Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-16-Speech-4-146"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2004-12-16"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 115)2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20041216.12.4-146"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2004-12-16-Speech-4-1472
lpv:speaker	lp:Margrietus van den Berg2
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; DROI (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 member; PES (2004-07-20--2007-08-31)3 unknown; Partij van de Arbeid (2004-07-20--2007-08-31)3 vice-chair; Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community (2004-09-21--2007-03-13)3 substitute; Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (2004-09-15--2007-08-31)3 vice-chair; DEVE (2004-07-22--2007-01-14)3 substitute; INTA (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 member; Temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007-2013 (2004-10-14--2005-06-08)3
lpv:translated text	". Mr President, the Zimbabweans are a strong people, and Zimbabwe is a strong country. Following independence, it was also an economically promising country. It is sad to see that around 60% of the population is currently in financial crisis and frequently lives below the poverty line. That clearly says something about the administration of the country and what has gradually gone wrong with it. The sad thing is that Mugabe and the ZANU-PF party, particularly Mugabe’s inner circle, are the perpetrators. There are many in the ZANU-PF party, of course, who are very well aware of the need for outside help, of the need for the economy to develop in a different direction, if the country is to survive. We know that neighbouring countries have produced many informal contacts and endeavours to achieve a solution, and I think that it is precisely with these that the opportunities for the European Union lie. With the support of the African Union, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), President Mbeki and all the other contacts, we must increase the pressure, because it is only via the African route and the European Union’s connection with this that we stand a chance of achieving any kind of result. There is no doubt that the March elections have largely fallen into and been shaped by the wrong hands already, and it will be very difficult to make them fair and open. This renders observation close to pointless. Nevertheless, it is in that democratic process and in civil society that strength is to be found. That strength is still great in Zimbabwe, still non-violent and still oriented towards peace and democratic solutions. I hope that, by using smart sanctions, by taking the path that we, the European Union, are taking, and in consultation with those other countries, we shall do our utmost to take that democratic step there. The alternative path, bloodshed, offers no prospects. I sincerely hope that we can use all our diplomatic means to increase the pressure to such a degree that Mugabe is surrounded by people who set the dominoes falling. This is necessary if the democratic path is to stand a chance of success there. Indeed, it is my hope that Europe will make full use of all the means at its disposal to this end."@en1

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