Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-01-15-Speech-3-173"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-01-15"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:EC-Lebanon2
dcterms:Language	"sv"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20030115.10.3-173"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-01-15-Speech-3-1742
lpv:speaker	lp:Cecilia Malmström2
lpv:spokenAs	unknown; Folkpartiet liberalerna (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Latvia Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-04-30)3 substitute; AFCO (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America and Mexico (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; Delegation to the EU-Hungary Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-06--2004-04-30)3 member_of_the_bureau; ELDR (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, quite a few problems affecting Lebanon have been mentioned in this Chamber, in spite of there also being many positive signs in that country. We in the Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party wish to highlight a number of these problems. The situation in Lebanon is very uncertain and complicated, and the Syrian presence in the country means that the question may sometimes arise as to whether Lebanon is a completely independent state. There are extensive infringements of human rights. I only have to mention the 17 000 missing Lebanese, the restricted freedom of expression, the violence against demonstrating students, the death penalty and, of course, the situation concerning the Palestinian refugees, referred to by quite a few fellow MEPs. These refugees too must come to enjoy the positive advantages that the association agreement can provide. The ELDR Group has tabled a number of amendments concerning, for example, the 200 Lebanese held prisoner in Syria. There are also a dozen in Israel. The situation concerning these refugees must be clarified. Lebanon must also ratify the Geneva Convention. We are very concerned about the situation of the refugees. Trade and the exchange of goods are nonetheless to be welcomed. In the long term, they promote democracy and development – political, economic and social. The association agreements are also an important part of the Barcelona Process. We are therefore voting in favour of this association agreement in the hope that it will lead to development in Lebanon. We nonetheless feel a certain hesitation in doing so because Lebanon is far from being a democracy, and there are flagrant breaches of human rights. We also feel a certain unease, or frustration rather, at the fact that there is always talk about human rights clauses that can be applied if a country infringes an association agreement with the EU. These clauses are nothing other than a resounding shot in the dark. I really want to appeal to Commissioner Patten to ensure that mechanisms can be developed whereby, in the event of breaches of human rights that we know are being committed, Article 2 of the association agreement can be invoked and applied in a meaningful way."@en1

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