Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-10-28-Speech-4-143"
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"en.20041028.11.4-143"2
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"Mr President, the limited speaking time available to us makes it impossible to discuss the issue in depth. I would therefore prefer to express my support for the text of the resolution – which takes up the majority of our suggestions – and express my full agreement with what my colleague, Mr van den Berg, has said, and I will not mention the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats asking us to vote one way or another, since I believe our positions identify who we are and I believe that, on issues such as this, it is very good that we can see exactly who everybody is so that public opinion and the organisations can differentiate between us.
I would like to add two comments. Firstly, I would like to draw attention to the fact that, unlike antipersonnel mines, the manufacture of cluster bombs requires very complex technology, a technology which is only within reach of the highly industrialised countries, and that means the responsibilities of the Member States of the Union are under scrutiny.
Furthermore, however, a very sophisticated air or land infrastructure is essential in order to launch these bombs, as well as specific knowledge for the military personnel capable of firing them. And some of our countries clearly have a role here as well, both in terms of logistical preparation and in the training of military personnel.
In the hearing we held – which was magnificent – I was disappointed that we found it rather difficult to name those countries of the world, whether European or not, who are producing the weapons we are condemning here. I would also have thought it relevant to name those countries and their corresponding responsibilities in our resolution. And that leads me to my second comment, which is to insist that the European Parliament must commit itself to sparing no effort to ensure that what we approve today does not remain mere words.
There are concrete proposals suggested to us by the organisations, who must continue to be our permanent interlocutor in this fight. For example, we are very interested in the idea of designating a rapporteur to monitor, on behalf of the European Parliament, what is being done in our countries and internationally with regard to eliminating cluster bombs."@en1
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