22-1-2008
Statement Ten Broeke tijdens bijeenkomst Raad van Europa
Han ten Broeke, woordvoerder Europese Zaken van de VVD-Tweede
Kamerfractie, heeft vandaag in Straatsburg de druk opgevoerd op
onderhandelingen die mogelijkerwijs zouden leiden tot een
EU-lidmaatschap van Servie.
Tijdens zijn toespraak voor zijn Europese collega's, stelde Ten Broeke
dat Servië hard moet meewerken om de oud-opperbevelhebber van de
Bosnisch-Servische troepen, Ratko Mladic, te arresteren en te
berechten voor het Joegoslavië-tribunaal in Den Haag. Mladic wordt
verdacht van medewerking aan etnische zuiveringen in Bosnië begin
jaren `90. Ten Broeke maakt deel uit van een politiek comité dat zich
naast een commissie van het parlement van de Raad van Europa - waar
CDA-er Pieter Omtzigt deel van uitmaakt - buigt over de toekomst van
de Servische provincie Kosovo. Wil Servië op termijn aansluiten bij de
Europese Unie, dan is het van uiterst belang dat alle verdachten van
de Kosovo-oorlog worden berecht in Den Haag. Servië moet zelf de
eerste stap zetten, oordeelt Ten Broeke. Hieronder treft u het
statement dat de liberaal in Straatsburg heeft afgegeven.
Mr Chairman,
On my last visit to Kosovo I was, again, impressed by the resolve of
the Kosovar people to now finally take destiny into their own hands,
however difficult that might be, whatever obstacles there may be
overcome and, yes..., notwithstanding the imperfect starting
situation it finds itself in after the elections.
The international community has done a lot to help overcome those
problems, but it has also taken a lot of time to do so. That time is
now running out. And however you look at it, all roads seem to lead to
and from the roundabout that is called the Athisaari-plan.
I agree with the Russel-report that unanimity of the European Union,
that faces the most challenging security situation at its borders with
the eventual autonomy in some form, is primordial!
The resolve of the EU on Kosovo will be as essential to its own future
as it is for the future of Kosovo. At the end of the day, after all
the political trading has been done, that resolve must be led by the
very principles this Council and the EU stand for. Parliamentary
democracy, human rights and self-determination.
And that is why, mr Chairman, I don't agree with the attitude and
actions that some European countries are undertaking to be soft on
Serbia, by contemplating negotiations, signing stability accords or
relieve visa-restrictions that we don't even grant to a candidate
member-state like Macedonia, that coincidentally is already complying
on border-control standards unlike Serbia.
I underline the observation made in the Russel-report under point 45:
quote-unquote "the threat of precipitating Serbia into the hands of
radical forces is blackmail argument which is used internally, in
Serbia and externally with the international community"
Upholding these principles - shared by this Council and the EU alike -
is desperately needed to remain credible at home and in the Balcans.
If ever we would start negotiating out of fear, we should start
fearing negotiating!
Serbia should comply, Mladic must be delivered to the International
Tribunal in The Hague and it is up to the people of Serbia, as it was
to those in Kosovo, to now make that choice and leap into a European
future or dwell in past Balkan ghosts!
Thank you.
VVD