Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-01-19-Speech-4-009"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2006-01-19"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Situation in the Middle East2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20060119.3.4-009"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2006-01-19-Speech-4-0102
lpv:speaker	lp:Edward Mcmillan-scott2
lpv:spoken text	". Mr President, the Palestinian elections on 20 January are an opportunity for the Palestinians to confirm the democratic path on which they set out last January. We are grateful for the Commissioner’s commitment, both personally and representing the Commission. These elections take place in a highly challenging environment, which we certainly acknowledge. But the importance the European Parliament attaches to their successful completion, and indeed to the peace process, can be seen in its having again authorised the largest observation delegation of 30 elected Members, which I am again proud to lead jointly with Mrs Napoletano from the PSE Group. Indeed, many Members present here today will be in Palestine next week. The current situation in the Middle East represents a failure of diplomacy nearly a century ago. The only democracy to date in the region is Israel, born of a genuine desire to create a Jewish homeland. T E Lawrence of Arabia – who is a distant cousin of mine – wanted that too, but he also had a different vision for the region. A recently discovered map he drew in Versailles shows kingdoms, not British and French dominions. Today, however, we welcome the return of Europe in a different guise. In her spending commitments for the Palestine Authority, could the Commissioner envisage funding a new chamber for the Palestine Council? As colleagues know, democracy is my watchword. At the Egyptian elections, which we witnessed last year, we saw intimidation of voters, including those supporting Dr Ayman Nour, leader of the secular al-Ghad Party. The European Union rightly says that his subsequent sentence at a show trial to five years’ hard labour by the same judge who put Saad Ibrahim in jail for three years sent negative signals. I should like to ask the Commissioner: what is the negative response from Brussels? The Middle East is a region of fundamental strategic importance and a source of danger. The London bombers last July came from my constituency in Yorkshire. But the key to stability is democracy. I am also proud, as a Vice-President, to represent the European Parliament on the Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. But I also believe that the European Union needs a dedicated programme of democratic engagement in the region, and I look forward to hearing from the Commissioner what her plans are in that regard."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (including Libya) (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3 unknown; Conservative and Unionist Party (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3 member; AFET (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 vice-president; Parliament's Bureau (2004-07-20--2007-01-15)3 vice-chair; Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (2004-09-20--2008-06-11)3 vice-president; European Parliament (2004-07-20--2007-01-15)3 substitute; Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (2004-09-15--2009-07-13)3 member_of_the_bureau; EPP-ED (2004-08-31--2009-07-13)3 substitute; DROI (2004-07-22--2007-01-14)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (2005-02-28--2007-03-13)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"(Applause)"1 "Arab"1 "Edward McMillan-Scott,"1 "on behalf of the PPE-DE Group"1

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