Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-07-03-Speech-3-172"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2002-07-03"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Consequences for transatlantic relations of the law on the protection of US personnel2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20020703.5.3-172"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2002-07-03-Speech-3-1732
lpv:speaker	lp:Lousewies van der Laan2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, tomorrow is 4 July, Independence Day. We join our American friends in a celebration of America's achievements. In two world wars the Americans came to liberate us from darkness and violence, and when the Balkans erupted the Americans stepped in when Europe failed. The Americans are there when you need them, ready to fight and die for a world of freedom and democracy. However, freedom and democracy do not stop after the obtaining of peace. In order to maintain peace and prevent wars perpetrators of crimes must be brought to justice. That is why we in Europe find it utterly incomprehensible that Americans are now cheering on their legislators as they are killing off an essential tool that was missing in our quest to make the world a safer and more just place – the International Criminal Court. The Court has a mandate to prosecute only the most horrible crimes – genocide, mass murder and mass rape. In the past we have had to set up ad hoc tribunals for the Milosevics of this world. Now 74 countries have ratified a court which Kofi Annan rightly calls "a great victory for justice, and for world order – a turn away from the rule of brute force, and towards the Rule of Law." America and Europe have built-in safeguards to ensure the Court will not become a political tool. Any government can prevent the Court from taking action against its citizens by prosecuting them at home. Despite all this, the US has withdrawn its signature. If that were not a large enough blow to international justice, Congress then accepted the American Servicemembers' Protection Act, which not only threatens to withhold military and financial support to any country that cooperates with the Court, but also allows the US to invade a long-time friend and ally – my country to be precise. The Dutch people cannot understand how our American friends can now threaten us with violence, and for what? Is it really more important to allow American soldiers to commit war crimes than to build a safer world? Is it necessary to jeopardise international peacekeeping missions just to make the point that superpowers do not have to play by the rules? Perhaps this is an opportunity for Europe. Europe has a chance to show the world that it is indeed a union of values; that we believe in a world in which we are all equal before the law, a world in which perpetrators of crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are and where they are hiding: a world ruled by law, not by the sword of the mightiest. I cannot believe that Americans do not also want this type of world and I hope deeply that they will reconsider their position. However, until they do, Europe must take the lead. We must show the world that we will stick to our principles and fight for justice. If a majority of the House sends that signal to the world tomorrow by supporting our compromise resolution then we are also celebrating Independence Day, the day that Europe stood up for its values."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member_of_the_bureau; ELDR (1999-09-13--2003-01-29)3 unknown; Democraten 66 (1999-07-20--2003-01-29)3 member; Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council (2002-02-07--2003-01-29)3 substitute; BUDG (2002-01-17--2003-01-29)3 vice-chair; Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs (2002-01-21--2003-01-29)3 member; Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities (2002-01-17--2003-01-29)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"always"1 "van der Laan (ELDR )."1

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