Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-14-Speech-2-029"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20040914.3.2-029"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank the Commissioner for her report, even if there are many points upon which I do not agree with her. This is the second time I have taken part in a debate on Belarus, the first having been as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and I must confess that I have never lost hope. The EU institutions have the right to express their opinions on remarkable or even exceptional events and situations, and it is therefore natural for them to also pay particular attention to Belarus.
Belarus is a state in an exceptional situation. It is one of Europe’s youngest states, with a political elite inexperienced in statehood. It is a country where administrative borders have changed into state borders, thus dividing families, an economy and a culture. Such a state merits not only particular attention, but also exceptional help. In my opinion, one of the worst possible ways of providing help in such a situation would be excessive criticism of the government and unreserved support for the opposition.
After all, the aim should not be to topple the government, but to help the people of Belarus. What do we know about the opposition, which some of our colleagues, in all respect, are endeavouring to bring to power? Will it not be worse at governing the country than the current government? What do we know of the real wishes of the Belarussian people? Maybe they want a nationalist government, or anti-Russian policies, or merely more democracy and prosperity in their own country and the closest possible cooperation with their large and rapidly developing neighbour? I do not believe that we know the answers to these questions.
In its present composition, this House is only just starting to grow accustomed to its duties and responsibilities. The worst possible start would be to succumb to ideological prejudice and to pass judgment on the basis of the way in which our emotions are guided by the mass media. We were not elected to this House in order to pass judgments without allowing the other side the right to defend itself. We were not elected to make a fuss merely because we do not like someone or because television reports and newspaper editorials have painted a negative picture of them. We were not elected to set Europe against itself. We are in this House in order to put in place the conditions for mutual understanding, or in other words not to isolate people, but to conduct dialogue. On this point I agree with my friend and colleague Bogdan Klich.
I support the proposal for Parliament to send a delegation to Belarus made up of representatives from all political groups, and I hope it will be able to establish the opinions of politicians, the public and experts. Then we will be able to say what the situation in Belarus is like without using double standards."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples