Brussels, 03/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The president of the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, British Liberal Democrat Graham Watson, commented on the refusal by British Interior Minister Jack Straw to extradite General Pinochet to Spain. He said: "The UK has shown a distinct lack of solidarity with its EU partners in releasing General Pinochet". In his view, the decision is an insult to Belgian Prime Minister Verhofstadt and for the Spanish justice and marks a "black day for Europe". He also confirms the urgent need to create an international criminal court.
Co-president of the Greens Group Paul Lannoye spoke of the "historical error and a lamentable decision" made. "For the first time in history, a horrible dictator who violated human rights was to be put on trial for his crimes outside his country. In releasing Pinochet, the UK government missed the chance to truly reshape international law and establish a sense of global justice", says the Belgian parliamentarian.