THE HAGUE, 17/10/03 - The Edmund Burke Foundation, which champions the heritage of conservative opinion, yesterday urged a tough approach to the immigrant problem. In a manifesto, it warned of an escalation of ethnic tensions.

The presence of one million Muslims in the Netherlands causes big social tensions and growing lack of trust, according to the foundation. An ethnic battle should be avoided by virtually bringing immigration to a halt. Reception of genuine political refugees can take place in the region of the home country and the "heavily subsidized asylum and multicultural industry" should disappear.

Marriage migration and family reunification should also be halted, the foundation believes. "It is unacceptable and unqualifiedly negative for the Netherlands that around 80 percent of the Muslims born here marry an imported partner from Turkey and Morocco. This should be made virtually impossible, on the Danish model," according to the manifesto.

The foundation also criticizes the present political culture, in which party interests are apparently above the general interest. "No wonder that intelligent, energetic, natural leaders avoid Dutch politics and that grey mice largely populate the Lower House. " The foundation simultaneously suggests the introduction of a two-party system with one rightwing and one leftwing bloc in the Lower House, and the introduction of a Prime Minister directly elected by the voters.