Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2008-11-19-Speech-3-016"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2008-11-19"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Response of the European Union to the deteriorating situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"de"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20081119.3.3-016"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2008-11-19-Speech-3-0172
lpv:speaker	lp:Frithjof Schmidt2
lpv:spokenAs	unknown; Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3 member; Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (2005-10-27--2009-07-13)3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (2007-03-14--2009-07-13)3 substitute; INTA (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)3 member; G/EFA (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3 vice-chair; DEVE (2007-02-01--2009-07-13)3
lpv:translated text	". Mr President, the atrocious fighting in the east of the Congo is not simply a case of a civil war, it is also a regional conflict involving many neighbouring countries. It is also about strategic raw materials such as coltan, which we need for the production of our mobile phones, DVD players and computers. It is also about gold, diamonds, cobalt and precious wood. These are the deeper causes of this conflict. What can and what must be done? The United Nations must be beefed up so that it is capable of meeting its responsibility to protect the civilian population from all the armed troops active in the region. The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) needs a clearer mandate, more equipment and more manpower. The Member States of the European Union have repeatedly waived away the pleas to re-supply MONUC in recent years. Yet we have then seen sharp criticism of MONUC’s failures and mistakes. This case of double standards must be brought to an end. We do not need a branded EU military contingent right now, we need MONUC to be actively re-supplied and I have listened with interest and approval to how this is also the way that the Council and the Commission wish to go. The second important point to be made is that the extraction of, and trade in, raw materials from Congo must be monitored strictly and on an international basis. The international corporations involved in this trade that profit from the extraction of the raw materials in Congo must be monitored and compelled to be transparent. There is, of course, already an official UN Panel of experts on the illegal exploitation of natural resources from Congo. This panel of experts has put forward a series of recommendations, including sanctions against people and businesses who participate in such illegal exploitation. The European Union must push for the implementation of this UN recommendation, including, specifically – and this in an area where there is scope for action – insofar as relates to imports into the EU, as this is clearly an area in which we can act on our own and one where we can actively implement these UN recommendations. The third point to be made is that the initiative for an international conference on the Great Lakes region must be brought forward. Only political cooperation and the economic integration of the region can provide peace there in the long term. Europe can, and must, play a key role in this."@en1
lpv:videoURI	<go to Events_and_structure europarl>2

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