Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-05-12-Speech-4-165"
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"en.20050512.24.4-165"2
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".
I represent Scotland, on the north-west frontier of our European continent. We recreated our Scottish democracy in 1999 with the establishment of the Scots Parliament, when it was reconvened by my party president and former Member of this House, Winnie Ewing, with the words: 'The Scottish Parliament, adjourned in 1707, is hereby reconvened'.
So why am I raising the subject of Togo and the situation there within this House? Because my internationalist party is appalled by injustice wherever it occurs, and it is up to us within this House to shoulder our global responsibilities.
Since 1999, other countries across Europe have rediscovered democracy. Ukraine, Georgia and others have looked to the EU for inspiration, guidance and support, as they have stepped towards democracy. Therefore, it is all the more important that our European Union does not lapse into double standards. My group and I fear that in the case of Togo the EU could be on the verge of doing precisely that.
I would refer you to our motion for a resolution and I commend it to you. Last month's presidential election in Togo, on 24 April, has been marred by allegations of massive vote fraud, even including allegations that almost a million phantom voters were created, swelling the ranks of those eligible to vote by one third.
The response of the EU to this, and to the resulting deterioration within Togo itself, is in marked contrast to the inspirational response of this House and our European Union to the situation in Ukraine. In a statement last Friday, our European Commissioner, Mr Michel, said that the EU would be watching to see whether Togo complied with pledges it made last year to respect human rights and public liberties. My group says that we need to do more than watch. Our resolution sets out rational, reasonable, sensible and constructive measures, which we in the EU could take to support Togo. I am glad the Commission is committed to watch. What my group wants to know is: what is it going to do?"@en1
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