Poolse minister Dowgielewicz informeert Europees Parlement over Libië, Syrië en vredesproces Midden-Oosten (en)

The High Representative/Vice-President, Catherine Ashton i, who is travelling in the Middle East in order to prepare the UN General Assembly next week has asked Minister for European Affairs, Mr Mikolaj Dowgielewicz to address the plenary session of the European Parliament during the three debates: on the situation in Libya, on the situation in Syria and on the state of play of the Middle East peace process.

Below you can find extracts from Minister Dowgielewicz speeches:

On the situation in Libya:

„It is almost seven months since the revolution in Libya began. During this time the world has witnessed the extraordinary courage and determination of the people of Libya. We should take this opportunity to pay tribute to them.”

„The EU has focused its efforts in three main areas: 1.) the political and diplomatic arena; 2.) immediate support for those affected by crisis and 3.) support for Libya as it moves into the post-conflict period.”

„As early as May, the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs was the first foreign minister who visited Benghazi thus being outspoken in showing solidarity and support to the Libyan National Transitional Council, and the High Representative/Vice-President opened an EU office there.

EU’s response has been substantial, rapid and effective. As a whole the EU has provided more than €152 million in humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the crisis. For its part DG ECHO has deployed teams to Benghazi and to the Tunisian and Egyptian borders and, as from 28 August, to Tripoli too.”

On the situation in Syria:

„The situation in Syria continues to be bleak. The regime has not stopped its violent repression and nearly every day we hear reports of Syrians killed, injured, detained or abused. The overall death toll of the bloody campaign is

said to be far beyond two thousand. The Syrian leadership is confirming again and again that it is unwilling to listen to anyone, be it the EU or its fellow countries in the region.”

„Let me be clear: it is time to encourage those who are capable of offering Syria a better future to unite, show their political maturity and commitment to the values we share. We need to repeat time and again that there must be a peaceful political transition to democracy, led and owned by the whole Syrian people, and free from violence. I believe the Syrian people are able to accomplish this.”

On the Middle East peace process:

„The EU has repeatedly argued that the changes that have been witnessed in the neighbourhood, including changes in countries around Israel, add urgency to the need to find a solution that will enable the people of Israel and the people of Palestine to live in peace and security together.”

„The EU is on record as having recognised that the Palestinian institutions have achieved a level of preparedness that is sufficient to support the obligations of statehood. This is the result of the vision and very hard work of Palestinian leaders, who have been able to accomplish this with a great deal of support and expertise provided by the European Union, among others. We are therefore duty-bound to ensure that what has been achieved will not be needlessly lost.”

„It is useful to recall that the EU has adopted a comprehensive position on the parameters on which it considers that negotiations should be based. This is not an attempt by the EU to establish pre-conditions but rather a framework to allow meaningful negotiations to resume. In fact a basic tenet of the EU position is that it would be able to accept any agreement that is reached freely by the parties.”