Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-01-26-Speech-3-082"
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"en.20050126.7.3-082"2
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".
Mr President, Mr Solana, Mrs Ferrero-Waldner, ladies and gentlemen, the Palestinian presidential elections were a real breath of fresh air, a hope that change can at last begin in the tormented Middle East after many years of darkness, particularly in view of the fact that they were held against a background of occupation.
Europe has believed in this process more than anyone else and has supported it politically and economically. Europe has a visible and substantial presence, thanks to the work of the observation mission led by our fellow Member Mr Rocard, which supported the equally remarkable work done by the Palestinian Central Election Commission, with which Parliament’s delegation, chaired by Mr McMillan-Scott, also collaborated closely.
The far-sighted decision by the Palestinian leadership to entrust the choice of President Arafat’s successor to a free and transparent election process won the support of an overwhelming majority in Palestinian society. Palestinians want democracy but they also want freedom. That is why they have put their trust in a leadership that can get them out of their current desperate situation. Their new leader, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, has already shown in his election campaign and especially in the measures that he is adopting that he is seriously committed both to the domestic front, through curbing violence and initiating essential reforms for Palestinian society, and to the attempt to restart the peace process.
It is now the Israeli Government’s turn to show the same constructive willingness, first by putting the unilateral actions it has announced, such as the withdrawal from Gaza, back into the context of the roadmap negotiations, and by putting a stop to the settlements and to construction of the illegal wall, as well as any other pointless acts which are designed to intimidate the Palestinian population and have nothing to do with security.
Since the elections, Europe has also gained greater credibility in its role, and perhaps it can use its influence on the United States, maybe taking the opportunity offered by President Bush’s visit, as the Commissioner mentioned.
Additionally, it is important to ensure that our commitment continues, because after the presidential elections there will be municipal and administrative elections. I believe we should support the political operation that the Palestinian leadership intends to carry out, which is to bring the Hamas and Islamic Jihad opposition groups, which have resorted to terrorism, back into the institutional fold. We must support such action in view of the prospect of establishing the two States.
The progress that has been made and our positive assessment of it must, however, give us cause to reflect on other crises in the Middle East. I am referring directly to Iraq, where the situation is decidedly different."@en1
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