Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-01-Speech-3-061"
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"en.20041201.10.3-061"2
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".
May I start by expressing my thanks for the congratulations to the Dutch Presidency and, more importantly, my appreciation for the EU’s major involvement in its important neighbouring country, Ukraine, which was evident from all the speeches that have been made. I am delighted that this is also apparent from the fact that your Parliament is sending a delegation to Ukraine this evening. I think that Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and others have made it abundantly clear what part – in many ways an important one – the European Union has played in the developments in Ukraine. Since a few somewhat more critical questions have been raised and comments made, it may be useful to point out that Europe was, of course, in Ukraine before the first round, and had given signals and sent warnings, for example in connection with access to the media during the preparations for the elections. As you know, and I am saying this because there may have been some confusion in this matter, it was after the first round that we took steps, issued our statements and developed our activities.
I share the view of a number of Members of this House – first expressed by Mr Schulz, but later by Mrs Staniszewska – that this is also a moment to be proud of what the European Union is doing, of the way we are trying to get the democratic model to work outside of Europe. As Mr Saryusz-Wolski, Mr Schulz, Mr Geremek, Mr Kaminski and many others have already stated, it is true that there is broad agreement in your House about what the position is and should be, and that there is also broad agreement with the Commission and the Council.
Understandably, reference has also been made to the historical significance of what is going on here. Similarities were drawn with, among others, Poland in 1980 and the Commissioner mentioned 1989 in many other former Eastern European countries. Rarely have I heard the Council, the Commission and Parliament speak with one voice to such an extent, because we refuse to accept the results which the central election committee has announced. We demand a new second round for the elections. Mr Saryusz-Wolski, Mr Brok and others did not pull their punches in that respect. We have absolute agreement on this. We all want free, fair and transparent elections, and a peaceful solution which also guarantees Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
With regard to the timing of the new second round of elections, to which reference is made in the resolution, both parties will first need to embark on further consultations. On the one hand, a bit of time is needed to gain an insight into the correct circumstances, for example in relation to provisions to enable sufficient observers to visit that country. On the other hand, I very much understand the concern that the whole process is being dragged out or delaying tactics are being applied. We should not accept this, because everyone, the people of Ukraine in particular, is entitled to have a new President elected in a free and fair manner as soon as possible.
It is understandable that the size of the observation mission should also attract comment. Allow me, further to a number of remarks on your part, to say that I too hope that the Commission will take initiatives, so that we will have an extensive European Union delegation in that country, obviously in tandem with the OSCE and the Council of Europe, to ensure that the elections will be truly free, transparent and fair.
Some of you have, of course, mentioned Russia as the other important partner in these developments, and in that connection I am pleased to inform you that we as presidency will, of course, maintain the very close contacts with Russia and that Mr Balkenende, in his capacity as President of the European Council, phoned Mr Putin again today and that both have concluded on a positive note that there is only one way forward, namely the peaceful solution within the legal framework by means of dialogue. Needless to say, and I am addressing Mr Wiersma and others when I say this, many improvements are needed for those forthcoming elections. I should like to flag one in the first stage in the run-up to new second elections there, namely access to the media for all parties, as we indicated prior to the first round. That should mean that the media should show more examples which herald a bright future under the motto ‘the future is bright, the future is orange’. This time round, orange is not the colour of the Dutch Presidency, because as you know orange is the Dutch national colour. Neither is orange the colour for a certain candidate, as has been remarked by a number of you, but is, as Mr Geremek and other have stated, a colour symbolising solidarity with all Ukrainians who demand free and fair elections."@en1
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