Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-02-Speech-4-037"
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"en.20041202.5.4-037"2
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".
Mr President, I am very pleased that Mrs Ferrero-Waldner is currently here on behalf of the Commission. Parliament had an excellent relationship with Mrs Ferrero-Waldner when she was President-in-Office of the Council, and I am sure that will be maintained over the next five years. I am also very impressed with her presentation of the situation in Colombia. Colombia is probably one of the most visually stunning countries in the whole world, a beautiful country with fantastic wealth and wonderful people who are friendly and charming.
Having said that, Colombia does have a problem: institutionalised violence. The street violence and the confrontations between the guerrillas and drug-traffickers are symptomatic of an incredibly unjust system and of the massive inequalities in the country. Consequently, even if we put an end to guerrilla activities and drug-trafficking, violence would still re-emerge unless we resolve these problems. I believe that the Commissioner has given us a clear, objective, detailed and very constructive approach. It is not a case of addressing just one of the problems. Clearly there can be no peace if the violence continues, but equally there can be no peace unless we solve the underlying problems.
I believe that the Commissioner has indicated the best path to follow, since it addresses all elements: human rights, security, development and, above all, social progress. Any government policy would need to include all these elements, and the Commission and European Union as a whole should enable the Colombian authorities and any other influential organisation to help the country move forward.
Unquestionably, terrorist and guerrilla organisations have committed acts of terrorism, but let us not forget that many left-wing trade union leaders in Colombia have been assassinated by paramilitary organisations. Often we do not know whether these organisations are linked to the government. I therefore feel that the Commissioner’s approach is the right one, and we should work to implement that approach so as to assist the Colombian people."@en1
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