This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 004119
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF IZ SU CD BO CY TU EUN AID ICTY USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: European Parliament (EP) Plenary September
13-16: Iraq, Darfur, Belarus and ICTY
REF: BRUSSELS 4016
1. SUMMARY: The September 13-16 EP plenary included
debate on Iraq and Darfur. External Relations
Commissioner Chris Patten criticized U.S. policy on
terrorism and Iraq. MEPs qualified the Darfur
situation as "tantamount to genocide." Also, the EP
passed a resolution criticizing human rights abuses
in Belarus and supported the freezing of assets of
people indicted by the International Criminal
Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY). In contrast
to Patten, the plenary's resolution on Iraq avoids
direct criticism of the U.S. END SUMMARY.
PATTEN: U.S.TESTOSTERONE, EU SUPERCILIOUSNESS
---------------------------------------------
2. In his last speech before the EP as Commissioner
for External Relations, Chris Patten sniped at the
U.S. on Iraq, the fight against terrorism and the
future of transatlantic relations. After noting
that the world was not safer after the overthrow of
the "appalling Saddam," with "violence raging across
much of the liberated land," he called for Europe to
be involved in trying to hold the democratic project
together, for "if Iraq goes badly, we all suffer."
He stressed that the Commission had already pledged
200 Million Euros for 2004 and was hoping to secure
an agreement for an additional 200 Million Euros for
next year. On transatlantic relations, Patten
worried that "America's unwillingness to discuss
with foreigners would lead to Europeans mixing up
sniping at America and building up their common
foreign and security policy," and that "on either
side of the Atlantic, we will bring out the worst in
our traditional partners." He added that "the world
deserves better than testosterone on one side and
superciliousness on the other."
MEPS ON IRAQ: EUROPE SHOULD ASSIST
-----------------------------------
3. On September 16 MEPs adopted a resolution (533
votes in favor; 43 against; 26 abstentions)
reaffirming "the EU's determination to assist the
transformation of Iraq and its reintegration into
the international community as a sovereign,
independent and democratic partner country" and
supporting the Commission proposal to allocate a
further 200 million euros of EU contribution for
Iraq's reconstruction in 2005. MEPs did not include
any request for election monitoring, and they
avoided criticism of U.S. policy.
DARFUR "TANTAMOUNT TO GENOCIDE"
-------------------------------
4. On September 16, the European Parliament adopted
(566 for; 6 against; 16 abstentions) a resolution
condemning Sudan for its support in Darfur of the
targeting of civilians in both villages of origin
and centers for displaced people (reftel). The EP
urged Sudanese authorities "to end impunity and to
bring to justice immediately the planners and
perpetrators of crimes against humanity, war crimes
and human rights violations, which can be construed
as tantamount to genocide."
MEPS CRITICIZE LUKASHENKO
-------------------------
5. In a resolution adopted by 499 votes in favor to
20 against with 26 abstentions, MEPs lambasted the
Belarus regime's "indiscriminate attacks on the
media, journalists, members of the opposition, and
human rights activists." MEPs call for free
parliamentary elections on October 17 and ask the EU
Council presidency to allow an EP delegation to
monitor these elections. The resolution also
criticizes President Lukashenko's attempts to seek
an extension of his presidential term by referendum,
against the provisions of the Belarus constitution.
GREEN LIGHT TO COMMISSION ON ICTY
----------------------------------
6. In support of the International Criminal Tribunal
for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), MEPs passed a
resolution giving the Commission a green light to
allow the freezing of assets of people indicted by
ICTY.
(Drafted by POL: MVANAVERBEKE)
MCKINLEY