Shadow hangs over 'Scotland Week'

Henry McLeish launched Scotland Week in Brussels

The First Minister Henry McLeish launched Scotland Week in Brussels on Tuesday against the backdrop of military strikes on Afghanistan.

Mr McLeish said the event, which aims to promote Scottish interests and raise the country's profile on the continent, was taking place amid "difficult times".

The First Minister used the setting to call for European "solidarity" against terrorism.

He also said the week-long diary of events would underline Scotland's "common purpose" with its European partners.

Mr McLeish stressed the need for solidarity

Scotland Week was organised as part of the debate on the future direction and governance of Europe.

Ministers have intimated that they want a bigger role for devolved parliaments like Holyrood.

The war in Afghanistan forced the organisers to change the opening ceremony because they felt it would not have struck the right tone.

Mr McLeish used the setting to restate Scotland's commitment to Europe but he started with a reference to the recent terrorist attacks in the United States.

"Scotland Week is taking place against the backdrop of difficult times for world security," he said.

"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 11 September.

'Shoulder to shoulder'

"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 first minister said that recent events showed "our common purpose" in facing the challenges of the 21st century.

"The current security crisis shows that we have far more in common than divides us," he said.

Tourism is high up Mr McLeish's agenda

"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."

He stressed the need to keep "individual sectors" of the economy under constant review in the wake of terrorist attacks and United States and British military strikes.

He said: "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."

Mr McLeish said that following the publication of a report last week by the executive's chief economist, some airlines had stepped up their marketing efforts in relation to Scotland.

'Marketing drive'

"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," he said.

""I flew to Brussels for Scotland Week with British Midland, which has launched a twin cities marketing initiative to promote in Belgium packages of flights and accommodation in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

"Ryanair has also announced an important marketing drive with VisitScotland to promote low-cost fares to Scotland to households in Belgium, France and Germany."

Mr McLeish added: "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."