Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-06-14-Speech-4-171"
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"en.20010614.8.4-171"2
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". – Mr President, I shall deal first of all with the debate on the situation in Guatemala. The Commission is closely monitoring the situation there. There are increasing concerns within the EU and the international community about the considerable deterioration in that country in the situation in key areas such as human rights protection, justice and good governance.
It also welcomes the fact that the High Court of Malaya, in setting free two of the ISA detainees under writs of
on 30 May, called on the Malaysian Parliament to review the ISA thoroughly. The Commission is ready to support EU action to press the issue of the human rights situation in general, and of the ISA in particular, with the government of Malaysia on all appropriate occasions.
The Commission, like Parliament, is deeply disturbed by the ever-worsening humanitarian and political situation in Afghanistan. On the humanitarian front, the Commission continues, together with other partners, to provide assistance to vulnerable groups and populations inside Afghanistan and to refugees in neighbouring countries. This assistance is given throughout the country to areas of greatest need, where access and security permit. This is in line with the EU common position on Afghanistan, which sets the objective of providing effective humanitarian aid on the basis of an impartial needs assessment. Commission representatives regularly take part in field visits and assessment missions inside Afghanistan in order to see conditions at first hand and to ensure that aid can be directed towards the areas of greatest need.
On the political front, Commission representatives, acting as part of the EU troika, have sought to persuade the two factions in the current conflict to promote a peaceful solution. The EU troika, consisting of its ambassadorial representatives based in Islamabad, recently visited Kandahar and Faizabad to explain the EU's common position on the Taleban side. They noted a reluctance to consider new peace initiatives. The EU, with other partners, is currently looking at how best to promote a process of engagement.
Two things are clear concerning the future of Afghanistan. First, outside involvement in the conflict in Afghanistan can only prolong the fighting. This applies to the support given to either side by third countries, which are pursuing their own agendas and their own national interests. Secondly, a military solution to the Afghan imbroglio is not possible. The history of the country shows clearly that no one faction can ever impose itself and its political and cultural philosophy on the whole country. I might reinforce that, particularly in response to what Mr Dupuis said, by drawing attention to the fact that the Commission does not provide aid to factions. It is delivered to vulnerable groups and populations according to need and where access and security conditions permit. Given that the Taleban control 90% of the territory of Afghanistan, it is obvious that much of the EC's aid will be delivered in Taleban-controlled areas.
For these reasons the EU maintains an arms embargo covering the whole of Afghanistan and continues to call for a halt to third country interference. The EU, at the same time, supports the peace efforts of the UN and stresses the need for a broad-based government in the country.
Finally, in answer to the contribution from Mrs Fraisse, fighting between the Taliban and the forces of the Northern Alliance has reintensified after the winter lull and the Taliban can be expected to try to expel the Northern Alliance forces from the approximately 10% of Afghan territory which they currently occupy, while Northern Alliance commander Massud and his allies try to spread the conflict to areas already under Taliban control.
In the meantime the effects of the worst drought to affect the country for 30 years continue to afflict Afghans in the south, central and western regions of the country in particular. Large numbers of Afghans have been forced by fear of famine and the conflict to leave their homes and are now living in IDP camps inside Afghanistan or have crossed the borders into either Iran or Pakistan. In 2000 or 2001, an additional 500 000 internally displaced persons or refugees fled the fighting or the drought and the country is heavily dependent on food aid, much of which is supplied by the United States.
The Commission's main priorities for relations with Guatemala are to support the implementation of the 1996 peace accords, which should lead to better respect for human rights; to promote the modernisation of the state; and to bolster good governance. The EU has been very supportive of the peace process in Guatemala, both politically and financially. The cooperation programme with Guatemala is aimed at giving adequate support to the peace process. The Commission has assisted civil society and state organisations, with the aim of contributing to the reconciliation process in the country. At the same time the Commission is preparing a programme to improve the justice system. Furthermore, a Memorandum of Understanding, signed jointly by the European Commission and the Guatemalan government on the 26 March 2001, confirms our commitment to the peace process, with EUR 93 million of additional funds for the period 2001 to 2006. The Commission and Member States have also used the regular political dialogue with Guatemala to reiterate the importance of respecting human rights. The most recent EU actions raising concern about Guatemala have been the Joint Declaration of San José 17 meeting last March and the recent Declaration by the Swedish Presidency on the third anniversary of the assassination of Bishop Gerardi. In this respect the Commission welcomes the recent sentence in the Bishop Gerardi murder trial as encouraging proof of the commitment of the Guatemalan judiciary to improving the human rights situation. In addition, during a visit to Central America at the end of March 2001, my colleague, Commissioner Patten, called on President Portillo's government to take urgent action to avoid a negative spiral of events in Guatemala and reinvigorate the stalled implementation of the peace accords.
The Commission is also closely monitoring the situation in Chad, after the announcement by the National Independent Electoral Commission of the result of the presidential election of 20 May. The calmness of the population on polling day and the high turnout demonstrated a civic commitment which should be praised. According to international observers the voting procedures conformed to legal regulations, but there were organisational deficiencies. A statement from the observation mission reported that opposition candidates listed certain instances of irregularities and fraud which they said had marred the vote. On 12 June the Constitutional Council announced the official election result confirming that Idriss Déby had won a second term in office with 63% of the votes. The Council reportedly rejected the vote in some polling stations. The situation is being closely monitored by the EU heads of mission on the ground. In the spirit of Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement, the Commission will continue its ongoing political dialogue with Chad. Chad has been engaged in a democratic process for the last ten years. This effort is leading to greater human and civil rights protection. However, it is recognised that these rights and liberties are not sufficiently respected by all actors. It will be essential to address these issues in order to ensure sustainable peace in the country. The ninth EDF country support strategy, which is at the final preparation stage, contains an important programme of support for civil society, including human rights organisations.
The recent sentencing of the well-known human rights and pro-democracy campaigner, Professor Saad Ibrahim, and his colleagues has aroused widespread interest in the international community. The case against Professor Ibrahim and his 28 co-accused at the Ibn Khaldun and HODA centres has been closely followed by the European Commission and Member States. When they were initially held without charge last year, the EU made its concern clear at the highest levels, with respect not only to the imprisonment without charge, but also to the intensive and prejudicial press campaign against the accused. When charges were eventually pressed against the accused, and when it was made clear that these included a charge of accepting foreign (that is, EU) funds without authorisation, the European Commission delegation in Cairo reminded the appropriate authorities that grants to civil society organisations were perfectly proper and covered by the EU-Egypt framework convention on financial and technical cooperation. Support for civil society is also an integral component of the Barcelona Process and is an explicit objective of the Barcelona Agreement of 1995, to which Egypt is a signatory.
The charges also claimed the misuse of EU funds allocated to the Ibn Khaldun and HODA pro-democracy programmes. The statement issued by the European Commission in Brussels on 13 December last made it clear that the projects concerned were subject to normal monitoring procedures, including an external mid-term audit. In answer to Mr Purvis's question in particular, I should stress that in 1999 the Commission received satisfactory progress reports from both projects regarding a satisfactory and independent financial audit.
The Egyptian authorities have so far provided no evidence or information to support their charges related to the projects financed by the EU. There have been EU observers present throughout the trial and the EU has always made clear its expectation that due legal process and justice would prevail. It has scrupulously avoided any intervention that might prejudice that expectation. However, the timing of the sentencing a month earlier than expected and without apparent regard for the defence case presented in the closing day of the trial, and the severity of the sentences
7 years for Ibrahim and lesser but nonetheless heavy sentences for all the accused – were entirely unexpected and quite disturbing.
The sentencing gave rise to an oral statement by the Commission on 23 May and a Presidency declaration on 25 May expressing deep concern. The EU used the opportunity to stress the importance it attaches to the development of civil society and reiterated that programmes to this end were an integral part of the EU's bilateral programming with Egypt. The European Commission is continuing to monitor the case closely. The court is obliged to give its reasons within one month of sentencing, and these will be read with interest. There are also limited possibilities for an appeal. The legal process is not finished, and it is to be hoped that the final outcome will reflect the best traditions of the Egyptian legal system. The Egyptian authorities are well aware of international interest in the case and of the implications of a final conclusion that is perceived as being unjust.
Nawal el Saadawi, the well-known feminist writer, was charged with apostasy, but the Prosecutor-General threw out the charges on 23 May. However, this does not appear to be an end to the matter, and charges may yet be pressed in another court. The situation is being carefully monitored by the Commission. The Ibrahim and Saadawi cases have both raised issues of real concern, although further legal steps and the possibility of a sensible outcome remain open. The overall situation is complex and not entirely clear. There are also some signs of optimism in some areas, for instance women's rights, elections controlled by the judiciary, social legislation and so on. There is an increasing section of Egyptian society which fully subscribes to the view that Egypt must adopt the highest standards and is working to that end.
In relation to Malaysia, the Commission has followed closely the events relating to the detention by the Malaysian police of ten pro-reform activists under the Internal Security Act just days ahead of the second anniversary, on 14 April, of the conviction of the former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim. It strongly regrets that on 2 June the Minister for Home Affairs signed two-year detention orders for four of the ten opposition activists and that three of the other six ISA detainees remain in police custody. The Commission is deeply concerned at these events, which it considers contrary to established democratic practice. They reinforce concerns already expressed in the past regarding the general human rights situation in Malaysia. In this respect, the Commission welcomes the fact that the Malaysian National Human Rights Commission has questioned the basis of the arrests and that government representatives have stated that the ISA needs to be abolished or at least radically revised."@en1
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