European Parliament (EP) Plenary September

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