POTTERING UNDER CROSS FIRE OF QUESTIONS
Wladyslaw Manteuffel

Cafe Babel
12/14/Pottering-under-fire-of-cross-questions
Dec 14 2007
France

European Parliament’s President Hans-Gert Pottering spoke of challenges
facing Europe at the Brussels summit on a press conference during the
14.12 European Council, commenting on Kosovo, Turkey Darfur and China

Focusing primarily on long-term issues, he welcomed also certain
achievements, such as the expansion of the Schengen zone and
highlighted EP’s support to the Galileo project. "Parliament has
always supported the Commission in this" he said.

Commenting on the future Kosovo status, he diplomatically said
that European Union member states should ensure that the province’s
prospected independence is linked to security. Having called on EU
leaders to reach an agreement on dealing with Kosovo issue in his
earlier address, he added that he sees a place in the EU both for
Serbia and Kosovo in the future.

Asked to react to the alleged massacre of Armenians in the early XX
century with reference to the Turkish entry into the EU, Pottering
said that European Parliament gives special attention to human
rights issues, and will "not remain silent,". He continued, that
"it is Turkey that wants to join the EU. Therefore it has to respect
Europe’s system of values", with human rights being at it’s "heart".

In this context he reminded of his concern and support for providing
assistance to Darfur, which he voiced in his earlier speech to the
member states delegations.

Responding to a journalist suggestion that EU has lately shifted
its focus from China, Pottering said that "every honeymoon has end
eventually", but EU wishes to "work closely with China" on issues
such as e.g. climate change.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress