Strasbourg, 03/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - As the plenary session opened in Strasbourg on Monday, President Pat Cox stressed the gravity of the flooding that has hit Central Europe over recent weeks, killing 100. He invited the European Parliament to hold a one minute silence. The Parliament then held a one minute silence in memory of the two terrorist attacks carried out in Spain and Northern Ireland.
Despite a request by the Greens/EFA Group calling for a debate on the International Criminal Court to be included on the timetable of work, the Parliament has not changed its agenda. The request, presented by German Green member elected in France, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, aimed at discussing from this session on US pressure in favour of bilateral agreements to protect its nationals against being taken before the International Criminal Court. The Parliament thus showed its refusal of any kind of immunity before holding a second debate, followed by the vote on a resolution, during the second September session, it was explained by the co-president of the Greens Group. He felt that this procedure was necessary for greater pressure to be put on the governments of Member States that might be tempted to distance themselves from the common position whereby they gave their support to the creation of the Court. The German president of the EPP/ED Group, Hans-Gert Pöttering (CDU), said he agreed in substance but felt that a debate during the second September session would be enough, all the more as it will be before the meeting (on 30 September) of the Council during which a common position should be adopted on this question. On a proposal by Spanish President of the Socialist Group, Enrique Baron, President Cox announced that the foreign affairs committee would be referred to with a view to the plenary debate.
In conformity with the new regulation, President Cox then allowed the floor to be taken during thirty minutes by different MEPs wishing to speak on matters that they believe are important. The French President of the GUE/NGL Group, Francis Wurtz, deplored the fact that, during the weekend, 11 Palestinians, including 4 children, were killed by the Israeli army during targeted assassination attempts, which brings to 30 the number of Palestinian civilians killed during August. He recalled that, in July, a raid on Gaza had already caused the death of 16 people, including 9 children. "The Israeli press even denounces the irresponsible nature of such crimes", said Mr Wurtz before calling on the Council, the Commission and the Parliament, on behalf of his Group, to "take a very clear position on this further aberration by the Sharon government which only kindles hatred and vengeance when what is vitally needed is de-escalation, dialogue and peace". Returning to the subject of the International Criminal Court, German Social Democrat Jo Leinen called on President Cox to write to the president of the Romanian parliament to explain the stance taken by the EP and the EU. Mr Cox agreed to this request. After the fashion of Irish Labour member Proinsias De Rossa, several Irish MEPs rose up against the risks linked to the possible dumping in the Irish Sea of nuclear waste. Greek Communist Konstantinos Alyssandrakis (KKE) called for intervention with a view to obtaining the release of two Turkish Cypriot journalists who have been condemned to prison sentences by the powers that be in the northern part of Cyprus. Lista Bonino member Marco Cappato again attacked the Vietnamese authorities speaking of the "war against citizens and Buddhist monks". Irish Green member Nuala Ahern deplored the condemnation of Nigerian national Amina Lawal.
Koldo Gorostiaga, of the Basque party Batasuna, regretted that the Parliament has often spoken of political violence in the Netherlands but has never placed the Basque issue on its agenda. "This Assembly must not ignore the lessons learnt in Northern Ireland", he said, considering that a method must be found to deal with evil at its roots. Partido Popular member Gerardo Galeote, and Spanish Socialist Rosa Diez evoked the links between the terrorist organisation, ETA, and the Batasuna Party, and they criticised Mr Gorostiaga for having used money from the EP to fund the ETA. Ms Diez felt it was loathsome to justify the murder of a pensioner and a small girl (she was speaking of the last ETA attack). She said she hoped that impunity of people like Mr Gorostiaga would no longer exist throughout Europe. "Ms Diez seems to be threatening me", noted Mr Gorostiaga, returning to the matter of the EUR 200,000 "apparently intended for ETA". He said: "In this house there are officials who are perfectly aware of where this money is and where it comes from". "It is a lie, with hatred added", he went on before President Cox allowed Ms Diez to take the floor again. Ms Diez said: "In Euskadi and in Spain, people like myself go around with an escort (…). They are assassinated by people who demonstrate with deputy Gorosti Gorostiaga (…). We are calling for the same freedom and the same safety as Mr Gorostiaga enjoys (…). It is intolerable that he should serve on this Assembly (…). He and his accomplices know what I am talking about". Mr Galeote added in support of Ms Diez: "When Batasuna threatens, ETA kills".