Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-15-Speech-3-096"
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"en.20040915.4.3-096"2
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".
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, first of all, I can say that I have listened with great interest, and also with much appreciation, to the many contributions today about this sensitive issue. I should like to say that after everything that has happened, we would do well to look ahead instead of heaping reproaches on one another. I think that that is what we should do, because our ultimate goal is not to leave the Iraqi people in the lurch. That is why we need to constantly remind ourselves of what our goals are.
First of all, I think that we have to ensure that the political process is completed, as has also been clearly explained in Resolution 1546. I also think that the European Union is determined to make a constructive and effective contribution to that effect. We could, for example, help to ensure that everything in the election process runs smoothly and that all Iraqis can actually take part. We could help install a legal government, and ensure that, once that legal government is in place, it is also supported by effective administration. In short, I think that we must seek to introduce in that stricken country the values we regard as so important. Democracy, something that Iraq has lacked for so long, springs to mind. I am also thinking of human rights and respect for them, and I can tell you that that also includes women, something that was quite rightly pointed out earlier. I am thinking of respect for minorities, including the Assyrian minority, which is another of that country’s problems to which sufficient attention will need to be paid. I am thinking about the establishment of a constitutional state and the way in which we, the European Union, backed by our extensive experience, with the contribution we can make to restoring a true, independent, legal body with judges who truly render judgment, with everything that is involved in this and what is important, can train these people and give them guidance. Someone has also pointed out the importance of the neighbouring countries. This is a view that I readily support. As I already stated in my first intervention, during my meetings with the Prime Minister and ministers during my visit to Iraq, I noted that the European Union will gladly accept an invitation to take part in the next conference of neighbouring countries. After all, as has been said several times on this platform, stability in Iraq also means stability in the region. Peace and democracy in Iraq will also rub off on the neighbouring countries. I think that we should do our utmost, firstly, to ensure that peace and democracy are in place in Iraq itself. Therefore, once we have managed to bridge the differences of opinion which existed, we as European Union should also be able to make our presence clearly felt in Iraq. I know how much this is appreciated and wanted by the present government. I therefore think that we cannot avoid our responsibilities and that we must actually follow the clear trajectory that we have mapped out. The Dutch Presidency will ensure that this is done. I have clearly set out those goals. I have also explained that we have sent an exploratory mission, that we will now send a follow-up mission and that, based on this, we will very shortly state how we can give substance to this. That is our aim, and I hope that I will be able to report on the results at the end of our presidency."@en1
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