Brussels, 10/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 10 December, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the co-chair of the European Parliament's Greens/EFA Group, called on the EU heads of state and government to boycott the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014. “Germany's President Joachim Gauck should be praised, who has said that due to the political situation in Russia he will not be going to Sochi. I would very much like the whole Council to follow his example”, Cohn-Bendit said, adding that Europeans criticise Russia but give in to its blackmail. “There is a real political game being played”, he stated. He also came down on international sports organisations, underlining that Gauck's signal concerns Russia “but is also a warning to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)”.
Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, stated that the EU's consistent line “has always been clear - human rights should be respected at all times, including in sport. And organisers of sports events have a responsibility to respect human rights”. Kocijancic added that the organisation of, and participation in, the Games are an issue for the host city, the IOC and national committees.
A European source said that the EU does not support a boycott, but considers that Europeans can use sports events - including the Olympic Games - to attract attention for human rights. “We expect the respect of human rights before, during and after the Games”, the source added.
Gauck said that a political gesture should not be read into his decision - but the Russians consider it as a boycott. (CG/transl.fl)