Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-02-27-Speech-3-173"
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"en.20020227.12.3-173"2
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"Mr President, the report contains a long list of good intentions for the South Caucasus, which is undoubtedly an unstable problem area. Europe naturally has an interest in the conflicts in the area being solved, but I must express doubts as to whether the EU is in a position to play such a large role in the area as this report proposes. I therefore wish to emphasise that, even if the possibility of EU membership is only mentioned as a long-term prospect, these countries do not constitute natural candidates for EU membership. All these many fine words are scarcely enough to solve the major problems in the area, and I would venture to doubt whether the Commission has the capacity to implement the desired changes.
I should like to add a few remarks on Amendment No 2 to paragraph 15. I think it wise of Mr Duff to propose a formula that simply talks about reconciling historical differences. I would therefore call for a vote in favour of the amendment. Events during the First World War, which neither the British nor the American governments were then able, following investigations, to characterise as genocide, cannot profitably be discussed in the terms they are discussed in paragraph 15 of the report. That is not the way to achieve the normalisation of economic and diplomatic relations. It is true that the land border between Turkey and Armenia is closed, but there is no question of a blockade in the ordinary sense of the word. There are air links between the countries, and Armenian citizens are able to travel into Turkey. The closure of the road and railway links is a consequence of other unsolved aspects of the political and diplomatic situation. What the EU can do is work towards a combined negotiated solution to the issues that divide the two countries. Reflection and diplomacy are required. The European Parliament will not promote a solution by setting itself up as a judge of events in the distant past. The Union for Europe of the Nations Group will vote in favour of the report on condition that Amendment No 2 to paragraph 15 is adopted."@en1
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