Speeches

Speech from Mr Hans-Gert Poettering,
Chairman of the EPP-ED Group,
in the European Parliament
on Wednesday, 14 May 2003

Iraq - Crisis can be an opportunity to develop a common European Foreign Policy




Speaking in a debate in the European Parliament on the situation in Iraq, Hans-Gert Poettering, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group, condemned the terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia and called for an equal partneship with the USA, a common European policy on Iraq, a role for the UN and urgent humanitarian aid. Summary translation of his speech follows:

"In Saudi Arabia in Riyadh about 90 people have been killed by a brutal terrorist attack. As far as we know French, British, German, Swiss, and Australian citizens are included amongst the victims. This demonstrates beyond doubt that we are not talking about an act of terrorism against Americans but something which affects all of us. The lesson we should learn from this terrible attack in Riyadh is that we have to resolutely combat terrorism wherever it occurs throughout the world. In this connection my Group and also other groups will keep very close track on how a peaceful solution can be nurtured in Chechnya.

"As Europeans we have to ask ourselves after the Iraq war, what lessons we should learn from an experience like this. I have often heard that there is a lack of unity amongst Europeans. What we have to do is to look upon the crisis as an opportunity to see how we can act better in the future. Above all, we have to say that if a series of Member States set out a position then the position could only be agreed on once the European Union as a whole has debated it so that a common position can be arrived at. This demand we would forward to the European Members of the Security Council and, according to the Treaty of Maastricht, the Members of the Security Council have to talk to their partners in the European Union before they actually cast their vote.

"I would like to add another point here - it is relevant to our relationship with America. Some people feel that Europe has to be built up and that this is somehow hostile to having a good relationship with America. This thinking is based on a foundation of sand. We have to try to make sure that we build Europe not in opposition to the United States but as an equal partner to the United States of America. Of course we have heard voices from America who talk about the divisions between the old and new Europe. I made a visit last week to Warsaw, and in Warsaw I was told that this is not something people like hearing: it is totally erroneous to divide Europe into two parts.

"On Iraq itself, surely we have to admit that we have a major interest in civil society being rebuilt as quickly as possible. We often talk about our relationship between the European Union and the Islamic States and that there are no clash of civilisations nor should there be. The same applies to Iraq. There are different Islamic denominations, there are all sorts of religious denominations, and we need to give a helping hand to ensure peace becomes the order of the day. We do not want to see a clash between individual religious or ethnic groups. We have a major task to fulfil in the European Union in that respect. I would like to welcome what Commissioner Nielson has done by going to Iraq. The UN has a role to play, and then we have to determine what role we as Europeans, NATO, the USA, and the UK will play. It is very difficult to say what the precise roles should be. One thing is clear, we should call upon all participants, including our Polish partners and friends, that we as Europeans should act together. We should do so having agreed on a common position first. There is a massive humanitarian challenge in Iraq. We can make a valuable contribution towards security, health care and helping the police force to do its job.

"There are still unresolved questions that we have to ask to our American friends and partners. So far no weapons of mass destruction have been uncovered and I would recommend that the search be continued. Obviously, this is something that affects the credibility of policy, and this is why we have to take this question very seriously. What we have to achieve now and indeed since the Kuwait war and crisis in 1991, we were delighted that Kuwait was liberated from Saddam Hussein but in those days we cherished the hope that we would see a peaceful solution in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine. This is a chance that we must take now, because the credibility of our policy will depend on whether we will see peace. I would hope that we as Europeans will have a unified position on this.

(Translation from the original German)