Luxembourg Foreign Minister condemns US tough Muslim visa plan
The EU expressed mounting alarm on Saturday at key decisions by US President Donald Trump in his first week in office, saying they raised many issues of concern.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn condemned the tougher visa measures slapped on seven Muslim states: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
“The decision is .. bad for Europe, because it’s going to strengthen even further the mistrust and hatred towards the West in the heart of the Muslim world,” he told the Sunday edition of German daily Tagesspiegel, excerpts of which were released a day in advance.
Asselborn was joined in his concerns by French President Francois Hollande, who vowed a “firm” response to a growing list of pronouncements by the maverick tycoon, including his encouragement for Brexit and suspension of all refugee arrivals.
“We must conduct firm dialogue with the new American administration which has shown it has its own approach to the problems we all face,” the French leader said after a meeting of southern EU countries in Lisbon, flanked by fellow leaders.
Keen to forge a post-Brexit trade deal with the United States and other countries, British Prime Minister Theresa May, refused to condemn Trump’s refugee suspension Saturday.
“The United States is responsible for the United States’ policy on refugees” she said when repeatedly pressed on the issue at a press conference in Turkey.
But other EU countries, including Luxembourg have different priorities, and are making their concerns clear.