Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-04-26-Speech-4-194"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech⁶
dcterms:Date	"2007-04-26"^^xsd:date⁶
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Răpirea jurnalistului Alan Johnston în Gaza⁶
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language⁶
lpv:document identification number	"en.20070426.28.4-194"⁶
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2007-04-26-Speech-4-195⁶
lpv:speaker	lp:Richard Howitt⁶
lpv:spoken text	". Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@en⁴
lpv:spokenAs	member; AFET (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)²³ member; PES (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)²³ member; Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (2004-09-15--2009-07-13)²³ vice-chair; DROI (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)²³ substitute; SEDE (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)²³ unknown; Labour Party (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)²³ substitute; Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (2004-09-15--2009-07-13)²³ substitute; EMPL (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)²³
lpv:translated text	"Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@cs¹ "Fru formand! Med Deres billigelse vil jeg gerne begynde med at nævne, at sidste uge samledes over tusinde medarbejdere hos BBC, venner og kolleger til Alan Johnston, i sympati med ham i BBC-bygninger over hele verden. Jeg vil gerne hilse de BBC-medarbejdere velkommen, som arbejder her i Strasbourg, og som i respekt for deres forsvundne kollega befinder sig i tilhørerlogen i dag for at følge forhandlingen. Parlamentet anerkender Den Palæstinensiske Myndigheds støtte og samarbejde, og vi er stolte af Europas støtte til opretholdelse af Deres medarbejdere og de vigtige opgaver, de udfører, men det er Deres efterretningstjenester, der har været i stand til at få kontakt med dem, der har bortført Alan, og det er Dem, vi sætter vores lid til i forhold til at opnå et gennembrud. Inden for radioverdenen siger man, at den største synd er ikke at sige noget i mikrofonen. Bortførelsen af Alan Johnston er en radiotavshed, der nu må bringes til ophør Når der sker en bortførelse et sted i verden, søger offerets venner og familie altid mediernes hjælp for at sørge for, at offentligheden og vi politikere ikke glemmer deres kæres skæbne. Når den bortførte selv er journalist, er det vores ansvar at værne om deres skæbne, som de værner om andres. Det er tilfældet med BBC-journalisten Alan Johnston, som blev bortført i Gaza for 46 dage siden. Alans personlige karriere symboliserer BBC's enestående ry for integritet og objektivitet. Alan har tidligere arbejdet i Usbekistan og Afghanistan og rapporterer nu med stort engagement om det palæstinensiske folk, som han har nære forbindelser til og dyb respekt for. Det har gjort indtryk på hans publikum, og i løbet af ugen har 50.000 mennesker skrevet under på en underskriftindsamling på nettet, der opfordrer til, at han bliver frigivet. Vores tanker er naturligvis først og fremmest hos Graham og Margaret Johnston og de øvrige medlemmer af hans familie, som vi sender vores sympati og støtte. Jeg vil gerne udtrykke min respekt for den indsats, hele ledelsen og alle medarbejdere i BBC har gjort, og for journalister og fagforeninger i Storbritannien og resten af verden, som er gået forrest for at få frigivet Alan. En af kollegerne, der er her i dag, har fortalt mig, at Alan er kendt som en, der bringer historier til live. I dag er der hans liv, der er historien. Alan Johnstons modige tilstedeværelse i Gaza som den eneste permanent udstationerede vestlige journalist er lige præcis det, der gjorde det muligt for ham at rapportere om det palæstinensiske folks lidelser, og nu er han blevet det ultimative eksempel på en journalist, der bliver viklet ind i sin egen historie - offer for de samme lidelser. Vi har hørt, at Alan er i live og i sikkerhed, men ikke, hvem der holder ham fanget. Vi kan spekulere på, om hans bortførelse skete af politiske eller økonomiske årsager eller for at opnå anerkendelse, men vi ved ikke, om det skete af en af disse årsager, og i givet fald hvilken. Vi kan erkende, at det kræver politisk forståelse og en politisk løsning at forhindre, at det, der er sket for Alan, sker for andre. I dag er vores reaktion imidlertid ikke politisk - den er humanitær, og vi siger til alle, der lytter: Frigiv Alan Johnston uskadt og uhindret. Europa-Parlamentet ville hilse de løfter om hjælp velkommen, som Europas udenrigsministre gav denne uge, og det samme gælder den "permanente kontakt", som vores egen højtstående repræsentant har lovet. Vi er sikre på, at De vil opfylde disse løfter. Jeg kan også forstå, at kommissær Almunia som reaktion på dagens forhandling vil love, at hans kollega hr. Michel vil forfølge sagen om Alan Johnston over for præsident Abbas og repræsentanter for Den Palæstinensiske Myndighed i weekenden. Vi takker Dem."@da² "Frau Präsidentin! Mit Ihrer Einwilligung möchte ich zunächst sagen, dass sich in der vergangenen Woche über eintausend Mitarbeiter der BBC, Freunde und Kollegen von Alan Johnston vor BBC-Gebäuden in aller Welt zu Mahnwachen zusammengefunden haben. Ich möchte die hier in Straßburg arbeitenden BBC-Mitarbeiter begrüßen, die im Gedenken an ihren vermissten Kollegen heute auf der Besuchertribüne Platz genommen haben, um unserer Aussprache zu folgen. Das Europäische Parlament begrüßt die Unterstützung und das Mitwirken seitens der Palästinensischen Behörde, und wir sind stolz auf die Unterstützung Europas bei der Aufrechterhaltung der Arbeit der Mitarbeiter und ihrer wichtigen Dienstleistungen, aber es sind Ihre Geheimdienste, die Kontakt mit Alans Entführern aufzunehmen vermochten, und deshalb setzen wir in Sie unsere Hoffnungen auf einen Durchbruch. In Rundfunkkreisen heißt es, das Schlimmste, was einem passieren kann, sei, nichts ins Mikrofon zu sagen. Alan Johnstons Entführung ist das Schweigen im Rundfunk, mit dem nunmehr Schluss sein muss. Wenn irgendwo in der Welt eine Entführung stattfindet, bauen Freunde und Angehörige der Opfer darauf, dass die Medien das Geschick der ihnen nahe Stehenden für die Öffentlichkeit und für uns Politiker verfolgen. Ist die entführte Person selbst ein Journalist, dann liegt es in unserer Verantwortung, ihr Geschick so nahe zu bringen, wie die Journalisten es mit dem anderer Menschen zu tun pflegen. So ist es mit dem BBC-Journalisten Alan Johnston, der vor 46 Tagen in Gaza entführt wurde. Alans berufliche Laufbahn gibt ein persönliches Zeugnis vom hervorragenden Ruf der BBC in der Frage der Integrität und Objektivität. Alan, der zuvor in Usbekistan und Afghanistan gearbeitet hatte, berichtet mit Leidenschaft über das palästinensische Volk, mit dem er sich eng verbunden fühlt und das er hoch achtet. Das hat seinen Widerhall bei seinem Publikum gefunden, von dem in dieser Woche 50.000 die Online-Petition für seine Freilassung unterzeichnet haben. Unsere ersten Gedanken gehörten natürlich Graham und Margaret Johnston und seinen übrigen Familienangehörigen, denen wir unser Mitgefühl und unsere Unterstützung zum Ausdruck bringen wollen. Anerkennung zollen möchte ich den Bemühungen der gesamten Leitung und den Mitarbeitern der BBC sowie Journalisten, Gewerkschaften in Großbritannien und in der Welt, die die Kampagne für Alans Freilassung geführt haben. Einer der heute hier anwesenden Kollegen erzählte mir, Alan sei ganz einfach als jemand bekannt, der Geschichten mit Leben erfüllt. Heute ist sein Leben unsere Geschichte. Gerade Alan Johnstons mutige Präsenz als einziger ständiger westlicher Journalist in Gaza hat ihn dazu befähigt, über das Leiden des palästinensischen Volkes zu berichten, und nun wurde er selbst zum jüngsten Fall eines in seiner eigenen Geschichte gefangenen Journalisten – selber ein Opfer des Leids. Es heißt, Alan sei am Leben und in Sicherheit, aber wir wissen nicht, wer ihn festhält. Wir können darüber spekulieren, ob er aus politischen Motiven, aus Gründen des Geldes oder der Anerkennung entführt wurde – wir wissen es nicht, wir wissen überhaupt nichts darüber. Eines können wir sagen: Um zu verhindern, dass anderen das Gleiche zustößt wie Alan, bedarf es einer politischen Verständigung und einer politischen Lösung. Heute ist unsere Antwort indes nicht politischer, sondern humanitärer Art. Wir sagen allen, die uns hören: Lasst Alan Johnston unversehrt und ungehindert frei. Das Europäische Parlament sollte die von den Außenministern Europas in dieser Woche gemachten Zusagen zu helfen und den von unserem Hohen Vertreter versprochenen ‚ständigen Kontakt’ begrüßen. Wir sind sicher, dass Sie zu diesen Versprechen stehen werden. Ich gehe auch davon aus, dass Kommissar Almunia, der in der heutigen Aussprache Rede und Antwort steht, sich dafür einsetzt, dass sein Kollege Michel an diesem Wochenende den Fall Alan Johnston gegenüber Präsident Abbas und Vertretern der Palästinensischen Behörde mit Nachdruck vorbringen wird. Wir danken Ihnen."@de⁹ "Κυρία Πρόεδρε, αν συμφωνείτε, θα ήθελα να ξεκινήσω λέγοντας ότι την προηγούμενη εβδομάδα περισσότερα από 1000 άτομα του προσωπικού του BBC, φίλοι και συνάδελφοι του Alan Johnston συγκεντρώθηκαν για να του συμπαρασταθούν στις εγκαταστάσεις του BBC σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο. Θα ήθελα να καλωσορίσω τα μέλη του προσωπικού του BBC που εργάζονται εδώ στο Στρασβούργο και τα οποία, για να τιμήσουν τον αγνοούμενο συνάδελφό τους, βρίσκονται στα θεωρεία σήμερα παρακολουθώντας τη συζήτησή μας. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο αναγνωρίζει τη στήριξη και τη συνεργασία της Παλαιστινιακής Αρχής και είμαστε περήφανοι για τη στήριξη της Ευρώπης να διατηρηθεί το προσωπικό σας και οι ζωτικές υπηρεσίες που παρέχει, αλλά οι μυστικές σας υπηρεσίες είναι αυτές που κατάφεραν να επικοινωνήσουν με αυτούς που απήγαγαν τον Alan και σε σας εναποθέτουμε τις ελπίδες μας για θετική έκβαση της υπόθεσης. Στους κύκλους του ραδιοφώνου, λένε ότι το μεγαλύτερο έγκλημα είναι να μη λέμε τίποτα στο μικρόφωνο. Η απαγωγή του Alan Johnston αποτελεί τη σιγή ραδιοφώνου η οποία πρέπει τώρα να λήξει. Όταν πραγματοποιείται μια απαγωγή οπουδήποτε στον κόσμο, οι φίλοι και η οικογένεια του θύματος στρέφονται προς τα μέσα μαζικής ενημέρωσης για να υπενθυμίζουν την τύχη του αγαπημένου τους στην κοινή γνώμη και σε εμάς τους πολιτικούς. Όταν το άτομο που έχει απαχθεί είναι δημοσιογράφος, είναι ευθύνη μας να διασφαλίσουμε την τύχη του όπως εκείνος διασφαλίζει την τύχη των άλλων. Ανάλογη είναι η περίπτωση του δημοσιογράφου του BBC Alan Johnston, ο οποίος απήχθη στη Γάζα πριν από 46 μέρες. Η σταδιοδρομία του Alan προσωπικά συμβολίζει την εξέχουσα φήμη του BBC όσον αφορά την ακεραιότητα και την αντικειμενικότητά του. Έχοντας εργαστεί προηγουμένως στο Ουζμπεκιστάν και στο Αφγανιστάν, ο Alan είναι φλογερός ανταποκριτής για τον λαό της Παλαιστίνης με τον οποίο έχει στενή σχέση και για τον οποίο διατηρεί μεγάλο σεβασμό. Αυτό είχε αντίκτυπο στο κοινό του, καθώς 50 000 άτομα υπέγραψαν αυτήν την εβδομάδα την αναφορά που διατίθεται στο Διαδίκτυο και ζητεί την απελευθέρωσή του. Οι πρώτες μας σκέψεις συντροφεύουν ασφαλώς τον Graham και τη Margaret Johnston και τα άλλα μέλη της οικογένειάς του, στους οποίους εκφράζουμε τη συμπάθεια και τη συμπαράστασή μας. Θα ήθελα να τιμήσουμε τις προσπάθειες όλης της διοίκησης και του προσωπικού του BBC και των δημοσιογράφων, των συνδικάτων στη Βρετανία και σε όλον τον κόσμο, οι οποίοι ηγούνται της εκστρατείας για την απελευθέρωση του Alan. Ένας από τους συναδέλφους σήμερα εδώ με ενημέρωσε ότι ο Alan είναι γνωστός απλώς ως κάποιος ο οποίος ζωντανεύει ιστορίες. Σήμερα η ζωή του είναι η δική μας ιστορία. Η θαρραλέα παρουσία του Alan Johnston, ο οποίος είναι ο μοναδικός δημοσιογράφος της Δύσης που είναι μόνιμα εγκατεστημένος στη Γάζα, τον διευκόλυνε να περιγράφει τα δεινά του λαού της Παλαιστίνης και τώρα έχει καταστεί η τελευταία περίπτωση δημοσιογράφου που έπεσε θύμα της ίδιας της ιστορίας του – έπεσε ο ίδιος θύμα αυτών των δεινών. Μας ενημέρωσαν ότι ο Alan εξακολουθεί να είναι ζωντανός και ασφαλής, αλλά όχι ποιοι τον κρατούν. Μπορούμε να υποθέσουμε ότι η απαγωγή του έγινε για πολιτικούς λόγους, για χρήματα ή για αναγνώριση, αλλά δεν ξέρουμε ακριβώς ποιος είναι ο λόγος, αν υπάρχει. Μπορούμε να αναγνωρίσουμε ότι για να αποτρέψουμε να συμβεί σε άλλους αυτό που συνέβη στον Alan, απαιτείται πολιτική κατανόηση και λύση. Ωστόσο, σήμερα η απάντησή μας δεν είναι πολιτική – είναι ανθρωπιστική, σε όποιον ακούει: απελευθερώστε τον Alan Johnston χωρίς να του κάνετε κακό και χωρίς να θέσετε εμπόδια. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο θα πρέπει να χαιρετίσει τις διαβεβαιώσεις των Υπουργών Εξωτερικών της Ευρώπης αυτήν την εβδομάδα για βοήθεια και της «συνεχούς επαφής» που υποσχέθηκε ο Ύπατος Εκπρόσωπός μας. Είμαστε βέβαιοι ότι θα τηρήσετε αυτές τις υποσχέσεις. Αντιλαμβάνομαι επίσης ότι ο Επίτροπος Almunia, μετά τη σημερινή συζήτηση, θα δεσμευθεί ότι ο συνάδελφός του κ. Michel θα ασκήσει πιέσεις αυτό το Σαββατοκύριακο για την περίπτωση του Alan Johnston στον Πρόεδρο Abbas και τους εκπροσώπους της Παλαιστινιακής Αρχής. Σας ευχαριστούμε."@el¹⁰ ". Señora Presidenta, con su venia me gustaría comenzar diciendo que la semana pasada se reunieron más de mil miembros del personal de la BBC, amigos y compañeros de profesión de Alan Johnston ante los locales de la BBC de todo el mundo para recordar que se encuentra secuestrado. Quiero dar la bienvenida a los trabajadores de la BBC de aquí en Estrasburgo que se encuentran en la galería del público para escuchar nuestro debate, en señal de homenaje a su compañero secuestrado. El Parlamento Europeo reconoce el apoyo y la cooperación de la Autoridad Palestina y nos sentimos orgullosos de la ayuda que Europa brinda para mantener a su personal y los servicios vitales que presta, pero han sido sus servicios de inteligencia los que han podido ponerse en contacto con los secuestradores de Alan y en usted depositamos nuestra esperanza de lograr un feliz desenlace. En los círculos radiofónicos se dice que el mayor crimen es no decir nada ante el micrófono. El secuestro de Alan Johnston es el silencio radiofónico al que hay que poner fin. Cuando se comete un secuestro en cualquier lugar del mundo, los amigos y familiares de la víctima siempre acuden a los medios de comunicación para que estos recuerden al público y a nosotros, los políticos, la situación en que se hallan sus seres queridos. Cuando la propia persona secuestrada es un periodista, es nuestra responsabilidad velar por su suerte y como ellos velan por la de los demás. Este es el caso del periodista de la BBC Alan Johnston, secuestrado en Gaza hace 46 días. La carrera personal de Alan simboliza la extraordinaria reputación de integridad y objetividad de la BBC. Después de trabajar en Uzbekistán y Afganistán, Alan se apasionó por informar sobre el pueblo palestino, con el que guarda una estrecha relación y por el que siente un profundo respeto. Este hecho ha encontrado eco en su público y 50 000 personas han firmado esta semana una petición en Internet para pedir su liberación. Nuestros primeros pensamientos están, por supuesto, con Graham y Margaret Johnston y los demás miembros de su familia, a quienes enviamos nuestra solidaridad y apoyo. Quisiera ensalzar los esfuerzos que han realizado la dirección y el personal de la BBC, y a los periodistas, sindicatos británicos y de todo el mundo que han encabezado la campaña a favor de la liberación de Alan. Uno de sus compañeros aquí presentes me ha dicho que Alan es conocido simplemente por infundir vida a las noticias. Hoy su vida es nuestra noticia. La valerosa presencia de Alan Johnston, el único periodista occidental con base permanente en Gaza, le ha permitido precisamente informar sobre el sufrimiento del pueblo palestino y ahora se ha convertido en el caso más reciente de un periodista capturado por su propia historia, en una víctima del mismo sufrimiento. Nos han dicho que Alan sigue sano y salvo, pero no quiénes le retienen. Podemos especular sobre si su secuestro se debe a razones políticas, económicas o de reconocimiento, pero no sabemos el motivo, en caso de que exista alguno. Sabemos que para evitar que otros corran la suerte de Alan es necesario un entendimiento político y una solución política. Sin embargo, hoy nuestra respuesta no es política, sino humanitaria, y consiste en decir a quienquiera que nos escuche que liberen a Alan Johnston incólume y sin trabas. El Parlamento debe acoger con agrado las promesas de ayuda brindadas esta semana por los Ministros de Asuntos Exteriores europeos y por el «contacto permanente» que prometió nuestro propio Alto Representante. Estamos convencidos de que cumplirán su palabra. Tengo entendido igualmente que el Comisario Almunia prometerá, en respuesta al debate de hoy, que su colega, el señor Michel, planteará este fin de semana el caso de Alan Johnston al Presidente Abbás y a los representantes de la Autoridad Palestina. Les damos las gracias."@es²¹ "Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@et⁵ "Arvoisa puhemies, jos sallitte, kerron aluksi, että viime viikolla yli tuhat BBC:n työntekijää, Alan Johnstonin ystävää ja kollegaa osallistui hiljaiseen mielenosoitukseen hänen puolestaan BBC:n tiloissa kaikkialla maailmassa. Haluan toivottaa tervetulleiksi täällä Strasbourgissa työskentelevät BBC:n työntekijät, jotka ovat kadonneen kollegansa puolesta yleisölehtereillä kuuntelemassa tämänpäiväistä keskusteluamme. Euroopan parlamentti tunnustaa palestiinalaishallinnon antaman tuen ja sen tekemän yhteistyön. Olemme ylpeitä siitä, että EU tukee palestiinalaishallinnon henkilöstöä ja sen tarjoamia peruspalveluja. Palestiinalaishallinnon tiedustelupalvelu on päässyt yhteyteen Alanin sieppaajien kanssa, ja luotamme siihen, että palestiinalaishallinto saa ratkaistua tilanteen. Radioalalla sanotaan, että suurin rikos on olla sanomatta mitään mikrofoniin. Alan Johnstonin sieppauksesta johtuva radiohiljaisuus kestänyt jo liian pitkään, ja sen on loputtava. Aina kun jossain päin maailmaa siepataan joku, uhrin ystävät ja perhe turvautuvat tiedotusvälineisiin, jotta ne kiinnittäisivät julkisuuden ja meidän poliittisten päättäjien huomion heille rakkaaseen ihmiseen. Kun siepattu on toimittaja, meidän vastuullamme on pitää hänen tilanteensa julkisuudessa samoin kuin toimittajat tekisivät meille. Näin on käynyt BBC:n toimittajalle Alan Johnstonille, joka siepattiin Gazassa 46 päivää sitten. Alanin toiminta on lahjomattomuudessaan ja puolueettomuudessaan ollut BBC:n erinomaisen maineen veroista. Hän on aiemmin työskennellyt Uzbekistanissa ja Afganistanissa ja on viime aikoina raportoinut pyyteettömästi palestiinalaisten tilanteesta. Hän on päässyt läheiseen yhteyteen palestiinalaisten kanssa ja kunnioittaa heitä syvästi. Tästä on osoituksena laaja yleisö, josta 50 000 henkeä on tällä viikolla allekirjoittanut sähköisen vetoomuksen hänen vapauttamisensa puolesta. Ajatuksissamme ovat ennen kaikkea Graham ja Margaret Johnston sekä muut perheenjäsenet, joille haluamme välittää osanottomme ja tuen ilmaisumme. Haluan kiittää koko BBC:n hallintoa ja henkilökuntaa sekä toimittajia ja ammattiliittoja Yhdistyneessä kuningaskunnassa ja kaikkialla maailmassa kampanjasta, jolla pyritään saamaan Alan vapaaksi. Eräs kollegani kertoi minulle tänään, että Alan tunnetaan henkilönä, joka tekee tarinoista totta. Tänään hänen elämänsä on meidän tarinamme. Alan Johnston on ainoa länsimainen toimittaja, joka on rohkeasti pysynyt Gazassa, minkä ansiosta hän onkin pystynyt kertomaan palestiinalaisten kärsimyksestä koko maailmalle. Nyt hänestä on tullut yksi omien tarinoidensa päähenkilöistä, kärsimyksen uhri. Meille kerrotaan Alanin olevan elossa ja turvassa, mutta emme tiedä, kuka häntä pitää vangittuna. Voimme vain arvailla, olivatko hänen sieppauksensa syyt poliittisia, halutaanko hänestä lunnaita vai etsitäänkö toiminnalle hänen kauttaan tunnustusta. Emme tiedä, mistä näistä on kyse. Tarvitaan poliittista ymmärrystä ja poliittisia ratkaisuja, jotta voidaan estää saman tapahtuminen uudestaan. Tänään emme kuitenkaan vastaa poliittisesti vaan humanitaarisesti ja osoitamme sanamme kaikille tahoille: vapauttakaa Alan Johnston turvallisesti ja esteettä. Euroopan parlamentin on kiitettävä EU:n ulkoasiainministerejä tämänviikkoisesta avuntarjouksesta ja omaa korkeaa edustajaamme hänen lupauksistaan pitää jatkuvasti yhteyttä Gazaan. Te epäilemättä pidätte lupauksenne. Käsittääkseni myös komission jäsen Almunia pyytää vastauksena tämänpäiväiseen keskusteluun kollegaansa Micheliä vaatimaan Alan Johnstonin vapauttamista hänen keskustellessaan tänä viikonloppuna presidentti Abbasin ja palestiinalaishallinnon edustajien kanssa. Kiitos siitä."@fi⁷ ". Madame la Présidente, avec votre accord je tiens tout d’abord à signaler que plus de mille amis et collègues d’Alan Johnston se sont réunis la semaine dernière et ont organisé des veillées de soutien en son honneur dans les bâtiments de la BBC un peu partout dans le monde. Je voudrais souhaiter la bienvenue aux membres du personnel de la BBC travaillant ici à Strasbourg qui, en hommage à leur collègue porté disparu, assistent aujourd’hui à notre débat depuis la galerie réservée au public. Le Parlement européen apprécie l’assistance et la coopération de l’Autorité palestinienne et nous sommes fiers de l’appui fourni par l’Europe pour soutenir votre personnel et les services essentiels qu’il assure. Toutefois, ce sont vos services de renseignement qui ont réussi à établir le contact avec les ravisseurs d’Alan et c’est en vous que nous plaçons nos espoirs d’avancée. En radio, l’adage prétend que le plus grand des crimes est de ne dire rien dans le micro. Le silence radio qui entoure l’enlèvement d’Alan Johnston doit prendre fin aujourd’hui. Quand un enlèvement a lieu, en quelque point du globe que ce soit, les amis et la famille de la victime s’adressent toujours aux médias pour que le public et nous autres les responsables politiques ne perdions pas de vue le destin de leur proche. Quand la victime de l’enlèvement est elle-même journaliste, il est de notre responsabilité de nous préoccuper de son sort comme celle-ci se préoccupait du nôtre dans le cadre de ses fonctions. C’est le cas du journaliste de la BBC Alan Johnston, enlevé à Gaza il y a 46 jours. La carrière d’Alan symbolise à elle seule l’exceptionnelle réputation d’intégrité et d’objectivité de la BBC. Après avoir travaillé en Ouzbékistan et en Afghanistan, Alan s’est consacré avec passion à sa mission d’information en Palestine. Il est très proche du peuple palestinien, qu’il respecte profondément et avec lequel il entretient un lien étroit. Son public s’en est fait l’écho et 50 000 personnes ont signé cette semaine la pétition en ligne réclamant sa libération. Nos premières pensées vont, naturellement, à Graham et Margaret Johnston, ainsi qu’aux autres membres de sa famille, à qui nous exprimons notre sympathie et notre soutien. Je voudrais rendre hommage aux efforts déployés par l’ensemble de la direction et du personnel de la BBC ainsi qu’aux journalistes et aux syndicats britanniques et du monde entier qui mènent campagne pour la libération d’Alan. L’un de ses collègues, présent dans cette Assemblée aujourd’hui, m’a expliqué qu’Alan avait tout simplement la réputation de donner vie aux histoires. Aujourd’hui, sa vie fait partie de notre histoire. La présence courageuse d’Alan Johnston, seul et unique journaliste occidental basé à Gaza de manière permanente, lui a justement permis de décrire la souffrance du peuple palestinien. Dernier journaliste rattrapé par sa propre histoire, le voici désormais victime de cette même souffrance. Les informations dont nous disposons nous affirment qu’Alan est vivant et en sécurité, mais nous ignorons l’identité de ses ravisseurs. Nous pouvons émettre des hypothèses pour savoir si son enlèvement répond à des objectifs politiques, crapuleux ou de reconnaissance, nous ignorons toutefois ce qu’ils sont, pour autant qu’ils existent réellement. Mais nous voyons bien qu’un arrangement et une solution politique s’imposent pour empêcher qu’arrive à d’autres ce qu’il est arrivé à Alan. Cependant, notre réponse d’aujourd’hui n’est pas politique, elle est humanitaire. Nous disons à ceux qui nous écoutent: libérez Alan Johnston sans lui faire de mal et sans causer plus de tort! Le Parlement européen doit saluer les promesses d’intervention de nos ministres des affaires étrangères européens cette semaine et celle de «contact permanent» de notre haut représentant. Nous sommes certains que vous donnerez un suivi à ces promesses. J’entends également que le commissaire Almunia, en réponse au débat d’aujourd’hui, interviendra auprès de son collègue, M. Michel, pour que ce dernier insiste sur le cas d’Alan Johnston auprès du Président Abbas et des représentants de l’Autorité palestinienne fin de la semaine. Nous vous en remercions."@fr⁸ "Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@hu¹¹ "Signora Presidente, con il suo permesso inizierò dicendo che la settimana scorsa più di mille persone tra dipendenti della BBC, amici e colleghi di Alan Johnston si sono raccolte in veglia davanti alle sedi della BBC di tutto il mondo. Do il benvenuto ai collaboratori della sede della BBC di Strasburgo, che, in segno di omaggio per il loro collega rapito, presenziano ai nostri lavori dalla tribuna del pubblico. Il Parlamento europeo apprezza il sostegno e la collaborazione dell’Autorità palestinese ed è orgoglioso degli aiuti che l’Unione vi mette a disposizione per pagare il vostro personale e garantire i servizi essenziali che esso fornisce. Ma sono stati i vostri servizi di a mettersi in contatto con i rapitori di Alan, ed è quindi in voi che riponiamo le nostre speranze di una soluzione positiva. Negli ambienti della radio si dice che la cosa peggiore sia “fare buco”, cioè avere il microfono acceso e non dire nulla. Il rapimento di Alan Johnston è il silenzio di fronte a un microfono aperto, un silenzio che deve cessare. Quando, in qualsiasi parte del mondo, una persona viene rapita, i suoi amici e i suoi familiari si affidano sempre ai perché mantengano viva agli occhi del mondo e di noi politici la sorte del loro caro. E quando la persona rapita è essa stessa giornalista, spetta a noi tener desta l’attenzione sulla sua vicenda, così come i giornalisti lo fanno per altre persone. Ciò vale anche nel caso di Alan Johnston, il giornalista della BBC rapito a Gaza 46 giorni fa. Con la sua carriera, Alan è il simbolo vivente dell’ottima reputazione della BBC quanto a integrità e obiettività. Dopo aver lavorato in Uzbekistan e Afghanistan, Alan scriveva ora appassionati sul popolo palestinese, al quale è strettamente legato e per il quale nutre un profondo rispetto. E il suo pubblico lo ha capito, tanto che 50 000 persone hanno firmato questa settimana la petizione per chiedere il suo rilascio. I nostri pensieri vanno, naturalmente, innanzi tutto a Graham e Margaret Johnston e agli altri componenti della sua famiglia, che possono contare sulla nostra partecipazione e sul nostro sostegno. Desidero rendere omaggio all’impegno di tutti i dirigenti e collaboratori della BBC nonché ai giornalisti e ai sindacati britannici e di tutto il mondo che hanno condotto la campagna per la liberazione di Alan. Uno dei colleghi presenti qui oggi mi ha detto che Alan è conosciuto molto semplicemente come una persona che dà vita a storie. La nostra storia di oggi è la sua vita. Grazie alla sua coraggiosa presenza a Gaza, dove è l’unico giornalista occidentale residente stabilmente, Alan Johnston ha avuto modo di raccontare le sofferenze del popolo palestinese ed è ora diventato il caso emblematico di un giornalista intrappolato nella sua stessa storia – vittima delle stesse sofferenze che raccontava. Ci è stato detto che Alan è vivo e in salute, ma non chi lo tiene prigioniero. Sugli scopi del suo rapimento – motivi politici, richieste di danaro o di riconoscimento – possiamo solo fare ipotesi, perché in realtà non li conosciamo, ammesso che esistano. E’ nondimeno evidente che, per impedire che altri siano vittime di quanto è accaduto ad Alan, occorre comprendere il problema palestinese in termini politici, così come politica deve essere la soluzione. Oggi, però, la nostra risposta non è politica, è una risposta umanitaria. A chiunque voglia ascoltare chiediamo di rilasciare Alan Johnston senza fargli del male e senza frapporre ostacoli. Il Parlamento europeo dovrebbe accogliere con favore le garanzie di aiuto giunte questa settimana dai ministri europei degli Affari esteri e il “contatto permanente” promesso dall’Alto rappresentante, che, ne siamo certi, manterrà le sue promesse. Apprendo inoltre che il Commissario Almunia, nella sua replica alla discussione odierna, si impegnerà affinché il suo collega Commissario Michel insista sul caso di Alan Johnston nei colloqui che avrà il prossimo fine settimana con il Presidente Abbas e i rappresentanti dell’Autorità palestinese. La ringraziamo."@it¹² "Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@lt¹⁴ "Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@lv¹³ "Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@mt¹⁵ ". Mevrouw de Voorzitter, met uw welnemen zou ik allereerst willen vermelden dat meer dan 1000 BBC-personeelsleden, vrienden en collega’s van Alan Johnston vorige week een wake voor hem hebben gehouden bij BBC-gebouwen over de hele wereld. Voor nu wil ik graag de BBC-mensen die hier in Straatsburg werken en vandaag hier ter ere van hun vermiste collega op de publieke tribune aanwezig zijn om naar ons debat te luisteren, van harte welkom heten. Het Europees Parlement is erkentelijk voor de steun en samenwerking van de Palestijnse Autoriteit en we zijn trots op de steun die Europa u levert ter behoud van uw ambtenarenkorps en de vitale diensten die het levert. Maar het was uw inlichtingendienst die kans heeft gezien contact te leggen met degenen die Alan hebben ontvoerd, en op u is onze hoop gevestigd op een spoedige doorbraak. In de radiowereld wordt gezegd dat niets zeggen in de microfoon de grootste misdaad is. De ontvoering van Alan Johnston is de radiostilte die erom schreeuwt doorbroken te worden. Als er ergens op de wereld iemand wordt ontvoerd, richten de vrienden en verwanten van het slachtoffer hun hoop op de media om het lot van hun dierbare onder de aandacht van het publiek en van ons politici te houden. Als de ontvoerde zelf een journalist is, is het onze verantwoordelijkheid om ons te bekommeren om zijn of haar lot, net zoals hij of zij zich om het lot van anderen bekommert. Dat geldt ook voor BBC-journalist Alan Johnston die 46 dagen geleden in de Gazastrook werd ontvoerd. Zijn persoonlijke loopbaan is typisch een uiting van de uitmuntende reputatie van de BBC als het gaat om integriteit en objectiviteit. Voorheen heeft Alan in Oezbekistan en Afghanistan gewerkt, en nu was hij zeer bevlogen met zijn verslaggeving over het Palestijnse volk, waarmee hij een nauwe band heeft en waarvoor hij een diep respect koestert. Ook zijn publiek is zich hier terdege van bewust; 50 000 onder hen hebben deze week de online petitie voor zijn vrijlating ondertekend. Onze gedachten gaan uiteraard in de eerste plaats uit naar Graham en Margaret Johnston en de overige leden van zijn familie. Wij wensen hen veel sterkte en moed toe. Tevens zou ik mijn waardering willen uitspreken voor de inspanningen van management en personeel van de BBC, alsook mijn dank aan de journalisten en vakbonden in Groot-Brittannië en wereldwijd voor hun campagne ten behoeve van de vrijlating van Alan. Een van zijn collega’s vertelde mij hier vandaag dat Alan bekend staat als iemand die bij uitstek verhalen tot leven kan brengen. Nu is zijn leven ons verhaal. Dankzij zijn uitgesproken moed om als enige westerse journalist permanent gestationeerd te zijn binnen de Gazastrook zelf, heeft hij verslag kunnen doen van het lijden van het Palestijnse volk, en nu is hij het ultieme geval geworden van de journalist die in zijn eigen verhaal terecht gekomen is, een slachtoffer van het lijden zelf. Er wordt ons gezegd dat Alan nog steeds in leven is en in veilige handen, maar niet in welke. We kunnen alleen maar speculeren over de vraag of zijn ontvoering een politieke achtergrond heeft, of het om geld te doen was, of misschien om erkenning. We tasten daarover volledig in het duister. Wat we wel weten is dat om te voorkomen dat anderen hetzelfde gebeurt als wat Alan overkomen is er politiek begrip en een dito oplossing nodig is. Wat we vandaag doen is echter niet politiek van aard, maar puur menselijk. We zeggen tegen eenieder die het maar hoort: laat Alan Johnston ongedeerd en ongehinderd vrij! Het Europees Parlement zou het zeer verwelkomen als de deze week door de Europese ministers van Buitenlandse Zaken toegezegde hulp en het door onze eigen hoge vertegenwoordiger beloofde “permanente contact” bewaarheid worden. Wij vertrouwen erop dat u uw beloften onverwijld zult nakomen. Ook heb ik begrepen dat commissaris Almunia, naar aanleiding van het debat van vandaag ervoor zal pleiten dat de heer Michel dit weekend het lot van Alan Johnston lot bij president Abbas en vertegenwoordigers van de Palestijnse Autoriteit onder de aandacht brengt. Daarvoor onze hartelijke dank."@nl³ "Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@pl¹⁶ "Senhora Presidente, se me permite, gostaria de começar por dizer que a semana passada mais de mil trabalhadores da BBC, amigos e colegas de Alan Johnston, se reuniram numa vigília em sua homenagem nas instalações da BBC espalhadas pelo mundo. Gostaria de saudar o pessoal da BBC que trabalha aqui em Estrasburgo e que, em homenagem ao seu colega desaparecido, estão hoje aqui na galeria do público para ouvir o nosso debate. O Parlamento Europeu reconhece o apoio e a cooperação da Autoridade Palestiniana e temos orgulho no apoio que a Europa dá para suportar o vosso pessoal e os serviços vitais que ele presta, mas foram os vossos próprios serviços secretos que conseguiram estabelecer contacto com os raptores de Alan, e é em vós que depositamos a nossa esperança de um desfecho feliz. Diz-se no meio da rádio que o maior crime é não dizer nada ao microfone. O rapto de Alan Johnston é o silêncio da rádio que agora tem de acabar. Quando se verifica um rapto em qualquer parte do mundo, os amigos e familiares da vítima procuram sempre os meios de comunicação a fim de chamar a atenção do público e a nossa, enquanto políticos, para a sorte do seu ente querido. Quando a pessoa raptada é ela própria um jornalista, cabe-nos a responsabilidade de acalentar a sua sorte assim como os jornalistas acalentam a dos outros. É isso o que acontece com o jornalista da BBC Alan Johnston, raptado em Gaza há 46 dias. A carreira pessoal de Alan simboliza a extraordinária reputação de integridade e objectividade da BBC. Depois de ter trabalhado no Uzbequistão e no Afeganistão, Alan dedicava-se apaixonadamente a fazer reportagens sobre o povo palestiniano com o qual tem uma ligação próxima e pelo qual nutre um profundo respeito. Isto teve enormes repercussões junto do seu público, de tal modo que esta semana 50 000 pessoas assinaram a petição a pedir a sua libertação. Os nossos primeiros pensamentos vão, naturalmente, para Graham e Margaret Johnston e os outros membros da sua família, a quem enviamos a nossa mensagem de simpatia e apoio. Gostaria de prestar homenagem aos esforços de todos os membros da administração e do pessoal da BBC, bem como dos jornalistas e dos sindicatos da Grã-Bretanha e de todo o mundo que têm conduzido a campanha pela libertação de Alan. Um dos colegas hoje aqui presentes disse-me que Alan é conhecido muito simplesmente como alguém que dá vida às histórias. Hoje a sua vida é a nossa história. A presença corajosa de Alan Johnston em Gaza, como o único jornalista ocidental ali instalado de forma permanente, permitiu-lhe justamente relatar o sofrimento do povo palestiniano, e agora ele próprio tornou-se o último caso de um jornalista apanhado na sua própria história – uma vítima do próprio sofrimento. Dizem-nos que Alan continua vivo e em segurança, mas não nos dizem quem o detém. Podemos especular se o seu rapto foi por motivos políticos, monetários ou de reconhecimento, mas não sabemos qual, se é que existe algum. Podemos reconhecer que, para impedir que o que sucedeu a Alan suceda a outras pessoas, é necessário que haja um entendimento e uma solução políticos. No entanto, a nossa resposta de hoje não é política – é humanitária, para dizer a quem nos estiver a ouvir: libertem Alan Johnston sem lhe fazerem mal e sem levantar obstáculos. O Parlamento Europeu deve saudar as garantias de ajuda dadas esta semana pelos ministros dos Negócios Estrangeiros e a promessa de “contacto permanente” feita pelo nosso próprio Alto Representante. Temos a certeza de que agirá de acordo com esta promessas. Sei igualmente que o Senhor Comissário Almunia, nas respostas ao debate de hoje, vai prometer que o seu colega Comissário Louis Michel este fim-de-semana vai abordar o caso de Alan Johnston junto do Presidente Abbas e de representantes da Autoridade Palestiniana. Os nossos agradecimentos."@pt¹⁷ "Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@ro¹⁸ "Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@sk¹⁹ "Madam President, with your agreement I should like to begin by saying that last week over one thousand BBC staff, friends and colleagues of Alan Johnston gathered at vigils for him at BBC buildings across the world. I should like to welcome the BBC staff working here in Strasbourg who, in tribute to their missing colleague, are in the public gallery today to listen to our debate. The European Parliament acknowledges the support and cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and we are proud of Europe’s support to sustain your staff and the vital services they provide, but it is your intelligence services who have been able to make contact with those who have abducted Alan, and it is in you that we place our hopes for a breakthrough. In radio circles, they say that the biggest crime is to say nothing into the microphone. Alan Johnston’s kidnapping is the radio silence that now must come to an end. When a kidnapping takes place anywhere in the world, the victim’s friends and family always look to the media to keep the fate of their loved one in the eye of the public and of us as politicians. When the kidnapped person is himself a journalist, it is our responsibility to cherish their fate as they cherish others’. Such is the case with BBC journalist Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza 46 days ago. Alan’s career personally symbolises the outstanding reputation of the BBC for integrity and objectivity. Having previously worked in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Alan is passionate about his reporting on the Palestinian people, with whom he has a close connection and for whom he has deep respect. This has resonated among his audience, 50 000 of whom have this week signed the online petition asking for his release. Our first thoughts are, of course, with Graham and Margaret Johnston and with the other members of his family, to whom we send our sympathy and support. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the BBC management and staff and to journalists, trade unions in Britain and worldwide who have led the campaign for Alan’s release. One of the colleagues here today told me that Alan is known quite simply as someone who brings stories to life. Today his life is our story. Alan Johnston’s courageous presence, as the only permanently-based Western journalist in Gaza, has precisely enabled him to report the suffering of the Palestinian people, and now he has become the ultimate case of a journalist caught up in his own story – a victim of the suffering itself. We are told that Alan remains alive and secure, but not who is holding him. We can speculate whether his abduction was for reasons of politics, money or recognition, but we do not know which, if any. We can recognise that to prevent what has happened to Alan from happening to others requires a political understanding and solution. However, today our response is not political – it is humanitarian, to say to whoever is listening: release Alan Johnston without harm and without hindrance. The European Parliament should welcome the assurances of help made by Europe’s Foreign Ministers this week and of ‘permanent contact’ promised by our own High Representative. We are sure you will act on these promises. I understand too that Commissioner Almunia, responding to today’s debate, will pledge that his colleague Mr Michel will this weekend press Alan Johnston’s case with President Abbas and representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We thank you."@sl²⁰ "Fru talman! Med er tillåtelse vill jag börja med att säga att mer än ettusen personer ur BBC:s personal, vänner och kolleger till Alan Johnston samlades till en vaka för honom vid BBC-byggnader i hela världen. Jag vill välkomna den BBC-personal som arbetar här i Strasbourg och som i dag, som en hyllning till sin saknade kollega, sitter på åhörarläktaren för att lyssna till vår debatt. Europaparlamentet erkänner det stöd och det samarbete som den palestinska myndigheten ger, och vi är stolta över EU:s stöd för att bistå er personal och de viktiga tjänster som de utför, men det är er säkerhetstjänst som har kunnat ta kontakt med dem som har fört bort Alan, och det är på er vi hoppas för ett genombrott. I radiokretsar säger man att det största brottet är att säga ingenting i mikrofonen. Bortförandet av Alan Johnston är den radiotystnad som måste upphöra. När ett bortförande av en person äger rum någonstans i världen räknar offrets vänner och familj alltid med att medierna ska se till att deras käras öde inte glöms bort av allmänheten eller av oss politiker. När de bortförda personerna själva är journalister är det vårt ansvar att följa deras öde, så som de följer andras. Detta är fallet med BBC:s journalist Alan Johnston, som bortfördes i Gaza för 46 dagar sedan. Alans karriär är en personlig symbol för BBC:s utmärkta rykte för integritet och objektivitet. Han hade tidigare arbetat i Uzbekistan och Afghanistan, och är mycket engagerad i att rapportera om det palestinska folket, som han har nära förbindelser med och djup respekt för. Detta har gett resonans bland hans lyssnare, av vilka 50 000 denna vecka har undertecknat den framställning online som kräver att han släpps fri. Våra första tankar går naturligtvis till Graham och Margaret Johnston och de andra medlemmarna av hans familj, som vi ger vår sympati och vårt stöd. Jag vill ge ett erkännande åt BBC:s ledning och personal och till journalister, fackföreningar i Storbritannien och i hela världen som har fört kampanjen för att frige Alan. En av kollegerna här i dag sa till mig att Alan helt enkelt är känd som någon som ger liv åt en historia. I dag är hans liv vår historia. Alan Johnstons modiga närvaro, som den ende permanent stationerade västerländske journalisten i Gaza, har gjort det möjligt för honom att just rapportera om det palestinska folkets lidanden, och nu har han blivit det verkliga fallet med en journalist som fångats i sin egen historia – ett offer för själva lidandet. Man har sagt oss att Alan lever och är trygg, men inte vem som håller honom fängslad. Vi kan spekulera om huruvida bortförandet hade politiska motiv eller hade med pengar eller igenkännande att göra, men vi vet inte om det skedde av någon av dessa anledningar. Vi kan inse att för att förhindra att det som har skett Alan också händer andra krävs det politisk förståelse och en politisk lösning. I dag är vår reaktion emellertid inte politisk – den är humanitär, och vi vill säga till alla som lyssnar: Frige Alan Johnson oskadad och utan förbehåll. Europaparlamentet bör välkomna den försäkran om hjälp som EU:s utrikesministrar denna vecka har erbjudit, och den ”permanenta kontakt” som vår egen höge representant har lovat. Vi är säkra på att ni kommer att agera enligt dessa löften. Jag förstår också att kommissionsledamot Almunia, som svar på dagens debatt, kommer att utlova att hans kollega Louis Michel detta veckoslut kommer att sätta press på president Abbas och representanter för den palestinska myndigheten med avseende på Alan Johnstons fall."@sv²²
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"(Aplausos)"^21,17 "(Applaudissements)"⁸ "(Applaus)"³ "(Applause)"^{18,5,20,15,1,19,14,16,11,13,13,4} "(Applausi)"¹² "(Applåder)"²² "(Beifall)"⁹ "(Bifald)"² "(Suosionosoituksia)"⁷ "(Χειροκροτήματα)"¹⁰ "Richard Howitt (PSE ),"^{18,5,20,15,1,19,14,11,16,13,4} "author"^{18,5,20,15,1,19,19,14,14,16,16,11,13,4} "intelligence"¹² "media"¹² "on line"^17,12 "reportage"¹²