Undaunted by a threatening letter carrying a large Nazi swastika, the European Union's top justice official said yesterday he was determined to fight racism and intolerance in Europe.
The letter, which carried a British postal stamp, said EU Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Mr Franco Frattini would never succeed in fighting Nazism in Europe.
"I will continue to work even with greater determination after this letter threatening me. The only right response to such a threat is to continue to carry out the job with full determination," the former Italian foreign minister said.
The letter, in imperfect Italian, said: "Ban the swastika? Political pygmies like you will never beat National Socialism!" The text was next to a red and black Nazi swastika.
Mr Frattini said the threat against him showed the need for the EU to act against racism. "It is our, not only institutional, but moral duty towards European citizens to contribute to the eradication of violence and intolerance," he told a news conference in Brussels. - (Reuters)