The United Arab Emirates has rejected as "racist" and "discriminatory" the comments made by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the inauguration of the new European Diplomatic Academy in Bruges, Belgium. In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) said that Borrell’s remarks are racist and contribute to a worsening climate of intolerance and discrimination worldwide. The MoFAIC summoned Emil Paulsen, the Acting Head of the Mission at the EU Delegation to the UAE, and asked him to provide a written explanation of the High Representative’s hurtful and discriminatory comments, WAM news agency reported. Borrell’s remarks are a disappointing development that comes at a time when all parties are aware of the importance of respect for other religions, cultures, and ethnic groups, as well as values such as pluralism, coexistence, and tolerance, according to the news agency. Borrell has come under fire for referring to the world outside Europe as a potentially violent "jungle." "Europe is a garden," but "most of the rest of the world is a jungle, and the jungle could invade the garden," he said. — Agencies