Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-01-20-Speech-4-160"
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"en.20000120.10.4-160"2
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"Mr President, I am speaking on behalf of my colleague, Mr Wiersma.
Mr President, the decision taken by the Council of Ministers to lift the arms embargo against Indonesia is short-sighted and premature. Indonesia has meanwhile made the first few steps towards a democratic society. But as the American UN ambassador, Mr Holbrooke, underlined again this week, warning us of the Indonesian army, the transition to a fully-fledged democratic system is certainly not a foregone conclusion.
The role which the Indonesian army played in the riots on East Timor has still not been cleared up. Tension in Indonesia is mounting. Djakarta has not got the situation in the Moluccas under control. MEP Maat has just made this point as well. Large groups of citizens no longer feel safe.
With a premature lifting of the arms embargo, Europe threatens to be an accessory to the escalating violence. We are, therefore, of the opinion that the Council needs to reconsider its decision. We strongly urge the Member States, pending a new decision, not to resume arms supplies.
We would ask the Commission and Council to take four steps. First of all, the European Union needs to send a mission to Djakarta to discuss with the Wahid government a way out of the crisis. Secondly, the EU needs to conclude agreements with the Indonesian government about permitting independent observes in the Moluccas. Thirdly, more humanitarian aid is needed for all sections of the population. Lastly, more aid via the UN and NGOs is needed for refugees and the homeless.
By way of conclusion, could I just say how disappointed we, the Dutch social-democratic delegation, are at the attitude of our Foreign Minister who, like a weathervane, cannot stick to any one position. At first, he supported the arms embargo but changed his mind after his visit to Djakarta.
The European Union has to act now before it is too late. I would strongly urge the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union to take the lead in this."@en1
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