Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-04-27-Speech-3-019"
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"en.20050427.7.3-019"2
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".
Mr President, the 2004 human rights report has turned out to be an honest and balanced document, and I too should like to thank the rapporteur for his efforts. Initially, though, it was to be feared that this report would be marred by the same lack of consistency and coherence as the human rights policy of the Council and the Member States that very often demand sanctions against poor countries from the south but turn a blind eye to serious human rights violations in more economically interesting countries. It would have been unacceptable if Parliament had once again agreed to human rights being made subordinate to economic or commercial interests. Thanks to the rapporteur’s openness and willingness to listen, however, the report as it stands does not evade the more delicate points. All problems are tackled, irrespective of the size or economic interest of the countries involved. It is high time, I think, that the Council and Member States followed the same course; if not, the European Union is at risk of rapidly losing its credibility as protector and guardian of human rights worldwide. This was once again evident recently during the 61st meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, where no resolutions were submitted on China, Russia or Iran. There is, I believe, a clear need for better coordination, more circulation of information and less ambivalence. I am pleased that the report takes note of positive developments, including in a number of developing countries, particularly in Africa, despite the major political and economic problems with which the black continent still has to contend. The successful reconciliation process in Rwanda, Burundi and in other countries illustrates that progress is definitely possible. Africa is at a turning point and the European Union must continue to support the fragile, early successes on that continent. The Coveney Report is right to press for closer cooperation with the International Criminal Court in the fight to ensure that crimes do not go unpunished. After all, democracy and reconciliation go hand in hand with justice. Quite a few developing countries, however, are under enormous pressure from the United States to undermine the Criminal Court’s good work. If the European Union and the Member States are really serious about the ICC, they must give those countries that refuse to bow to US threats economic and commercial compensation using all the means at their disposal. The ICC has meanwhile launched inquiries into the situation in Congo and also Northern Uganda where the population continues to suffer at the hands of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and their terrorist activities. Entire villages are being massacred and burnt down; children are abducted and used as soldiers or sex slaves, yet it would take only a small-scale, limited military effort to put the LRA out of action for good and to put a stop to the most serious human rights violations in the world. Unfortunately for the population who have to experience the cruelties on a daily basis, Northern Uganda has no oil, coltan or other raw materials that might induce the international community to take an interest in it.
The Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe has tabled a limited number of amendments, one of which stresses the need for enforcing the arms embargo against China until such time as the Chinese Government demonstrates that new anti-secession laws do not entail any aggression in respect of the Taiwanese population. If this amendment is approved, my group will support the Coveney report with even more conviction."@en1
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