"PARLIAMENT AND EURO-PARLIAMENT" MAGAZINE
Interview to Vangelis Demiris	ΜAY 2003

 

 

"Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots shall from now on dictate the formal solution of the Cyprus issue", says PASOK Euro-MP Anna Karamanou in an interview she gave to "Parliament and Euro-Parliament" magazine referring to the lifting of the restrictions on free movement in Cyprus. The President of the Committee for Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities of the European Parliament believes that the resolution of the political issue has moved from the hands of the political leaders to those of the people who are now in charge of developments; Mrs. Karamanou predicts that "on May 1, 2004, Cyprus, united, shall become a full member of the European family". With regard to the EU's involvement in post-war Iraq, Mrs. Karamanou notes that the EU "usually picks up the bills of the Americans" and "restricts itself to the provision of humanitarian aid and technical know-how for the creation of infrastructure and the establishment of democratic institutions".

 

- Mrs. Karamanou, following the conclusion of military operations in Iraq, the political scene appears blurred and uncertain. Which do you think must be the "vital" or "central" role, as it is called, of the United Nations in the reconstruction of the country, and what should the EU's involvement be in the post-Saddam era?

 

Despite the strong opposition of the USA, the Greek Presidency of the EU has already put forward the issue of reinforcing the role of the United Nations in post-war Iraq and contributing to the re-establishment of the country's international repute, which was so badly damaged by the attack waged against it.  The Security Council must give a specific order enabling the United Nations to have a say in the planning of Iraq's future, in the search for weapons of mass destruction, in the management of humanitarian aid, and in the reforms and the formation of an effective government, so that these can be done in such a way as to protect the vital interests of the Iraqi people and ensure democratic control.

 

As to the EU, it usually picks up the bills of the Americans (see Afghanistan) and its role cannot but be restricted to the provision of humanitarian aid and technical know-how for the creation of infrastructures and the establishment of democratic institutions. In any case, so long as the EU is willing, it can contribute greatly to the country's economic and political reconstruction and thus help achieve peace and democracy in Iraq.

 

- What are your views on the initiative of France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg in the wake of the Iraq crisis concerning the acceleration of procedures for the reinforcement of collaboration with regard to defense, and what do you think the Greek stance should be?

 

The initiative of the four member-states came about in view of the EU's weaknesses in foreign policy and defense, which were revealed to their full extent during the Iraq crisis. For this reason, any initiative aiming at accelerating procedures that will correct this state of affairs is welcome to those desiring full European integration and the reinforcement of the EU's international role. From the very beginning of the initiative Greece was in favour, even though it was holding the Presidency of the EU and therefore was not allowed to participate. Our country has every interest to be in the EU's "hard core" in this matter, and in the vanguard of the EU's attempts at full emancipation. The fact that we are but a small country does not stop us from applying the policies of a great power! 

 

- What new conditions have been created for the resolution of the Cyprus issue by the lifting of the restrictions on the free movement of Greek- and Turkish-Cypriots in Cyprus?

 

These days we have witnessed very moving moments, with the abolition of the green line and the resolution of the Cyprus issue. In the remaining year before its full accession into the EU, the citizens of Cyprus, Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots, will be dictating the formal solution. The matter has moved from the hands of the political leaders to those of the people who are now in charge of developments. On May 1, 2004, Cyprus, united, shall become a full member of the European family.

 

- The discussions for the drafting of a new European constitution within the framework of the Convention, are now entering their final stage. What are your views on the proposals made by the Assembly's President, Mr. Giscard d'Estaing, which are supported by the most populous countries, and call for the establishment of a permanent EU president and the simultaneous abolition of rotating EU presidencies?

 

Unfortunately, a few weeks before the conclusion of the Assembly's proceedings, instead of reinforcing the consensus between members, instead of bridging differences and allowing the interest of the community to dominate, the chasm is growing. Mr. d'Estaing's proposals caused the reaction –justified, in my opinion- of the European Committee, the European Parliament, and many member-states. The advancement of a governmental as opposed to a communal method, puts a stop to all prospects for a federal EU structure. These proposals lead to the weakening of the European Parliament and the Commission, the "guardian of the Treaties" as it is called, and to the unequal treatment of member-states. Unfortunately, the future of United Europe is at stake because of the national egoisms of the "powerful" and the competition for power.  

 

Recently, in your capacity as a member of the Euro-MP delegation, you had the opportunity to attend as an observer the trial of Zaharov Award winner Leila Zahna and three more Kurdish former MPs, at the National Security Court of Ankara. What were your impressions of the process? Do you think that the basic principles of the rule of law which mark a modern democracy were observed?

 

The 1994 trial was judged unfair by the European Court for Human Rights. This led to a re-trial on April 25, 2003. Our impressions from the hearing were negative. There was a very obvious presence of armed soldiers forming lines between the accused and the audience, the latter consisting mainly of members of human rights organizations (Akhim Birdal was present), foreign delegations and journalists. It was clear that the witnesses who were re-examined (19 out of 28) were "fabricated" false witnesses, mainly guards from villages in Northeastern Turkey, who are government employees directly involved with the secret services. The crime the parties were accused of was speaking Kurdish at a meeting! The trial shall be continued on May 23.

 

It is true that in the last few months significant reforms have been advanced in Turkey - reforms that meet the Copenhagen criteria. However, established structures and attitudes remain strong and resilient against any democratic change.