Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-03-08-Speech-2-193"
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"en.20050308.21.2-193"2
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"Mr President, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, Commissioner, first of all the assassination of former prime minister Hariri is an act which we must constantly denounce. I too should like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to his family and my hope that the investigation being conducted with international support to find those responsible will be successful.
The second point I want to touch on concerns the imminent elections, following the resignation of the government in Lebanon, and to say that I was delighted to hear Commissioner Michel refer to what the European Commission intends to do so that elections are held properly. I shall insist – as other Members have done – on the issue of the mission of observers from the European Parliament.
My third comment concerns certain preconditions to peace and democracy in Lebanon. The first is the safeguarding and protection of the rights of minorities and the procedures to protect their peaceful coexistence. The second is the clear and efficient combating of the activities of Hezbollah, activities which, while centred on Lebanon, also extend outside the borders of Lebanon to the entire Middle East, thereby jeopardising peace. As for the third, the withdrawal of Syrian troops, I say yes, provided that Syria officially announces a timetable, especially following the recent statements by President Assad. I accept the concept of a timetable, and I say that as a Greek who is very sensitive on the question of troop withdrawals, because we too have submitted a similar demand for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from northern Cyprus, and I believe that the international community, which is today insisting to Syria that it withdraw its troops from Lebanon, should also do the same with Turkey and any other countries which have occupying forces in other countries.
Finally, given the very positive wind blowing in the Middle East, I wish to emphasise the need for the European Union to be present there, not only economically, but also politically.
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