Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-01-Speech-3-034"
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"en.20041201.10.3-034"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in view of Ukraine’s fight for basic European standards, it must be said that today we are all Ukrainians. We need to demonstrate our solidarity with those who are in the cold fighting for democracy. We must demonstrate our solidarity today, and also in the days to come, when Ukraine might no longer be so fashionable. Democracy is something we take for granted, although many of the nations represented here have only enjoyed it for a short while. This is why we wish to show our understanding and solidarity, and I say this as a representative of a country in which the concept of solidarity has a special meaning. Lech Wałęsa’s journey to Ukraine on a mission of solidarity was proof of this.
Is there any way today of reversing what has happened, namely the rigging of elections? Yes, there is. This was proven in Serbia four years ago and in Georgia one year ago, when those who allegedly lost the elections were ultimately victorious and came to power. Today we stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU’s closest neighbour. Yet we should admit our own mistakes, as the European Union is also to blame for what has happened, given that it failed to provide Ukraine with a clear signal this year that we are expecting it and that we trust it will meet the required standards. Before the first round of the elections, Europe failed to tell President Kuchma that we were watching his actions closely. After the irregularities of the first round Europe thumped the table, but failed to utter even a murmur of protest.
We should not forget that a number of nations are paying close attention to the EU’s relations with Ukraine, and that in future years these nations will provide us and themselves with an answer to the question of whether they want democracy and civil freedoms. Finally, I should like to refer to a Polish saying that suggests: ‘if you don’t know how to behave, be on your best behaviour,’ and commend it to the Commission and Council representatives who have experienced major problems this year in adopting a position on Ukraine. Mr President, I should like to say that I am proud to be a Member of the European Parliament, which is redeeming Europe’s honour today through its position on Ukraine."@en1
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