MEP David Casa has reacted with anger and incredulity after a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers deemed the use of the word Christianity in a draft statement to be politically incorrect.

In a statement Mr Casa noted that despite the recent attacks on Christian minorities in Egypt and Iraq, the meeting of EU foreign Ministers has failed to agree on a resolution condemning the atrocities. The controversy arose over the use of the term 'Christian'.

EU High Representative Baroness Catherine Ashton had claimed that specifically mentioning one religion would not be politically correct. The draft statement was watered down to the extent that it was not clear what was being referred to, much to the fury of Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini who asked for the text to be withdrawn.

In his reaction, Mr Casa said:

"How is it possible to properly condemn these atrocities without any mention of the targets? If we intend spending tax payer's money to draft pieces of paper stating that people should not be blown up in general we should all just pack up and go home. Perhaps our High Representative should be better informed as to who she is representing? We have become incapable of condemning attacks on our fellow Christians - What a sad day for Europe!" stated Mr Casa.

FOREIGN MINISTER BACKS MENTION OF CHRISTIANITY

The Foreign Ministry in a statement in the afternoon said that Foreign Minister Tonio Borg had argued that Christian communities which suffering violence, murder and persecution in various parts of the world should be mentioned specifically.

He also backed Mr Frattini‘s argument that if there no agreement , the statement on political freedom should be sent to the Politics and Security Committee for examination.

The statement was later sent back to the committee. The subject is to be discussed again on February 21.