Brussels, Jan 31, IRNA: The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, repeated Tuesday warnings of reprisals against countries which impose a trade boycott on Denmark for publication of cartoons insulting Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him)
"Any WTO member state that backed boycott of this kind would expose itself to serious criticisms under the WTO. We cannot rule out the possibility of such governments' support being addressed through the WTO. We regret to being forced into such action," European Commission spokesperson Peter Power, told reporters in Brussels Tuesday.
"We want to ensure that WTO rules are being respected," he stressed. Power noted that the editor of the newspaper has apologized for the offense caused and the Islamic Danish community has accepted the apology.
"Our concern is to work together to resolve this problem," said the spokesperson adding, "We need further clarity on what is happening in the Middle East.."
The editor of a Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten which printed blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet has apologized, following an outrage in the Muslim world and amid calls of trade and economic repercussions for Nordic countries.
Protest demonstrations were held at Danish embassies in Muslim countries and shops in Persian Gulf countries removed Danish products off their shelves.
Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Denmark, and Libya closed its embassy in Copenhagen in protest over the offensive cartoons.
Danish Ambassador to Tehran Klaus Jan Nielson was summoned to Foreign Ministry on Tuesday to be informed of Iran's regret and protest at the publication of insulting caricatures.
