Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-02-26-Speech-4-027"
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"en.20040226.1.4-027"2
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"Mr President, Mr Belder’s report makes a number of comments and proposals in line with the recommendations from the Council concerning relations between the Union and Russia. I support the two main lines pursued in the report. First, the reaffirmation of the desire to develop the vital partnership between the European Union and Russia. Russia is a big country and it is essential to develop economic relations with her in the areas of industry, research, health and energy. Common ambitions and objectives must be set, as the rapporteur proposes. They are of strategic and political importance. We must set priority objectives, such as cross-border cooperation in the fight against crime, defence of human rights, democracy, independence of news media and the rule of law, cooperation to resolve conflicts in the region and disarmament; we must also promote improvements to public health and social development.
The second line pursued in the report seeks to be more critical, especially concerning basic freedoms and democratic rights in Russia. I agree with the rapporteur when he deplores the weakness of the Union’s role in the Chechen conflict, which has caused more than 200 000 deaths in ten years and is really genocide. The report calls on the Russian authorities to investigate the disappearances, torture and all violations of human rights. In November 2003, several of us intervened following President Berlusconi’s statements justifying the Russian military’s intervention policy. Europe must indeed play a much greater role in strongly and clearly condemning Russia in its handling of the war in Chechnya. There will not and cannot be a military solution in Chechnya.
The desire for a partnership between the European Union and Russia must follow a plan that includes peace and security for all peoples. Europe can no longer be content with mere rhetoric. It must act and, from that point of view, the report is a step in the right direction."@en1
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