What Anna spoke about.

22

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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The killing of Tamaz Ginturi, a Georgian citizen, by Russia’s occupying forces in Georgia

Madam President, I would like to thank all co-authors, real friends of Georgia, for excellent cooperation on this resolution, as well as very valuable contributions to final text that I hope will be voted positively. Tamaz Ginturi, a veteran of war waged by Russia on Georgia in 2008, was killed by Russian forces near the administrative boundary line while heading to church with his companion, who …

22

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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Latest attacks against women and women's rights defenders in Iran, and Iran's arbitrary detention of EU nationals

Madam President, I pay tribute to all victims of Iranian mullahs. In June 2023, the Human Rights Council acknowledged the heavy deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran. In October 2023, the President of the UN Human Rights Council appointed Iran as the chair of UN Human Rights Council Social Forum. This decision was defended by the High Representative / Vice President of the Commission…

22

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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Cyprus Confidential - need to curb enablers of sanctions-evasion and money-laundering rules in the EU (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, even a general overview of the ICIJ Cyprus Confidential files based on seven leaked records raises enormous concern. Almost 100 billionaires and oligarchs have been able to evade imposed sanctions both post Crimea annexation and post February 2022, a full scale invasion, were able to evade sanctions thanks to European financial services systems, predominantly Cypriot bu…

22

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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Destruction of judicial independence and the persecution of democrats in Hong Kong (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, I’m afraid that picture you painted in your presentation, Commissioner, is less rosy than presented. Both of us know from bygone times how communist rule is able to slowly, consequently suffocate any free will, free speech, freedom of association and a free society within Hong Kong. On enacting the PRC national security law, four new crimes were introduced: secession, s…

9

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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Outcome of the EU-US summit (debate)

Mr President, I commend the timing, scope and importance of what I consider to be the most important bound partnership of the world. It is necessary to align our foreign policies in times of challenge, in times of multiple threats. And here there are really many details still to discuss. Let me turn your attention to one thing, in particular linked to the war waged by the Russian Federation on Ukr…

8

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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Order of business

Madam President, because of the large number of points added, we can agree to postpone it to the November session.

8

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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Order of business

Madam President, on 6 November, yesterday, two Georgian citizens, Tamaz Ginturi and Levan Dotiashvili decided to go to the Lomisi church located close to the Tskhinvali occupation line. They wanted also to visit the nearby church cemetery. In the effect of this endeavour, Russian occupying forces killed one of them, Tamaz Ginturi, on Georgian territory, while the other man was taken hostage to an …

17

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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Effectiveness of the EU sanctions on Russia (debate)

Mr President, Minister, Commissioner, 600 days after the outbreak of the full scale invasion by Russia of Ukraine, we still discuss how to curb the power of Russia to perpetrate atrocities, war crimes, genocide. No question, the sanctions regime is unprecedented and very important, yet it is neither sufficient nor consequent. We have to broaden it and many items possible to take were already indic…

3

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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Taking stock of Moldova's path to the EU (debate)

Mr President, Minister, Commissioner, I wholeheartedly congratulate all Moldovans led by their courageous president, Maia Sandu, on their progress to the European Union, and I declare my unwavering support for their European path, hoping for very soon possibility decisions to open negotiations with Moldova. They proceed on their reforms on their way to the European Union, despite enormous – I repe…

3

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia (debate)

Madame President, even applied on internationally recognised territory, use of force raises our legitimate high concern. In the case of the Azerbaijani offensive of 19 September, the exodus of Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh reached over 100 000 people, leading to effective depopulation of the territory. We look forward to talks on 5 October. Yet I think that engagement of the international c…

12

Sep

2023

EN Speech

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Relations with Belarus (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, – with this call in mind, Petras Auštrevičius led our efforts to present a very good report before the Parliament. It is already three years after fraudulent elections and the power of usurper Lukashenko intimidating his own nation in a most brutal way. All of us know these pictures from court proceedings. We know about the Russification of Belarusians and minorities…

12

Sep

2023

EN Speech

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Iran: one year after the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini (debate)

Mr President, Vice President / High Representative, the policy of with Iran after the signing of the JCPOA did not bring positive results. On the contrary, it emboldened the mullahs’ regime in further subjugating its own people and also EU citizens with dual citizenship. Iran is also emboldened in continuing its support of terrorism and aligning itself with the most atrocious regimes of the world,…

12

Jul

2023

EN Speech

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The political disqualifications in Venezuela

Madam President, I firmly stand by María Corina Machado and other Venezuelan leaders deprived of their political rights by the Maduro regime. Unfortunately, there is consolidation of vicious regimes not only within Latin America, so Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, but also outside with influence of Russia, China – PRC – and quite recently of the Iranian regime, with the visit of President Raisi, with …

11

Jul

2023

EN Speech

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2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, I pay tribute to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and feel the pain of their families. For us, members of the international community, it is not enough to repeat ‘never again’. Although we used to do this, Bucha and Irpin happened and therefore we have to do our utmost, whatever we can, in order in order to help Bosnia and Herzegovina to overcome wounds. It has…

11

Jul

2023

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) – EU-Africa Strategy

As European Parliament rapporteur for the opinion on the African strategy, I tried to convince my colleagues about the detrimental role of Russia – and China, by the way – knowing how difficult it was at that time. My second question is: to what extent are EU delegations in Africa tasked to inform about the neo—colonial posture of Russia ?…

11

Jul

2023

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) – EU-Africa Strategy

Mr President, Commissioner, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU is already aware of near imperial policies, violence, cruelty, war crimes, and genocide perpetrated by Russia. What is less known, though, is the neo-colonial conquest perpetrated in many of territories directly or via proxies like Wagner groups. Is the EU aware of this fact? Is it ready and capable to raise awareness amo…

14

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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Deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, notably the case of Jimmy Lai

Mr President, there are areas like commercial trade policy, freedom of internet or freedom of religion that under basic law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration were to clearly differ Hong Kong from mainland China, ruled by the Communist Party. After the imposing of the national security law on Hong Kong, the fate of freedom-loving people like Jimmy Lai, his co-workers, in particular journalists…

13

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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State of EU Cuba PDCA in the light of the recent visit of the High Representative to the island (debate)

Mr President, High Representative / Vice-President, decades of destabilisation of Latin America, unprecedented repression against the Cuban people, alignment with the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, and yet you decided to go to Cuba just a week after the declarations by the Cuban regime of unconditional support for this war. This policy, High Representative / Vice-President, should be r…

13

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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Question Time (VPC/HR) - Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and at the Lachin Corridor

Mr President, High Representative, it seems that whenever Russia has a difficult stage in the war against Ukraine – for example now with blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam, it tries to portray its peacekeeping role in the Caucasus. Is it so that this involvement in this process is simply needed by Russia in order to keep certain support in the non-West sphere?…

13

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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Question Time (VPC/HR) - Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and at the Lachin Corridor

Mr President, High Representative/Vice-President, hot stages of the Armenian-Azerbaijani war were accompanied by unprecedented information campaign or information warfare, engaging both sides and third parties as well. Similar information campaigns accompany, unfortunately, also the negotiations. I would like to commend the involvement of international community, including the EU and yourself, in …

13

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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Humanitarian and environmental consequences of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam - Sustainable reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic community (debate)

Mr President, Minister, Vice-President, blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam was once more showing the evil face of the Russian Federation. Vice-President, Minister, the long list of efforts of the EU you mentioned during your speech is commendable. Yet I have to appeal to all of us to step up our efforts because much more is needed to help Ukraine really decisively win this war. Blowing up Nova Kakho…

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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EU-Azerbaijan relations (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, allow me at the beginning two reflections. First, the term territorial integrity usually applies to internationally recognised borders, and secondly, many conflicts in the region are to be improved with Russia’s defeat in the war waged against Ukraine. I think that to the list enumerated by Commissioner of important parts in our relationship with Azerbaijan, we have …

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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EU-Armenia relations (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, a country perpetrator of a crime of aggression, war crimes and genocide – ironically, genocide – serves as peacekeeper in a long—standing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, always, for decades, willing to ignite it in order to divert our attention from its own crimes. It is good that NATO and important allies like the US engage this year in forging dialogue bet…

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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The challenges facing the Republic of Moldova (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, despite difficulties, provocations, challenges, the hybrid warfare parts of the toolbox – as mentioned before – are already implemented by the Russian Federation on the territory of Moldova, the country, led by courageous President Maia Sandu, keeps firm on the European and transatlantic path. We have to stand by Moldovan society and also by Moldovan authorities, who ar…

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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Situation in Georgia (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, a full-scale invasion of Ukraine means a geopolitical shift in our neighbourhood. Georgian people understand it very well. It is a turning point for all of us in the region. Therefore I pay tribute to their courage in protesting about the appalling foreign agent law. I would like to mention that keeping the third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, in prison as P…