It is obvious that this column is of secondary importance today because, on the eve of a summit we hope will be of historic importance, the news that really counts begins on the pages that follow in this publication and which report on the summit preparations. It does, however, happen that one or other of the subjects previously discussed in this column have undergone a number of developments, which justify a few additional comments and here are some of them.
Ukraine: unacceptable blackmail. The concerns I expressed on EU accession projects for Eastern Partnership countries have been further consolidated with regard to what is happening in Ukraine. Our publication provided a report on the EU institutions' vigorous response to the sentence meted out to Ms Tymoshenko. The report also explored the institutions' intention to resume negotiations with this country as soon as possible on the association and free trade agreements. In the meantime, the meeting between Mr Van Rompuy, Mr Barroso and the Ukrainian prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, has been cancelled. The latter has, however, invited a select group of European and US journalists to Kiev and his declarations speak volumes. Let's leave aside his evaluation of the Tymoshenko case (which points out the existence of further accusations and emphasises that the question is complex because it is in the hands of parliament and will require a certain amount of time), in order to focus on the prime minister's vision of future relations between his country and the EU. After underlining the fact that Ukraine is a sovereign country and should be seen as such in all respects, the prime minister said that it was important for him to be clear from the beginning that the agreement being negotiated constitutes the first step of his country's accession to the EU and that association is just one stage, Ukraine's entry into the EU representing an implicit commitment.
With regard to Russia's invitation to Ukraine to share in the customs union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Mr Yanukovych was less forthcoming, or at least rather circumspect, and pointed out that his country was part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), whilst Russia was still not a member. He suggested that his main goal was to have the gas agreement revised that was “signed by Ms Tymoshenko”.
The prime minister's declaration should not be overdramatised because the situation can evolve and the current negotiations will be resumed and could be concluded quite swiftly. Nonetheless, it is obvious that the EU will never agree to link the objective of these negotiations to a commitment on accession at a later date.
Somalia and terrorism: revolting or encouraging? Al-Qaeda, the most sinister terrorist organisation that exists, has distributed food products rather cleverly to the starving people in the Somali zone occupied by the extreme Islamic group, the Shabab. A certain Abdullah al-Mujahir, speaking impeccable English with an American accent, distributed sacks of grain stamped with the following inscription: “from Al-Qaeda, in memory of the martyr Osama Bin Laden”. The cynicism of assassins, or a way of admitting that even killers need to believe that they are helping people? Let's not forget that the Shabab has just been kidnapping elderly people in Kenya for the purpose of blackmail (following the cruel death of Ms Dedieu, they are attempting to sell her body!) and are in direct contact with pirates that attack ships and kidnap the sailors. If people as ignoble as these see this as an opportunity to make a gesture of this kind and publicise it, should we see this as an example of revolting hypocrisy or the involuntary recognition that a minimum of humanity is useful?
Support for poor countries. Having recently commented on the European Commission project to revise EU development aid policy to poor countries, I have read the following statement in a number of newspapers: “Every year, €125 billion is misappropriated from the public coffers of poor countries to tax havens. One hundred and twenty-five billion which will not be used to build schools for the 115 million children who do not receive education. In order for this money to go to those who need it, you need to get mobilised” (on facebook and twitter, with the appropriate indications). This appears to me to explain and justify some of the orientations contained in the European Commission document.
Fluctuations on the financial markets. Arnaud Lagardère, the head of a group that is worth €8 billion, is currently (at least in Belgium) at the centre of a curious love story that is being followed passionately by the public. Nonetheless, despite all this, he was asked about significant fluctuations on the stock markets. His response was as follows: “The financial markets are easily led… people are feeling feverish and even the smallest indication can be significantly expanded but never in a good way. This is a stock market for speculators and what is terrible is that people earn lots of money by speculating on the health of a given enterprise. I find this revolting.” And so do we!
(FR/transl.fl)