(ANSA) Pavia, November 27 - Former Italian President
Giorgio Napolitano said Friday he is "profoundly shocked by the
recent attacks in Paris" and called for Europe to be ever more
united to face similar threats.
"This is an alarm to which Europe must react in a united
fashion," the respected former head of state said at a ceremony
for the start of the Pavia University academic year.
Napolitano received an honorary degree in international
relations.
The European crisis, he said, is due to "the missing
perception, by our countries, of the radical change that has
happened in the world context".
"The fulcrum of world development has shifted far from
Europe and the Atlantic. We are faced with big new economic and
political players".
"The emerging countries are worth 60% of global GDP. Since
2000 three quarters of world growth is due to them".
"Unfortunately one has allowed reactions of rejection and
isolation to ferment, anachronistic illusions of retaining what
exists and prolonging expectations cultivated in the past. This
is the responsibility of the political world through the
weakness and ambiguity that has marked it for years".
"A moral and ideal renewal and re-launch, especially in
Italy, of political parties is needed through their
Europeanisation".
Napolitano called for the construction of "an ever more
united Europe. If one thinks of the world that is changing and
seething around us, the world that has transmitted its most
sinister signal to us from Paris on November 13, one is inspired
to ask - Europe, if not now, when?"
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