Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-14-Speech-2-031"
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"en.20040914.3.2-031"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, since 1 May 2004 Belarus has been a direct neighbour of the European Union. Despite this close proximity, it is a country in which universities and the remaining independent media are being closed down. It is a country where political parties, such as the Labour Party and the Belarussian National Front, are made illegal merely for being in the opposition, regardless of whether they are left or right-wing. Despite all this and despite this proximity we have no guarantee, contrary to what we have heard, that the referendum process and the forthcoming elections will be democratic.
This is not prejudice, these are facts. People who hold views that differ to those of the official authorities in Belarus are being killed. Media outlets in Belarus are being closed down. Democratic candidates find it difficult to register with electoral committees in Belarus. This is not prejudice.
Anyone who can see no difference between the Belarussian opposition and the Government should take note of the fact that it is not the Belarussian opposition which is responsible for the disappearance of individuals or the closure of independent newspapers. Anyone who cannot see this difference should go to Belarus and take a closer look.
All these things are happening right under the nose of the EU, and the EU therefore bears responsibility for this aspect of its eastern policy. If the EU today is to seek a distinct identity in the field of foreign policy, it must do so whilst not avoiding conflict with its closest allies across the Atlantic. If the EU’s foreign policy is to be based on respect for fundamental rights, Belarus is one of its most crucial responsibilities today. If we do not take action on this issue, our credibility in the debate on the shape of foreign policy will be weakened.
It is for this reason that the Belarussian opposition today must be certain that we have not forgotten it and must be entirely certain that we support it. It is for this reason that President Lukashenko must be certain that his actions will not remain unpunished, and that the Belarussian nation must be certain that its European ambitions will some day receive a genuine answer from our side."@en1
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