Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-11-20-Speech-3-259"
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"en.20021120.6.3-259"2
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". – I would like to start off with a few words on the more general subject of observing elections, repeating one sentence from my statement: the Commission would like to stress that we followed our standard approach in the methodology we used to observe the election in Pakistan. That is important. It also illustrates the professionalism in the way we do this and also in the way we work with the European Parliament. In general we have, over the years, managed to build up a global position as a quality electoral observation party. What has been achieved and contributed in this case certainly adds to our track record.
However, it is important not to confuse the task of election observation with handling the relationship in general, the overall agenda vis-à-vis the country in question.
I liked what Mrs Lynne said about the process. Very shortly after the signature of the cooperation agreement in November last year when Mr Verhofstadt and President Prodi visited President Musharraf, I visited him on my way back from Afghanistan in the first week of December last year and had a very long and frank exchange with him. I share the view that on balance he seems to be more part of the solution than part of the problem for Pakistan today.
We must avoid over-simplification. We talk more about democratisation than democracy. Working constructively and consistently on the situation as a whole is a better way of dealing with the problems than dwelling too much on the pure and perfect principles of democracy. That is how we are trying to make a difference in Africa and elsewhere.
Let me make one comment about the cooperation agreement. What we are trying to achieve through the agreement is a contribution to the process of democratisation, to the promotion of economic development and progress. I strongly urge Parliament to see this cooperation agreement as a positive European contribution to stability in the region and to foster the dialogue with President Musharraf and the emerging democratic Pakistani leaders in order to speed up progress. That is the thinking behind the cooperation agreement and I hope Parliament will see it from that point of view."@en1
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