Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-19-Speech-3-156"
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"en.20031119.6.3-156"2
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"Mr President, Paragraph 10 of the joint resolution is close to my heart. In it, Parliament has asked the Council and the Commission once again to take the fate of Arjan Erkel, the abducted staff member of
to heart. His father has visited me, and many other fellow MEPs, here in Strasbourg. Let us put ourselves in his heartrending situation. I have three children of my own. This is why I am totally behind Parliament’s urgent appeal to the Council and the Commission to emphatically urge the Russian authorities to provide a clarification of this long-lasting abduction, which has now lasted for more than 460 days, and to sort this matter out.
Last night, an authoritative Dutch paper reported that in the Council meeting of the Foreign Ministers, some harsh words were being exchanged about the Italian Presidency protecting President Putin. I am very pleased to hear it. I also welcome the newspaper report to the effect that the Council has agreed to Commissioner Patten’s proposal to set down in writing an unambiguous policy for the EU’s relations with the Russian Federation. Needless to say, as rapporteur for the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy, I am highly intrigued by the way in which the Council mandates the European Commission to make a recommendation to it concerning EU-Russia relations. Does the Commission have any idea when we can look forward to its ideas taking effect?
One thing with regard to the Chechen tragedy is evident: on no account can this be described as providing a basis for common values shared by the European Union and Russia. Similarly, the
case is causing us great concern. When high representatives of the European Institutions attempt to cover up, or even justify, these two situations, they encourage the Kremlin to follow the wrong political course. This does not at all serve the interests of Russian society, or those of the European Union, for that matter.
In short, Moscow should not be left in any doubt about what Brussels exactly stands for in the mutual relationship, including where the European Union has its priorities: a good neighbourly relationship which presupposes joint action with regard to problems such as cross-border crime, nuclear risks and illegal migration; the promotion of human rights and the constitutional state, as well as urgent improvement of the nigh hopeless situation in Chechnya; joint action with regard to so-called ‘frozen conflicts’ in the southern Caucasus and a solution to the issue of Transnistria; deepening and broadening complementary trade and economic interests.
True European commitment should be met by Russian reciprocity. Putin and his cronies will therefore need to abandon the traditional attitude of wanting to operate both within and outside of the partnership. You cannot be in it and out of it at the same time. This should, above all, be the clear message from Brussels to Moscow at this time."@en1
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