Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2009-09-17-Speech-4-276"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2009-09-17"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Syria: the case of Muhannad Al Hassani2
dcterms:Language	"fi"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20090917.20.4-276"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2009-09-17-Speech-4-2772
lpv:speaker	lp:Eija-Riitta Korhola2
lpv:spokenAs	member; EPP (2009-07-14--2012-07-10)3 unknown; Kansallinen Kokoomus (2009-07-14--2014-06-30)3 member; Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (2009-09-16--2014-06-30)3 vice-chair; IMCO (2009-07-16--2012-01-18)3 substitute; ITRE (2009-07-16--2012-01-18)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the United States (2009-09-16--2014-06-30)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, I am pleased that we have had the courage to put the spotlight on the human rights situation in Syria at this point in time. The finishing touches are being put to an EU-Syria association agreement within the framework of Mediterranean cooperation, and because one of the fundamental pillars of cooperation consists specifically of the promotion of human rights and democracy, I think that the EU should call more loudly for improvements in this area. It is not enough just to focus cooperation on improving the economic situation. As we have heard, the leading Syrian human rights lawyer, Muhannad Al Hassani, was imprisoned at the end of July without any proper trial. He was charged with weakening national sentiments and spreading false news. The case is not the first of its kind. We in Parliament last intervened in a similar one in 2007. Kamal Abwani, whose cause we were pleading then, is still in jail, although in March the UN investigation team reached the conclusion that it had been an arbitrary arrest. Syria has a very long way to go when it comes to freedom of speech and of association. The work of NGOs in the country is problematic and thus virtually nonexistent. It will be highly regrettable if we in the EU do not have the courage to set clear criteria for a basis for cooperation with Syria. In my opinion, the onus is very much on us to demand the release of political prisoners and compliance with international human rights agreements before we can move on with the EU -Syria association agreement. Human rights in the world are not just a lot of solitary islands: they are a fabric, in which everything has an impact on everything else, and if we tolerate neglect and turn a blind eye, that will eat away at our own rights here before very long. It is our important duty to nurture them and ensure that they are implemented always and everywhere. Only in that way can we make human life worthwhile."@en1
lpv:videoURI	<go to Events_and_structure europarl>2

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