This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
First Minister calls for solidarity with Europe and US
09/10/2001
This is a time for solidarity with Europe and the United States, First Minister Henry McLeish said today.
Mr McLeish was speaking as he launched Scotland Week - which aims to promote Scottish interests and raise Scotland's profile on the European stage within the context of a strong UK - in Brussels. He also announced a new VisitScotland tourism initiative.
The First Minister said:
"Scotland Week is taking place against the backdrop of difficult times for world security. The Scottish Parliament was one of the first public bodies in the world to pay tribute to those who died in the tragic events in the United States on September 11.
"Since then, we have worked with our colleagues in the UK Government to ensure we have in place the right domestic policy response to the new challenges we face. We stand shoulder to shoulder with colleagues from Europe, America and the rest of the world - solidarity is vital at this time.
"The events we and our partner organisations have organised this week in Brussels underline our common purpose in the way in which our societies are responding to the new challenges of the 21 st century. The Scottish Executive looks forward to sharing our own ideas and learning from others.
"The current security crisis shows that we have far more in common than divides us. Devolution gives us the opportunity to bring our own contribution, complementing that of the UK, to world affairs while maintaining the bedrock of our political and economic security within the UK, the EU and NATO.
"I am delighted in particular that many of the events this week will focus on the way in which the Scottish economy is adapting to new challenges. Last Friday Helen Liddell and I met business leaders from Scotland to discuss the impact of the terrorism attacks of the Scottish economy.
"We had before us an assessment of the economic impact by my Chief Economic Adviser Dr Andrew Goudie. His report concluded that the long term strategy, including the new approach for our international economic development organisation Scotland Development International launched last week, provides the correct foundations for long-term growth despite current challenges.
"The report also recognises, however, that we need to keep the impact on individual sectors under constant review - and we will do that. The most direct effect comes from the impact of developments in the US economy on our own economy. Scotland is now a global player and, therefore, is not immune to global challenges.
"Two of the sectors most affected are tourism and aviation. It is essential that we do all we can to ensure that any reductions in tourism from one source can be compensated for from other places.
"I am pleased to announce one of the first direct steps taken since the Goudie report was published. As part of the VisitScotland Action Group, two airlines providing direct flights to Scotland from the continent have taken steps to boost their marketing efforts on this side of the North Sea.
"I flew to Brussels for Scotland Week with British Midland, which has lauched a twin cities marketing initiative to promote in Belgium packages of flights and accomodation in Glasgow and Edinburgh. And Ryanair has also announced an important marketing drive with VisitScotland to promote low-cost fares to Scotland to households in Belgium, France and Germany. Europe is our biggest foreign market place for business and tourism and is an excellent place to focus our marketing efforts in the coming months and years."