Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-24-Speech-3-035"
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"en.20011024.1.3-035"2
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"Mr President, on behalf of the Socialist Group, I should like to make a few observations on three external points, starting with the Middle East.
We have experienced the murder of Israel’s Minister for Tourism as a new low. Subsequently, Israel invaded the autonomous Palestinian regions, which was, of course, an unacceptable violation. We are all justified in asking for immediate withdrawal. At the same time, the spokesmen for Mr Sharon, on the one hand, and the Palestinian Authority, on the other, mete out relentless and draining rhetoric of black and white thinking. The others are 100% responsible, they are to blame for everything. The representative of Mr Sharon has almost stated that the tanks which enter the Palestinian regions are a kind of peace dove. Conversely, Hanan Ashrawi lays all the blame with Israel. Neither of them leave room for concern or take any steps towards bringing the conflict to an end.
It appears that, for the time being, there is no chance of returning to the Oslo Agreements or the Mitchell report which is before us. Needless to say, the neighbouring states play their part too. Countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Saudi-Arabia are all very important players who have often used the Palestinian issue to their advantage to keep enemies out, but not to do anything of any consequence at home. There is now scope for Europe, the Commission and the Council, in tandem with the US, to take a very unusual new step and simply to combine our economic and diplomatic power, and our UN responsibility and military power and to say: we are tabling a firm, fresh peace proposal. For we as the world community, in the light of 11 September, can no longer afford to be dragged down in this continual downward spiral. As we are well placed in Europe, we can also use intense diplomacy to persuade the countries in the Middle East to take part in the peace accord. We have money. We have trade. We have the UN. We have resources in that region. We can be of real significance there. In this respect, my suggestion would be to adopt a reasonably hard-handed approach towards both parties, for we need to table such a proposal now.
That is my first plea. My second plea concerns Afghanistan. The Socialist Group gives the UN resolution, which is very clear, its 100% backing. The aim of the resolution is to trace both the perpetrators and the sponsors, as well as the countries harbouring them, and to bring them to justice, but also to ensure that we come out alive. The EU has no military presence in Afghanistan. That falls within the remit of other bodies: the UN and NATO. However, we are the body that has the diplomatic power to unite the surrounding countries in that region that play a key role, namely India, Pakistan and Iran, so that they, together with us and the US, give the different parties in Afghanistan plenty of room.
Afghanistan’s key problem is that we will not reach a solution with the Northern Alliance, nor with anyone else. History has taught us that. What we need is a conference, wherever that may be in the region, involving the different forces – and I particularly refer to the social forces, such as the women’s organisations – which, together, will shape a new broad government, in exile and only as a first step, if necessary. However, we must take that political direction. It is the only way to get rid of the Taliban. It is the only way to catch Bin Laden."@en1
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