Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-05-17-Speech-4-207"
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"en.20010517.9.4-207"2
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".
Mr President, I should like to start by making a brief comment on Ethiopia. The Commission welcomes the fact that this issue has been tabled for debate here. The Commission took part in a diplomatic representation to the Ethiopian government on behalf of the Union on 26 April, during which it expressed its regret at the loss of life during the riots which took place last month in Adis Abeba and elsewhere in Ethiopia. It also regretted the violent action on the part of the security forces. The diplomatic representation called on the government to clarify recent events by carrying out a comprehensive, neutral investigation.
I should like to say on the last topic in this human rights debate that freedom of opinion and the freedom of the press are, without doubt, absolutely vital to a democratic society and that the freedom of the press and freedom of opinion can only be exercised where there are several media. Where this is not the case, there is either no democracy at all or democracy is under threat.
Threats to the freedom of the press and freedom of opinion throughout the world are one of the most distressing aspects of our international work. Like Parliament, the Commission also takes rampant persecution and the repression of freedom of opinion and the freedom of the press very seriously. It starts with conditions in the media, as some members of the House have described in connection with Russia, and ends with terrorist attacks on journalists, as reported yesterday from the Basque country. However, I am in the happy position of being able to tell the House that the Basque journalist, Mr Landaburu, the youngest brother of the Director-General of the Commission responsible for enlargement, has survived the attack. He is seriously injured but, thank God, he will survive.
This clearly illustrates that journalists are the target of terrorist tactics because all extremist organisations throughout the world rightly perceive freedom of the media and freedom of opinion as their most serious threat.
I should like to report briefly that the Commission took a position on freedom of opinion, freedom of worship and freedom of belief at the 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. The EU not only represents its point of view on the international stage, it also provides practical help from the Community budget. For example, the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights makes provision for considerable sums to support independent media throughout the world. Assistance ranges from training measures for journalists to media monitoring. Over EUR 5 million was provided out of the 2000 budget for projects relating to freedom of opinion, freedom of the media and protection and training for journalists. A major project in Asia and Africa, which is being implemented in collaboration with
addresses some of the main risks to which journalists are exposed, as listed in Parliament's resolutions.
The project makes provision for an assessment of the situation of imprisoned journalists, financial support for these journalists and their families and information and public awareness campaigns.
Support under the European initiative should continue. The call for proposals in January 2001 expressly included the subject of freedom of opinion as one of the priorities.
As far as the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea is concerned, the Commission is still urging both countries to give the peace mission under the patronage of the UN and the OAU their unrestricted support. It expects both governments to guarantee the UN mission full freedom of movement, actively help with mine clearance, release all prisoners of war and internees and start demobilising a large part of its strike forces.
The EU has supported the efforts of the UN mission by monitoring developments in both countries continuously and maintaining close contacts with the parties involved. It has made declarations proposing the process and – where necessary – voicing its concerns. The Commission thinks this is the best way of supporting the efforts of the UN.
The Commission expressly welcomes the initiative of the religious leaders to visit areas on both sides of the border and start a reconciliation process. This decisive process should, in its view, be promoted and shaped by the people concerned. At the present time, the Commission considers a formal summit organised by the international community to be premature.
On Cameroon, I should like to say that the Commission is monitoring the human rights situation in Cameroon closely and notes that this country has started democratising its society and institutions. There have been very positive developments in the area of human rights and civil freedoms. We also note, however, that the various players still have insufficient knowledge of and fail to respect these new rights properly.
Cameroon has ratified the convention against torture and was the subject of a report by the committee against torture presented in November 2000. In addition, a national committee on human rights and fundamental freedoms has been set up in Cameroon, albeit with restricted functions, and a regional centre for the promotion of human rights has been set up in collaboration with the United Nations.
The European Community has supported Cameroon within the framework of the Lomé Convention with a grant of EUR 6 million for institutional reform in the area of the rule of law, democratisation and respect for human rights. It has also examined a support programme in the area of the criminal justice system.
We are supporting reform of the justice system and stronger responsible leadership of the institutions in coordination with Bretton Woods, with a special endowment from the preliminary financial framework of the ninth European Development Fund. Specific funding is also being granted under the ninth European Development Fund in order to support non-state players, especially associations and non-governmental organisations working in the government and to promote human rights and strengthen the rule of law.
As part of the Cotonu agreement, the Commission is pursuing a positive approach based on dialogue and does not feel that there is any justification for starting consultations under Article 96 of the Cotonu agreement. The situation is being monitored on the ground together with the Member States. The government has set up a committee of inquiry, the findings of which will be carefully analysed by the Commission and the Member States."@en1
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"Reporters sans Frontières"1
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