Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-02-12-Speech-3-167"
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"en.20030212.5.3-167"2
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"Mr President, while the drums of war are rumbling, Europe is quarrelling. We are quarrelling with each other. We are quarrelling with the United States. It is incredibly tragic to see how the splendid ambitions of a common European foreign policy are slowly crumbling.
Disagreement in NATO’s Security Council is genuinely unfortunate now that we no doubt need so badly to stand together The only winner as a result of this disagreement is Saddam Hussein. The losers are the EU, NATO, the UN and relations with the United States, which are being considerably weakened. The rift may have incredibly serious consequences, and the different initiatives now coming out of the various capital cities will be of no use if they are not coordinated. Competition does not help in these circumstances. Rather, cooperation is required. As a passionate Europhile, I am ashamed of the EU’s impotence.
The net is closing in on Saddam Hussein. The world’s patience is running out. It is he, and he only, that can prevent war. It is Iraq, and not the UN, that must demonstrate that there are no weapons of mass destruction in the country. Resolution 1441 is crystal clear on that point.
On Friday, Dr Hans Blix and the inspectors will produce a new report. In his latest report, Doctor Blix points to the Iraqi dictator’s insufficient willingness to cooperate. Friday’s report will therefore be very important. If Doctor Blix and his colleagues need more time, they must be given it. It is the Security Council that must then decide what is to happen. The anti-UN attitude adopted by the German Chancellor is deeply regrettable. This is not a matter of German domestic politics, but a matter concerning the whole of Europe. The UN needs our support at this difficult time. Instead of having a go at the candidate countries, Mr Sakellariou, a little self-criticism would be in order.
Mr President-in-Office of the Council, I wish you luck at Monday’s meeting and with your attempt to unite the Member States. Perhaps it is too late, but it is the last chance for the EU to re-establish its rather tarnished reputation. Good luck!"@en1
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