Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-04-13-Speech-4-147"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-04-13"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Iraq2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20000413.5.4-147"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-04-13-Speech-4-1482
lpv:speaker	lp:Gerard Collins2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, firstly let me say to my colleague and friend, Ms McKenna, that there is nothing in what she said that I do not agree with. No Member of this House can remain unmoved by the harrowing situation in which so many Iraqi people find themselves. The facts have been presented by respected international bodies such as UNICEF. We have no reason whatsoever to doubt their veracity. There are shortages of essential foodstuffs and agricultural infrastructure resulting in severe nutritional deficiencies. Iraq, once one of the most economically advanced countries of the region, is being reduced to underdevelopment. But let there be no illusion as to the role of the Iraqi regime in the suffering of its people. The consistent refusal by the regime to fully implement United Nations resolutions has led to a situation where the sanctions remain firmly in place almost ten years after the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. Furthermore, the refusal of the regime for five years to accept the oil-for-food programme has certainly contributed to the humanitarian situation. We, in Parliament, are well-intentioned towards the people of Iraq and are serious in our desire for a peaceful and lasting solution. We must concentrate our efforts on convincing Iraq to implement the United Nations resolutions. We must make it very clear in this forum that United Nations resolutions are legally binding on all members of the United Nations. The European Parliament must not be seen to undermine the legitimacy of such resolutions in any way. Any such action would be grist to the propaganda mill of the Iraqi regime. It is within the power of the regime to have the sanctions imposed by the United Nations lifted. To date, the regime most regrettably has preferred to allow its people to be threatened by disease and starvation than to respect international law. Full implementation of Resolution 1284 obliges Iraq, among other things, to cooperate with the Red Cross in overseeing the repatriation of detainees. Let us recall that last January this House voted unanimously a resolution calling on Iraq, as a minimum, to provide answers to the Red Cross as to the whereabouts of the missing Kuwaitis for which there is documented evidence. I too have met some of these people. I have shared their suffering with them. Let us clearly understand that is a tragedy in itself. We are caught between a rock and a hard place. It is heartbreaking to see innocent children being sacrificed by their own leaders for purely personal, political motives."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	vice-chair; UEN (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Fianna Fáil Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 chair; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 member; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Conference of Delegation Chairs (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Collins (UEN )."1

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