McAleese slams publication of cartoons

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese has condemned the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that have given rise to violent protests throughout the Islamic world.

She was speaking at a news conference in Saudi Arabia at the start of her week-long visit to the Middle East.

"We abhor the publication of those provocative cartoons. They were designed to provoke, they were designed to be rude and they were designed to enflame. They did all of those things," she said.

"But equally I would say that our Muslim community share with the Irish community generally an abhorrance of the use of violence in the expression of anger and hurt," Ms McAleese said.

Earlier, she told the seventh Jeddah Economic Forum that the economic success of the Celtic Tiger was not won overnight.

"We are a country which in living memory has moved from the heart-rending separations of emigration, which split families apart for generations. We are now a country of net immigration, welcoming every year a large number of people from around the world to our shores," the President said.

She said the Celtic Tiger had developed over time due to membership of the EU, an openness towards international trade and substantial inward investments.

She also attributed its growth to the provision of free quality education, social partnership and the removal of barriers to employment which some people, particularly women, had faced.

"It was Ireland's inclusive extension of free second-level education to all Irish citizens, introduced in the 1960s, which 30 years later was to deliver undreamt of rewards," she said.

Ms McAleese said the Irish economy was now one of the world's most dynamic and globalised.

"It is important to remember that the Irish experience of development is recent and may therefore be relevant to those countries who seek to emulate our progress. The changes have taken place in my generation," she said.

The president said Saudi Arabia had become one of the most dynamic economies in the region, with around €300 million worth of Irish exports destined for the country each year.

"There are around 1,500 Irish people living and working in the kingdom who are employed in a wide range of jobs doctors, nurses, bankers, engineers, economists, teachers, computer professionals, farm managers and many others.

"They contribute not only to the Saudi economy but, in their daily interaction with their Saudi contacts, to a deepening of the understanding between our two peoples ambassadors for Ireland in Saudi Arabia, ambassadors for Saudi Arabia in Ireland," she said.

"Today, in 2006, there is unlimited potential for Saudi Arabia and Ireland to learn from each other."

As part of her Middle East visit, the president, who is accompanied by a trade mission of more than 40 companies, will pay a courtesy call to King Abdullah in the Jordanian capital, Amman.