Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-24-Speech-3-023"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2001-10-24"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:European Council meeting (Ghent, 19 October 2001)2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20011024.1.3-023"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2001-10-24-Speech-3-0242
lpv:speaker	lp:Gerard Collins2
lpv:spoken text	"Madam President, Mr President-in-Office, President Prodi, firstly, I would like to express my very sincere thanks for the comments that have been made by colleagues here this morning and by you, Madam President and President Prodi on the good news from Ireland on the decommissioning of arms. I very much want to put on record once again the important part Parliament and the Commission played in helping the peace process at a time when this help was very much needed. We have had a dramatic breakthrough in the last 24 hours, but let nobody here take it for granted that the road to peace – a just and lasting peace – is going to be easy. Of course, the great majority of people on the island of Ireland are genuinely in search of this just and lasting peace, but, regrettably, a small minority will do their best to try and derail the process. We must all be on the watch for that. I very much welcome the fact that the European Union leaders unequivocally stated their full support for the action that has been taken in the fight against terrorism in all its aspects and reaffirmed their solidarity with the American government. They have agreed that the fight against terrorism must continue within a United Nations framework. I believe that the United Nations has a very important and leading role to play in this regard. Present and future actions in the fight against international terrorism should and must emanate from the membership of the United Nations. We are all concerned that civilian populations must be shielded from the attacks which are taking place in Afghanistan at this time and, in a war situation, there is nothing more sickening than one hearing commentators refer to civilian deaths as 'collateral damage'. We are dealing with lives here and human lives must always be protected. Humanitarian aid for the Afghan people must be a priority and such aid must cover the needs of the Afghan population and Afghan refugees, EU governments are fully committed to ensuring that such aid reaches these people in need. We want to ensure that this is done. Winter is due to start very shortly in Afghanistan, and these winters are exceptionally cold and difficult. I believe that the international community, including the European Union and the United Nations, must estimate the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people over the next few months and ensure that all the necessary humanitarian aid is delivered. We must also, remember that the war against terrorism is being fought on many different fronts. Within the Union, there must be formal adoption of the EU directive on money laundering. We must be able to confiscate the financial proceeds of terrorism so as to help cut off the money supply which is the financial oxygen for its evil operations. We can confiscate the financial proceeds of drug barons in Europe and we must be able to extend these powers of confiscation to other financial proceeds of crime. There must be a speedy ratification by the Union's Member States of the United Nations Convention for the suppressing of the financing of terrorism. EU governments at Ghent supported the implementation of a common European arrest warrant, and our EU Justice Ministers are due to meet on 7 December 2001 to put in place the final terms governing the operation of this warrant. It is very important, in my view, that there is a clear definition of terrorist acts, as a national cannot and should not be extradited from one country in Europe to another unless the specified crime is a crime in his or her host Member State. Finally, we live in challenging and uncertain times and the political situation in the Middle East is very volatile. The present instability and violence cannot and must not continue indefinitely. I believe that the Israeli troops must withdraw from the territories of the Palestinian Authority. I would appeal to the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to do everything possible to negotiate a settlement based on the recommendations of the Mitchell report."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	vice-chair; UEN (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Fianna Fáil Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 chair; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 member; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Conference of Delegation Chairs (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Collins (UEN )."1

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