Full Minutes of the Meetings

SESSION OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2003

Situation in Iraq

Karamanou (PSE). – Mr. President, I would also like to express my deep disappointment that we have shown an inability to agree on a common resolution of the European Parliament, despite the fact that today’s debate shows there is common ground, that there are the building blocks of a common European identity. An identity that can place politics, reason, and culture in opposition to the violence and social and cultural barbarism promoted by the new military doctrine of the United States. The European Union has a duty and an obligation to thoroughly examine the new international situation created by American expansionism, as well as the unreliability of the neoconservative American leadership.

We must demand answers to the open questions that remain:

First, for the flagrant violation of international law with an aggressive war, second, for the operation to deceive public opinion regarding alleged weapons of mass destruction, which proved to be the lie of the century, third, for the barbarity of the looting of cultural treasures, and I hope no museum dares to host the stolen items, fourth, for the extermination of hundreds of civilians, for the destruction of infrastructure, for the bombing of television stations and the murder of journalists, and fifth, and not least in importance, for the war that has been waged by the U.S. against the United Nations.

Certainly, the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorial regime cannot serve as a baptismal font for the Americans and their allies. Finally, I would like to emphasize that the worthy women of Iraq can make a decisive contribution to ending the chaos in post-war Iraq, to the reconstruction of the country, and to future democratic governance.

The Presidency and the Commission must demand the immediate implementation of the unanimous UN resolution 1325, which calls for the increased participation and representation of women in all decision-making bodies at all levels. And finally, we hope that on June 21, the European Union will use its influence to ensure decisions are made that will implement the roadmap, in order to finally find a just solution to the Middle East issue and restore a climate of trust with the Arab world.