We send our most sincere condolences to you, the families of those who have died and the French people. Paris attacks: What the world leaders said MIRIAM DALLI A sombre atmosphere surrounded the vigil held at St Julian's yesterday afternoon in soli- darity with the victims of the series of deadly attacks in Paris that shook both France and the world. The French community in Malta, led by their ambassador, Béatrice le Fraper du Hel- len, and President of the Republic Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, held a minute of si- lence in remembrance of the victims. It was a heart-rending moment when the group started singing 'La Marseillaise', the French national anthem. With tears streaming down their faces, several young French nationals who spoke to MaltaToday were more angry than grief- stricken at the attacks. "It is the second time this year. If they think that we're going to be scared, they're wrong. We are France … liberty, equality and frater- nity. That is what we believe in and this is what we will do," Juliette Mucklow said. She shivered as she remembered how two of her friends had been outside the Stade de France when the attacks unfolded. She said the couple had only managed to make contact after 2am, when mobile phones started operating again. Until then, hours had passed, and they were fearing the worst. "They said it was something out of a movie," Mucklow added. French national Marie Choquet, re- siding in Malta, said she could not fully comprehend what had happened. "It is difficult you know… sitting in front of the television and thinking 'this is not possible'. And you think of all your friends and relatives back home." Renee Fricou said it was indeed a sad and tragic event. Fricou, who has just moved to Malta together with her hus- band, noted that Paris was the city of love. Leading the French community, their ambassador, whilst expressing messag- es of hope and courage urged the com- munity to also have faith in Malta. "Everyone is shocked but the strength being shown by the French and the solidarity being shown to us is amazing. Eve- ryone is with us to fight for liberty, equality and fraternity," the ambassador said. "What makes us strong is what we're fight- ing for. We are not giving in to hatred and we won't be held hostage to xenophobia. This is what they want. We will not use intolerance as a weapon. We will use the strength and values." Antony Funaro, another French national in Malta, said he was proud of his nation. "If we are scared, they win." 'We're not giving in to fear but fighting for the values we believe in' Maltese adopted by Paris, say life must LIZ Grech, a translator who lives with her family in Paris, said it was hard not to imagine that an attack could happen again, "every time you leave your chil- dren at school, take the metro, walk in the streets, especially that I myself live in the East of Paris, quite close where all these tragic events happened." Like so many peo- ple who live in Paris, she had been at the hallowed Bataclan for quite a number of concerts herself. "It is crucial to stay aware and take the right distance to re- sist to fear. Living in terror is not the solu- tion and if we were to succumb then the terrorists would win." Parisians, whose solidarity has seen them donate blood in hospitals, and welcoming those that were stranded during the attacks in their apartments during the night, should also prevent themselves from being overcome by terror, Grech says. "The terrorists win when we start reasoning like them by living in obscurantism and fearing all those around us. It is of utmost importance to show solidarity, gather in a big protest but it is not enough to say 'Je suis Charlie', 'Je suis Paris' and forget the day after. One should start by giving more humanity in everyday life and live what 'lib- erté, égalité, fraternité' stand for in all contexts, in all stances." She fears that the first reaction will be that of further nationalism, clos- ing borders, closing minds and blaming mi- gration. "We forget that this is exactly what refu- gees are fleeing from. The answer to terror should not be one of greater terror but one of more compassion, more humanity, more democracy, more freedom, more rights to all, more openness and more tol- erance." Grech says France should ask herself why it has pro- duced generation of 20-year-olds olds who want to fight in Syria and Iraq, and join Isis. "The answers are first of all to be found here, on this territory before blaming oth- ers." Jazz musician Oliver Degabriele, who lives in the same area where the attacks took place, had been playing at a club nearby at the time of the attacks. "It was around 9:30pm that we were noticed all the commotion... I know these places very well, and in fact I even ate at the Cambodian restaurant where one of the shootings took place. I can picture the whole incident happening because I have been to these places myself." The targeting of innocent people en- joying themselves has inevitably heightened the feeling of para- noia for people living in Paris. "I spend my life in clubs. You can just imagine what a hassle it is going to be to visit a club or a con- cert with the new security measures. I know many venues will not be open- ing for a week. A lot of gigs have been cancelled. "The Parisians won't accept living in a state of oppres- Fear is inevitable.… Still, common sense dictates that life should go on as usual. Sandro Zerafa The answer to terror should not be one of greater terror but one of more compassion, more humanity, more democracy, more freedom, more rights to all, more openness and more tolerance. Elizabeth Grech Oliver Degabriele