Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-12-14-Speech-4-199"
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"Mr President, let me respond briefly to the four important debates which we have just held on human rights issues. First on Chile. The Commission would like to thank the European Parliament for the initiative taken in proposing various draft resolutions on the Pinochet case and the consolidation of democracy in Chile. I hope that in this case the Chilean justice system will continue to demonstrate independence and effectiveness. The Government of Chile has very wisely refrained from intervening in the independence of the judiciary.
As to what we can do, I remain convinced, as I said last June, that we should use properly our positive partnership instruments to support all those working to improve human rights in Tunisia, and the honourable Member made an important point on this subject. Our heads of mission in Tunis are following the current court case closely and stepping up contacts with the Tunisian authorities on these cases. We are intensifying political dialogue with the country.
On the financial front, and this responds directly to the important point made by the honourable Member and it is an area where we have some experience in other countries, Commission representatives in Tunis are stepping up their efforts to launch very soon two programmes: one in support of journalists and the other in support of non-governmental organisations.
Lastly, I would like to mention the crucial role played by Parliament, which has contributed to raising awareness and intensifying dialogue in these issues through parliamentary visits and through public debates like this one. I hope this leads to an increasing convergence of positions on human rights with our Tunisian partners. Whatever the economic progress made, whatever the social progress in Tunisia, I know that Parliament will return to its concerns on these subjects as long as it has reason to express them.
The Commission is, and always has been, fully committed to respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights and that is why the Commission has lent substantial and tangible support to the process of transition to democracy in Chile. Budget line B7-703 – democratisation process in Latin America – was created in 1990 in order to support the transition processes in Chile and also in Central America, and was later extended to all of Latin America. Our experience in Chile in the field of democracy and human rights has therefore been crucial for later projects in other countries.
As the House knows, the European Union is in the process of negotiating an agreement establishing a political and economic association with Chile. I went to Santiago myself a few weeks ago just before the third round of negotiations with Chile. We had a large team of officials there. The negotiations went extremely well and I am delighted that we are picking up momentum in those negotiations, which I hope will have the conclusion which the honourable Member referred to. This agreement will, as he said, encompass the areas of political dialogue as well as trade and cooperation. In accordance with our negotiating mandate, we will insist that the agreement contains a democracy clause which will define respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights. We will also ask for the principle of the rule of law to be the basis of the agreement.
I can already say that the Chilean Government seems in full agreement with this approach to our negotiations. Both the President and I spoke at the same conference in Chile and, I am pleased to say, made remarkably similar speeches on what should be the main focus of our efforts in following up the Rio Summit before the summit in Madrid which will take stock of the progress that has been made in our important relationship with the countries of Latin America.
On Mozambique, a country which I visited a number of times when I was a development minister, the Commission is aware that Mozambique is at a crucial stage in the consolidation of its democracy. The tragic events of last month took by surprise not only the international community but also most of Mozambican society. The Commission has taken a number of initiatives calling for dialogue and conciliation. These included the discussions with President Chissano on his 16 November visits to President Prodi and Commissioner Nielson followed in Gabarone at the European Union SADC meeting with conversations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Public declarations were made after these events deploring the use of violence and supporting measures to bring to justice those found to be responsible for it. We understand that the European Union heads of mission have been following the political situation in the country closely. They met the Minister of Foreign Affairs on 8 December and we have been in contact with the presidency both in Europe and in Mozambique to gauge the appropriate level of European Union political initiative.
Although I would not want to downplay it, the situation, despite being serious, does not appear to be out of control and there is some concern that outside interference could harm the chances of the two sides reaching some form of negotiated settlement. On the other hand, it is important that we insist that the results of the inquiries on all the deaths should be made public and the responsibilities made clear. We will, over the coming weeks, have to take account of the results of the dialogue between the two political leaders, or of the absence of such a dialogue. Obviously, we hope that the political leaders can meet and find a way out of the current impasse and we will be ready to support any useful forum for mediation in order to prevent future conflict.
Several honourable Members referred to the situation of prisoners in Turkey. The Commission shares the concern expressed about the situation of those Turkish prisoners who are currently on hunger strike. The health situation of some of these prisoners is extremely alarming. The Commission urges the Turkish authorities to do their utmost to put an end to this worrying situation. We welcome the recent decision by the Turkish Minister of Justice to postpone the transfer of prisoners to F-type prisons, which were well described by the honourable Member, for an indefinite period of time and his wish to reach what I understand is called a "social compromise" on this question. The opposition to F-type prisons is one of the motivations of the prisoners currently on hunger strike. The Commission finally recalls that the improvement of detention conditions in Turkish prisons is addressed in the accession partnership for Turkey which was adopted by the Commission on 8 November and it is a condition therefore for accession.
In the accession partnership document, the adjustment of the detention conditions to bring them into line with the UN standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners and other international norms is considered as a medium-term priority.
Finally, honourable Members gave me the opportunity to present last June the Commission's position on relations with Tunisia during the plenary session. I was able to explain the reasons why the Commission considers it appropriate at this stage to make use of the positive instruments available under the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, namely political dialogue and Community finance, in dealing with human rights in Tunisia. Since then there have been a number of developments, some good and some undoubtedly bad. Responsibility for prisons has been transferred to the Justice Ministry, certain political prisoners have been pardoned and the congress of the Tunisian Human Rights League passed off without incident. On the other hand, we have been informed of allegations of hunger strikes by political prisoners, the legality of elections to the new governing board of the Tunisian Human Rights League has been contested and action has been taken – as was mentioned during our debate – against Professor Marzouki and others."@en1
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