Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-14-Speech-2-030"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20040914.3.2-030"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, Belarus’ current President has called a constitutional referendum to be held at the same time as the parliamentary elections. The Belarussian people will elect their parliamentary representatives and decide on the form which the Constitution should take. Voices have been heard from all over the world questioning the integrity of the Belarussian state authorities and the results of the elections in advance, although we will only know the results after 17 October. It is taken as read that democratic principles will be violated. I believe that questioning the integrity of elections and referendums before voting has taken place is also incompatible with the spirit of democracy.
We are entitled to observe the situation and must do so, but must not pass judgments ahead of time. In addition, I doubt whether a structure which is as undemocratic as we believe the European Union and its bureaucratic institutions to be has the moral right to judge the level of democracy and decisions of a sovereign nation to be undemocratic. Is the European Union competent to reprimand independent states?
There is an ancient maxim which says
that means physician, heal thyself. The European Union wishes to impose the Constitutional Treaty on free nations, even though in such instances the mandatory national referendums approving the Treaty are not required. Where is the democracy in such cases? Parliament should first guarantee democracy and independence in European countries, and only then issue condemnations and reprimands to others.
‘You see the mote in your brother’s eye, but you do not see the beam in your own eye’. Pharisees and hypocrites! This is not to say that we should not react to violations of human rights wherever they may occur in the world, but that is not Parliament’s job. It would be like the Congress of the United States of America passing a resolution on democracy in France or Germany, or the Polish Parliament reprimanding the European Parliament. It is not Parliament’s job.
Parliament should therefore not overstep its competences. Democracy is based on respect for the sovereign decisions of nations, irrespective of whether we like them or not. Let us await the results of the elections in Belarus, and then every Member will individually be able to make a judgment. The European Parliament as such does not have the right to do so.
We are therefore opposed to Parliament sending any diplomatic missions to Belarus or to it drawing up joint reports."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
"Medice cura te ipsum"1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples