As a democratic institution, the European Parliament is very often called upon for issues involving human rights violations. President Klepsch’s term in office was notably marked by major international conflicts, such as genocide in Rwanda, the Gulf crisis and even events in Peru during the Fujimori coup d’état, when the European Community acted to uphold respect for democracy and human rights.
The tragedy in Yugoslavia
The situation in the former Yugoslavia in particular marked people’s consciousness because terms such as ‘ethnic purification’, ‘massacre’ or even ‘tragedy’ were used in the context of a war in Europe for the first time since the end of the Second World War. The former Yugoslavia figured on the agenda of numerous passionate debates in the European Parliament’s part-sessions. More than two hundred motions for a resolution were tabled and hundreds of petitions filed.
The 1993 Sakharov Prize is awarded to Oslobodenje Sarajevo represented by Zlatko Dizdarević. Pictured: Zlatko Dizdarević, President of the European Parliament Egon Klepsch © European Union, 1993
Representatives from political groups and from peace and human rights associations all over Europe contacted President Klepsch to ask him to intervene with the various nations involved in order to stop the violence.
The correspondence below illustrates the tone of these fervent appeals:
“It is imperative to cease all violations of the Geneva Convention, and to assure the respect of Human Rights. We address a copy of this signed proclamation to you, as well as to all those people who can have an influence over these conflicts. We request... [that you] engage yourself with us for the construction of an United and Joint Europe”
Correspondence: Request for intervention to stop the war in the former Yugoslavia (Download the document here in English/French/Dutch - PDF)
Relations with China
President Klepsch also tried to maintain a dialogue with countries where international relations, particularly in regard to the European Community, were strained due to racial conflicts; for example, South Africa or the People’s Republic of China. Parliament adopted several resolutions on the human rights issue in China and Tibet, and in Hong Kong. These resolutions were perceived by China as repeated interference by the European Community in its internal affairs and provoked strong reactions from the Chinese government, as can be seen below from correspondence between the Chinese ambassador to the European Communities and the President of the European Parliament.
Correspondence: observations on the European Parliament resolution of 13 February 1992 on human rights in China (Download the document here in French - PDF)
It was against this background that President Klepsch was invited to make a seven-day visit to the People’s Republic of China at the end of 1993. The visit roused strong feelings among public opinion and after Klepsch's visit several heads of political groups criticised him for not making Parliament’s concerns over human rights, as set out in numerous European Parliament resolutions, clear to the Chinese authorities.
President of the European Parliament Egon Klepsch meets with Governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten at the European Parliament in Brussels. © European Communities, 1993
“When you mentioned your visit to the People's Republic of China at the Enlarged Bureau meeting on 29 September 1993, several group chairmen asked you to inform the Chinese authorities of the European Parliament's concerns regarding human rights, as expressed in numerous parliamentary resolutions.”
Relations with Russia
Relations with Russia, on the other hand, were positive during the Klepsch mandate. On several occasions, the Parliament of the Russian Federation requested the assistance of the European Parliament, such as in April 1992 for the installation of a budgetary control committee or for the supervision of the execution of Community aid. In February 1994, shortly after the parliamentary elections in Russia, where the EU had observers, Klepsch went to Moscow for a visit which he described as very useful for understanding the situation in Russia and for consolidating relations between Russia and the Parliament. This visit was at the dawn of the partnership and cooperation agreements between Russia and the EU and the creation of the Interparliamentary Cooperation Council.
Looking back on Egon Klepsch's mandate
Reflecting on the course of international affairs during his presidency in his end-of-term speech, Klepsch commented:
“During my period of office we have had to share painfully in many events around us without really being able to influence them. The tragedy of the war in the former Yugoslavia is among them, and the tragedies in Rwanda or Somalia. On the other hand our hopes, our faith and our convictions with regard to peace and justice have been fulfilled in other regions of the world. South Africa has had a free election for the first time. In the Middle East the peace process has taken on real shape and the European Union will have to keep up its material, political and moral contribution.”
End-of-mandate speech by Egon Klepsch - (Download the document here - PDF)
