BEIRUT: European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst hailed the values of peace, unity and freedom promoted by the EU on the occasion of Europe Day.
"While drawing inspiration from the rich and diverse cultural, religious and humanist inheritances of Europe, we hold high the universal values of the rights of the human person, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law," Eichhorst said at a reception at her residence in Beirut suburb of Yarze Monday.
"These values, the essence of peace, unity and prosperity, we wish to share with our neighbors in the East and in the South."
She said that since 2000, the EU’s motto is “United in Diversity.”
“I beg European citizens, present here tonight, your indulgence for not using our 24 official languages. Our unity is our strength and our diversity is our wealth,” she said.
Eichhorst said “major changes” have taken place in the past several years in the Arab world.
“Perhaps the biggest change in this region is the power of the individual. People now request, with all technological means at hand, to have a say in how they are governed and by whom," she said.
“The empowerment of the individual presents a great opportunity for advancing human dignity. It challenges all of us to make continued efforts to be close to each other, listen, engage, advise where appropriate, support where needed, stay behind and observe when most suitable, always respecting the other, and always promoting peaceful means of decision-making through dialogue.”
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