KUN0072 4 GEN 0221 FRANCE /AFP -LLC9 POL-PROPHET-SLANDER Austria, Turkey play mediators to ease tension caused by Danish cartoons CAPITALS, Feb 10 (KUNA) -- The governments of Austria and Turkey on Friday called for increasing efforts to ease tension between Europe and the Islamic world due to cartoons insulting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) published by Danish newspaper. A press release issued by the Austrian Foreign Ministry said that the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ursula Plassnik and Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul exchanged views on continuing their efforts to ease tension between both sides. The two ministers stressed that while freedom of speech is among the basic rights, one should respect other people's religious beliefs, asserting that freedom of speech and respecting religions go side-by-side and do not conflict with each other. They condemned the violent acts in some Arab and Islamic countries that came in response for the cartoons, expressing regret for the lack of dialogues between the western and Islamic worlds. They expressed appreciation for the joint statement issued by the UN secretary-general, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Conference, and coordinator of European Union foreign policy, considering it a positive step toward a solution for the issue. Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov on Friday called for holding media responsible for any published materials that offend religious beliefs. Ivanov, who is currently visiting Italy, told InterFax News Agency that the media that published cartoons insulting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) should be responsible for the outcomes of such act, noting that there is no argument about freedom of expression, but such freedom should go hand-in-hand with responsibility. On behalf of Russian Muslims, Russian President Vladimir Putin had condemned the offensive cartoons, demanding an apology from Denmark. In Tunis, a number of political, professional, and public organizations condemned the cartoons offending Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), published first by a Danish newspaper then followed by other media in several European countries. The Counselors Council in the Tunisian Parliament in a statement condemned the cartoons that offended Islam and Muslims, stressing the importance of respecting religions and religious beliefs. A number of Tunisian opposition parties and the Tunisian Public Work Union criticized the anti-Islam campaign, condemning the publishing of cartoons offending Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in a number of European media. The opposing Movement of Socialist Democrats in the Tunisian Parliament asserted that it supports the freedom of expression and the values of human rights, but condemns the undermining of religions and religious beliefs in European media. The opposing Unionist Democratic Union also expressed anger and dissatisfaction with the offensive acts of some western newspapers, considering the continuous insults the results of international diplomacies targeting Islam. In Jordan, a number of political and public activists called for confronting the attempts to insult Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). In a rally organized by the Islamic Work Party, participants called for boycotting the Danish and Norwegian governments and any other country that republishes the cartoons until an official apology is made. Participants also demanded the Arab world to make official complaints against the European Union, which condemned boycotting Danish products and threatened to boycott the governments that encouraged boycotting Denmark. Protestors carried the holy Quran and signs calling for boycotting Danish products and defending Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Meanwhile, the Prosecution Attorney refused to release the editors in chief of two Jordanian newspapers Al-Sheehan and Al-Mehwar, who were arrested earlier this week for republishing the Danish cartoons insulting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). (end) kt.fhd