MEERUT: In the backdrop of the Paris attacks , Austrian ambassador to India Bernhard Wrabetz said on Tuesday that there was a need to protect European Muslims and Syrian refugees from the divisive politics of the emerging “far-right” in the continent.

Wrabetz, who was in Meerut to address students at the city’s IIMT Management College, spoke exclusively to TOI on the sidelines of the event and said, “It would be wrong to label all Syrian refugees as terrorists after the Paris attacks. They are not terrorists; they are fleeing from the terrorists. The Paris attacks are sad but our policy towards the Syrian refugees will not change. Muslims are good citizens of Europe. They are as good as anybody else. The discourse of the far-right should not prevail in the Centre of society. Muslims and refugees need to be protected from hate crimes. However, the general sentiment in Europe does not place any blame on innocent Muslims. We must draw a distinction between the legitimate fears of the people and the act of labeling all Muslims as terrorists. Europe has many problems but the refugees are not one of them.”

German chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barrack Obama had recently said they stood strong on a welcoming policy for Syrian refugees, despite fears that ISIS operatives may have infiltrated refugee camps. Germany had also recently urged other European countries to take in more refugees. Austria, which has also given shelter to a large number of refugees, also serves as a thoroughfare for refugees making their way to Germany. Appreciating Merkel’s approach, Wrabetz said, “The numbers speak for themselves. Germany has taken in over a million refugees. Austria is in second place. Germany, Austria and Sweden have been bearing the burden. There is a need for solidarity and burden-sharing in Europe on the question of the refugees.”

Expressing solidarity with France, he said, “The Paris attacks were horrible. There cannot be a worse crime than brutally killing people who were simply enjoying life. The solidarity we express for France goes far beyond the government. The people of Austria are shocked and grieved by what happened. We have not seen an attack like this in Europe in decades.”

Wrabetz, however, made it categorically clear that Austria would not send any troops to the ground. “We have offered help to France in the form of our police forces, which can help in investigations. In Europe, we have a very good burden-sharing system. We all contribute in our capacities to a common effort. We are not a military nation. Austria will not send any troops to Syria.”

While Wrabetz did not comment on whether a NATO-led war in Syria would be feasible, he said the way to defeat ISIS was through a peace process. “France had been involved in Syria before as well so I don’t think their strategy has changed much. They are continuing airstrikes. Maybe the intensity of these strikes has increased. I think we should also be focusing on a peace plan, rather than a war plan. The recently held talks between the US, Russia and the EU in our capital Vienna showed good results. There is a need to involve regional stakeholders such as Iran and Saudi Arabia as well.”

Speaking on India’s relationship with Austria and whether there was indeed “growing intolerance” in India, he said, “The question of intolerance lies in the eyes of the beholder. In Austria, we do not judge the tolerance of our society by whether the majority believes it is intolerant but by whether the minority feels threatened. We think India has a bright future. It is a bright star among the BRRICS nations. We are excited about the reforms that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would put in place. We will give all possible help to India.”