International Reaction To The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto - Europe

Europe

• Albania – The Foreign Ministry said, "Albania expresses its deepest regret and shock at the tragic event in Pakistan, and strongly condemns this hideous terrorist act".

• Austria – Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik was "shocked and disgusted" by the murder of Benazir Bhutto. Adding that Pakistan "lost a courageous fighter for the country's return to a pluralist democracy."

• Azerbaijan – President Ilham Aliyev said, "This tragic event confirms once again the need for mobilization of all forces in order to fight terrorism and for joint efforts against this calamity, which is a source of constant threat to humankind" and expressed his "deepest condolences to the people of Pakistan, as well as to the families of those killed."

• Belgium – Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said, "This is not only an attack on the life of a former prime minister and present opposition leader. This is yet another attack on the democratic process in Pakistan." Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht issued a similar condemnation, saying that, "extreme forces are strengthening their actions to destabilize the country and put it into chaos."

• Belarus - President Alexander Lukashenko expressed his condolences to the people of Pakistan, President Musharraf, and to the families of those who were killed. President Lukashenko described the incident as a terrorist attack that took the life of the "well-known policy maker" Benazir Bhutto.

• Bulgaria – A Foreign Ministry statement has strongly condemned the terrorist act and said “Bulgaria extended its deepest condolences to Bhutto's family.”

• Croatia – President Stjepan Mesic has condemned the killing of Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, stating, “terrorism is one of the greatest evils the modern world is faced with and which should be battled with joint efforts”.

• Czech Republic – Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek sharply denounced the attack, saying he "hopes the crime will not trigger an avalanche of further violent acts." President Václav Klaus said the hatred behind the attack is a "threat to civilization".

• Denmark – Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller said: "It is terrible and a tragedy for Pakistani society, because there was a real hope of reforms and democratization conjoined with her return to Pakistan and with the election on January 8. It is also an attack against that process, as the people who did this do not want reforms and democracy."

• Finland – Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said, “Benazir Bhutto made a brave return to her homeland to take part in free elections and to promote democracy. Her tragic death is a setback to democracy and speaks in a shocking way about the internal confrontations of Pakistan.”

• France – President Nicolas Sarkozy "condemned the odious act with the greatest severity," stating that "terrorism and violence have no place in the democratic debate and in the combat of ideas and programmes. More than ever it is necessary for the legislative elections to take place in conditions of pluralism, transparency and security." Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner referred to the assassination as an "odious act" that "reaffirms France's commitment to the stability of Pakistan and its democracy."

• Germany – Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that the "cowardly act underscored the need to continue the fight against terrorism and support those who suffer its consequences." Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier commented that Bhutto's death was a "severe blow to everyone in Pakistan who is fighting for democracy".

• Greece – Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said, "Greece condemns the terrorist attack in the most categorical way that, just two weeks ahead of the Parliamentary elections in Pakistan, has led to this tragic loss." She called Bhutto "a leading international personality who struggled steadfastly for democracy, peace, respect for human dignity and reconciliation in her country," and stated that “we are watching the events with great concern, at the same time expressing the wish and the hope that this country will follow the path towards the construction of a democratic regime. This will also constitute the sole vindication of the tragic sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto."

• Hungary – Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Lajos Szelestey said, "Hungary strongly condemns all forms of terrorism". He called the attack which resulted in the murder of Bhutto and dozens of others "an unjustifiable crime, which will seriously hamper the democratization process of Pakistan and will render the elections in January more difficult".

• Iceland – President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson said Bhutto was "an admired leader that warned against terrorism and extremists' views, highly educated and broadminded, full of energy."

• Ireland – Describing herself as “shocked and saddened,” President Mary McAleese said, “On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Ireland, I send my deepest condolences to her family and to the people of Pakistan and especially to those members of the Pakistan community here in Ireland.” Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said, “Ms Bhutto and her party have been campaigning heavily in the run-up to the parliamentary elections due to be held in less than two weeks, an election which will provide all of the people of Pakistan with an opportunity to secure democracy for their country. It is my sincere hope that this appalling attack will not prevent the Pakistani people from achieving that objective.” Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said he was "...deeply shocked by the assassination". He also called upon the Pakistani authorities to do their utmost to ensure that Pakistan continues on its path back to democracy

• Italy – Prime Minister Romano Prodi said, in a statement, "I express my sadness and that of the whole government following the death of Benazir Bhutto, a woman who wanted to fight her battle until the end with just one weapon—that of dialogue and political discussion. I condemn with great indignation the blind rage of terror which has again seen blood spilled and brought pain to Pakistan, a country already too often martyred by fanaticism. The difficult path towards peace and democracy in this region should not be abandoned and the sacrifice of the former prime minister… should be the strongest example for those who do not give up in the face of terrorism." Foreign Affairs Minister Massimo D'Alema said, "I absolutely condemn this barbaric act of violence which, in striking at Pakistan just days before elections, places serious question marks against the complex and difficult path towards democracy."

• Luxembourg – Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker described the assassination as a "deeply contemptible act."

• Malta – Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said, "The killing of Benazir Bhutto is an attack on democracy and on secular politics in Pakistan. We express our solidarity with the people of Pakistan at this moment of loss."

• Netherlands – Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen expressed his disgust over of the bombing. On behalf of the Dutch Cabinet he stated the bomb attack is a huge blow for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

• Norway – Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said, "It is with sadness that we have received the news of the murder of the former Prime Minister. We condemn the attack as a serious atrocity against the process of reestablishing democracy in Pakistan. Bhutto was a controversial, but a brave to reestablish the democracy in Pakistan, and she was in the middle of the process when she was killed. Her death is a terrible blow on this process." He also said it was important that "the despicable act would not halt the reforms in Pakistan."

• Poland – Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski condemned the assassination and added that he hopes that killing will not affect next year's elections.

• Portugal – President Aníbal Cavaco Silva condemned the "tragic attacks" that killed the former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, describing the killing as a "heinous act". He also expressed "deep sorrow and solidarity" to the president and people of Pakistan.

• Russia – The Foreign Affairs Ministry "firmly condemned" the attack, "expressed condolences to Benazir Bhutto's relatives and loved ones" and "hoped that the Pakistani leadership will manage to take necessary steps to ensure stability in the country." In a statement addressed to Pervez Musharraf, President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to friends and relatives of the victims as well as hope that the perpetrators will be found and punished. He also commented that "orces of terrorism are challenging not only Pakistan, but the international community".

• Spain – Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said: "I want to express the most firm condemnation at the savage terrorist attack carried out in Rawalpindi."

• Sweden – Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said in a press conference about an hour after the murder that he felt both disgusted and angry for what had happened, and also worried over the further consequences.

• Switzerland – The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs released a statement strongly condemning the attack. It called on Pakistani authorities and all concerned actors to maintain the country's stability and to continue pursuing the democratic process.

• Turkey – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his sorrow over Bhutto's demise during a phone conversation with Musharraf. Erdoğan, who strongly condemned the terrorist attack, also said that he hoped such attack would not hamper the democratization process in Pakistan. President Abdullah Gül, who met Bhutto during a visit to Pakistan earlier that month, called on the international community to assist Pakistan in this "critical" time as it prepares for parliamentary elections. Gül said: "They should own up to their country and make sure there is no more bloodshed".

• Ukraine – Speaker of Parliament Arseniy Yatsenyuk, after the parliament had held a minute’s silence, stated that Parliament "wished to extend its condolences to the family of the deceased (Bhutto), and to the Pakistani people for their loss." Ukraine's Foreign Ministry called for an objective and detailed investigation of the assassination of Pakistan's opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

• United Kingdom – Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated, "Benazir Bhutto may have been killed by terrorists but the terrorists must not be allowed to kill democracy in Pakistan and this atrocity strengthens our resolve that terrorists will not win there, here or anywhere in the world." Brown further stated those responsible were "cowards, afraid of democracy" and that the British government would "work with all in the Pakistani community in Britain and elsewhere in the world, so that we can have a peaceful, and safe, and democratic Pakistan." Foreign Secretary David Miliband released a statement saying, "In targeting Benazir Bhutto, extremist groups have in their sights all those committed to democratic processes in Pakistan. They cannot and must not succeed. This is a time for restraint but also unity," also stating that he was "deeply shocked." Justice Secretary Jack Straw added in his statement, "The sense of grief at her senseless killing will I know be shared not just by Pakistani communities across the world but by everyone, because this terrorism is an attack on us all, regardless of race, religion or party. We will ensure that it is defeated."

• Vatican City – Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone expressed the sadness of Pope Benedict XVI, saying that "the Holy Father expresses sentiments of deep sympathy and spiritual closeness to the members of her family and to the entire Pakistani nation. He prays that further violence will be avoided and that every effort will be made to build a climate of respect and trust, which are so necessary if good order is to be maintained in society and if the country's political institutions are to operate effectively." Spokesman Federico Lombardi said that "this attack shows how extremely difficult it is to pacify a nation so wrought by violence." He also said that the Vatican "share the sadness of the Pakistani population."