unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The Syrian conflict -  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Anna Fotyga
Political group: ECR
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

Allow me one remark. All of us wish for a political solution to this awful, devastating conflict. We supported defeating Daesh and now support a political solution. Yet there is one aspect: al-Assad’s regime is allegedly responsible for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, including numerous uses of chemical weapons and atrocities against his own society. No dirty bargain with this regime should be possible. We have to ensure that no genocide remains unpunished. It is our role, the EU’s role as well.
Debate: The Syrian conflict -  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Özlem Demirel
Political group: The Left
Country: Hungary
Language: DE

Geopolitische Interessen, eine Regime-Change-Politik und klingelnde Kassen für die Rüstungsindustrie, das ist die eine Seite der Medaille. Die andere: Tod, Leid, Hunger, Elend und Flucht – Flucht auch vor Kriegsgerät  Ja, die Assad-Dynastie regiert das Land; nicht die Interessen der Bevölkerung, Demokratie oder soziale Errungenschaften bestimmen die Politik des Regimes. Doch das kann keine Rechtfertigung für Krieg sein, weder wirtschaftlich noch militärisch. Statt Sanktionen braucht das Land materielle Unterstützung. Für das syrische Volk müssen endlich die Waffen ruhen. Alle ausländischen Kräfte – alle – müssen das Land umgehend verlassen.
Debate: The Syrian conflict -  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Kostas Papadakis
Political group: NI
Country: Czechia
Language: EL

Κύριε Πρόεδρε, καταδικάζουμε τους νέους δολοφονικούς βομβαρδισμούς των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών στη Συρία, και με διακυβέρνηση Biden. Εκτέθηκαν όσοι με κλάδους ελιάς έσπερναν αυταπάτες περί ειρήνης επί προεδρίας Biden. Η επίθεση αυτή επιβεβαιώνει τη σταθερή επιδίωξη των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών για συνέχιση των επεμβάσεων και των πολέμων στη Συρία και την ευρύτερη περιοχή εν μέσω σφοδρών ανταγωνισμών με Ρωσία και Κίνα. Αυτό τεκμηριώνει και η τεραστίων διαστάσεων επικίνδυνη νατοϊκή άσκηση Defender Europe που με εμπλοκή και της ελληνικής κυβέρνησης συνιστά προσομοίωση πολέμου του NATO με τη Ρωσία. Δέκα χρόνια από την έναρξη της ιμπεριαλιστικής τους επέμβασης ΗΠΑ, ΝΑΤΟ, Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση αξιοποιώντας τόσο την εισβολή της Τουρκίας όσο και τον αποκρουστικό ISIS αιματοκύλησαν τον συριακό λαό, που κατατρεγμένος βίωσε το μεγαλύτερο προσφυγικό κύμα μετά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο. Απέναντι στις επικίνδυνες αυτές εξελίξεις να δυναμώσει η πάλη του ελληνικού λαού ενάντια στην εμπλοκή της χώρας σ’ αυτούς τους επικίνδυνους σχεδιασμούς και ανταγωνισμούς.
Debate: The Syrian conflict -  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: György Hölvényi
Political group: PPE
Country: Latvia
Language: HU

Tisztelt Elnök Úr! A szíriai polgárháború 10 éves megoldatlan fegyveres konfliktust, humanitárius válságot jelent közvetlenül Európa küszöbén. A polgárháború nem csak Szíriát érinti, hanem a környező országok stabilitását is fenyegeti. A menekültek ellátása, gazdasági visszaesés és a biztonsági kihívások mind súlyos terhet jelentenek elsősorban Libanon, illetve Jordánia számára. A szíriai vérengzések hatalmas áldozatot követelnek többek között, mások között a keresztény közösségektől, amelyek több ezer éve itt élnek ezen a területen. Tényfeltáró látogatásaim alkalmával saját szememmel láthattam, amint ezek a közösségek a lerombolt Aleppó, Homsz, Damaszkusz házai között két kezük munkájával akarják az élet legegyszerűbb feltételeit biztosítani. Jelenleg az egyik legsürgősebb feladat egész Szíriában az oktatás megszervezése.  Közel hárommillió szíriai gyerek nem jár iskolába. Oktatásból kiesett, jövőkép nélküli fiatalok ki vannak téve a szélsőséges iszlamista ideológiák csábításának, így helyzetük kezelése biztonsági kérdést is jelent. Gondolnunk kell azokra, akik önként vállalják, hogy visszatérjenek szülőföldjükre. Számukra az alapvető infrastruktúrák, ivóvíz, iskolák, egészségügyi ellátás megteremtése létkérdés. Az EU nem hagyhatja őket sem magukra.
Debate: The Syrian conflict -  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Tonino Picula
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, yes, I agree with Mr High Representative, horrible statistics speak for themselves. More than half a million dead, seven million internally displaced and 5.6 million forced to flee their country; 80% of the population live in poverty, 500 000 children are suffering from the effects of stunting. This is a tragic summary of the biggest humanitarian crisis in our neighbourhood after 10 years.  Syria became a meeting point of particular involvements, different conflicts and geopolitical interests challenging the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state. The most urgent action to take, and prediction for any peaceful solution, is an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign forces from Syrian territory, while fully supporting the UN-led Geneva negotiation process.  The EU should also play a more proactive role. We need to help the ones needing protection, adopt new sanctions under the EU global human rights sanctions regime. The Syrian people cannot and should not wait any longer.
Debate: The Syrian conflict -  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Barry Andrews
Political group: Renew
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

Mr President, Mr Borrell, Syria has become a forgotten crisis. It’s easy to forget the joyous outpouring of democratic activism and hope in March 2011, and it’s easy to forget that most Syrians are horrified to be caught between, on the one hand, the brutal Assad regime and on the other hand, by the adherence of Jihad. And it’s easy to forget the horror we feel around chemical attacks, around a drowned child lying on a beach, around the hundreds of thousands that have been killed, those that have been tortured and mutilated and detained to this day.  And it is only in these circumstances of indifference that Russia could coldly veto a humanitarian access Security Council resolution. Non-renewal of this resolution could have devastating impacts on the three million people currently living in Idlib when that comes up for review in July. I pushed for this resolution and debate because I believe that we cannot forget this tragic anniversary and we cannot ignore the impending Russian veto. I also wanted to draw attention to the demands for justice for those who have been victims of these crimes. At a seminar last week, people that are involved in the Coblenz trial told us that the EU is their best and last hope for justice.  So I call upon you, VP/HR Borrell to prepare an action plan on impunity and I also urge you to appoint an EU representative, a special representative, to the Syrian conflict. They say that justice delayed is justice denied. But even if it takes another decade to bring perpetrators to justice, we the EU must not forget and we must accept that without justice, there is no sustained peace.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Jaak Madison
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: ET

Austatud istungi juhataja, austatud härra Borrell, mul on rõõm siin viibida. Ma räägin oma emakeeles, olles oma rahvusriigi esindaja. Esiteks, mul on tõsiselt kahju loomulikult kõikidest inimestest, kes on pidanud põgenema Süüriast seoses kodusõjaga. Riigist, mis on tüüpiliselt Lähis-Idale omaselt sattunud mitme suurjõu võitlustallermaaks, kus on mängus nii Venemaa, Türgi kui ka Ameerika Ühendriikide huvid. Ja seetõttu loomulikult me peame aitama tõelisi põgenikke, kes põgenevad sõja ja surma eest. Kuid lähtuvalt rahvusvahelisest õigusest, siis põgeniku staatus asüüli saamiseks on ainult tingimuslik ja ajutine, ajani, kui sõda lõpeb ja taas on rahu nende koduriigis. Ja seetõttu mul oli väga huvitav näha nädal aega tagasi, kuidas Taani immigratsiooniminister sotsialistlikust parteist näitas väga head eeskuju ka teistele sotsialistidele Euroopas ja ütles, et Damaskus on nüüd piisavalt turvaline, et süürlased saavad tagasi pöörduda oma kodumaale, kuhu nad peaksid ka minema, et oma riiki üles ehitada.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Mounir Satouri
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Germany
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, chers collègues, c’est en effet très inquiet que je reviens d’une mission au Kurdistan. Le régime Assad a survécu. Les Kurdes sont en très grande difficulté, l’économie est détruite et Daesh se réorganise et reprend de l’espace. Oui, l’Europe doit être au rendez-vous. Dans les camps syriens, 600 enfants européens sont retenus depuis plus de trois ans. 200 enfants français, dont les deux tiers ont moins de 6 ans, et leurs mères sont retenus dans le déni de toutes nos libertés, de toutes les règles de droit. 200 enfants et leurs mères que nous n’avons pas pu voir parce que le président de la République française Emmanuel Macron et le gouvernement veut les garder à l’abri des regards, veulent continuer à en faire les invisibles de la République. Nous avons la responsabilité d’agir pour coordonner une réaction européenne à ce sujet et pour faire en sorte que, enfin, ces enfants et ces femmes puissent être rapatriés. Quand Daesh nous attaque, c’est d’abord pour faire des morts, mais c’est aussi pour attaquer nos libertés, notre état de droit et nos principes. Chaque jour, où on laissera ces enfants là-bas sera une petite victoire qu’on aura concédée à Daesh et à sa terreur.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Assita Kanko
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, Syria is a cautionary tale. It shows that the cost of inaction can be higher than the cost of action. It also shows that when America and her allies leave a vacuum, then it’s filled by malign actors – Putin, Erdogan, the Islamic State. Now, Syria is both a no-man’s land and the site of a proxy war. Europe has been unable to act against atrocities committed in our neighbourhood. We have been confronted by the limits of our famous soft power when dealing with autocrats. But we have also seen the consequences of our incapacity from the migration crisis to the radicalisation of so-called foreign fighters using ISIL propaganda. But even today, Syria cannot look to the future until a political solution is found. Here we have to accept that the UN-led peace processes have failed. It’s now time for new thinking after a decade of failure.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Manu Pineda
Political group: The Left
Country: Czechia
Language: ES

Señor presidente, señor Borrell, a los diez años del inicio de la guerra en Siria, está claro cuál era el objetivo de quienes la alimentaron: apropiarse de sus recursos, avanzar la hegemonía en la zona y, si hubieran podido, cantonizar el país hasta debilitarlo al máximo. Pero Arabia Saudí, Qatar, Turquía, Israel y otros actores, siempre apoyado por los Estados Unidos, no lo han logrado. Por ello, ahora asfixian al país económica y diplomáticamente, impidiendo una solución política. Señor Borrell, dice usted que hay quien aboga por el levantamiento de sanciones. Sí, entre otros las Naciones Unidas o la señora Alena Douhan, relatora del informe de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos sobre medidas coercitivas. Y nosotros lo pedimos también, señor Borrell, especialmente en esta situación de pandemia, ya que estas sanciones impiden que Siria acceda al mercado global de medicamentos. Señor Borrell, le pedimos que impulse una nueva relación con Siria realmente beneficiosa para su pueblo y que comience restableciendo las relaciones diplomáticas para asegurar el diálogo y coordinación, tanto política como humanitaria.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: NI
Country: France
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, signor Alto rappresentante, mentre in Siria la violenza degli scontri si è attenuata, le sofferenze della popolazione restano inaccettabili. La pandemia ha ulteriormente martoriato una popolazione in ginocchio dopo un decennio di violenze e tragedie umane inenarrabili, mentre potenze esterne continuano a dividere informalmente il paese in zone d'influenza. Da oltre un anno rappresentanti politici e società civile stanno elaborando una nuova Costituzione per aprire la strada alle elezioni di quest'anno sotto la supervisione delle Nazioni Unite, ma i progressi sono tortuosi e ancora insufficienti, proprio a causa delle pressioni di chi sarebbe ben più propenso a svolgere questo voto nel quadro costituzionale vigente. Eppure è proprio dalla nuova Costituzione che può trovare compimento un processo di riconciliazione, è lì che si devono trovare le risposte fondamentali sul sistema di governo, sulla distribuzione del potere, sull'identità, sui diritti delle donne e delle minoranze, in una società che da sempre è multietnica e multiconfessionale, ma anche questioni di governance, ovvero come un sistema federale possa tener conto delle esigenze delle minoranze etniche e, in particolare, della popolazione curda, che più di tutti ha combattuto e sofferto e che ha subito l'ennesimo voltafaccia da parte dell'Occidente. Non abbandoniamoli e con la conferenza di fine mese diamo un'occasione preziosa per rilanciare questo processo, sotto la guida anche dell'Unione europea.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Željana Zovko
Political group: PPE
Language: EN

Mr President, we commemorate the 10th year since the start of the conflict in Syria, the region that became the arena of proxy wars and instability. Twelve million Syrians have fled their homes. Five million have become refugees. Half a million have lost their lives. These numbers resonate in our heads as a warning that human misery is calling for a solution to this never-ending conflict.  I welcome the upcoming fifth Brussels conference, where we will again pledge assistance to rebuild this country and help its people. Looking at these statistics makes me sad. In the light of the Pope’s recent visit to Iraq, we have learned the sad fact that a disproportionately high number of Christians have abandoned these areas, maybe forever. Once again, religious extremism is pressuring minorities to look for refuge. We must acknowledge that our foreign policy lacks a strong tool that interreligious dialogue can play in creating reconciliation among the population.  I welcome the Pope’s message of brotherhood among religions and the need to offer shelter to the weaker community. But do we have to wait for the mercy of the ones who feel stronger on the ground? When will we finally condition our aid on respect for freedom of belief as well as the other human rights? Here’s some food for thought for those working on a solution for reconciliation in the country: never leave the smaller ones out of the equation.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Maria Arena
Political group: S-D
Country: Belgium
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Haut représentant. 2011: l’espoir d’un peuple d’en finir avec un régime et l’obstination d’un président de rester sourd à ces revendications, laissant la place à l’organisation djiadiste la plus violente et plongeant son pays dans le chaos. 2021, après dix années de guerre, plus de 500 000 Syriens morts, 5 millions de réfugiés et déplacés internes. Le coût économique de cette guerre est estimé à 1 200 milliards de dollars. Bachar est toujours là. Il contrôle deux tiers de son territoire, mais à quel prix? Les violations sont aujourd’hui encore généralisées. Le rapport de la commission d’enquête des Nations unies qui a été réalisé révèle l’ampleur massive des détentions et disparitions forcées perpétrées tant par le gouvernement que par des forces armées externes. Nous nous joignons à l’appel de la commission d’enquête et ses recommandations, notamment la mise en place d’un mécanisme international indépendant afin d’identifier et de retrouver les personnes disparues. Les crimes qualifiés de crimes contre l’humanité et de crimes de guerre ne pourront rester impunis.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Bernhard Zimniok
Political group: ID
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, werte Kollegen! Der Bürgerkrieg in Syrien hat das zuvor stabile Land in den Grundfesten erschüttert. Akteure von außen versuchten ihre geostrategischen Interessen mithilfe bestialischer Islamisten durchzusetzen, was ein hohes Leid für die syrische Bevölkerung hervorgerufen hat. Doch der Krieg ist fast ganz vorbei in Syrien. Assad hat gesiegt. Dänemark hat diese veränderten Realitäten anerkannt und Teile Syriens als sicher eingestuft. Nur noch Idlib als letzte Bastion von islamistischen Terroristen ist übrig. Diese Terroristen werden nach wie vor von Erdogan unterstützt. Hier muss durch die EU mal ein klares Wort gesprochen werden: keine weiteren Anbiederungsversuche, sondern ganz einfach Sanktionen. Wir brauchen endlich wieder diplomatische Beziehungen zu Assad, um die Rückkehr aller syrischen Flüchtlinge zu ermöglichen. Nicht nur die EU würde davon profitieren, nein, die ganze Region würde davon profitieren. Damit würde auch Erdogan sein Flüchtlingsdruckmittel verlieren, welches ihm die EU in ihrer Dummheit zu Füßen gelegt hat. Also, mit Assad reden, syrische Flüchtlinge heimschicken und den Wiederaufbau Syriens unterstützen.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Tineke Strik
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Mr President, in spring 2011 I visited the first Syrian refugees in south-east Turkey. They were worried about their families and eager to return home. But, since then, many people have died, many cities have been destroyed, many hopes have vanished. And even the lack of food and shelter is becoming alarming.  We need to increase humanitarian aid in the Kurdish region, including Idlib, too, but we also need a sustainable solution. People need and deserve a future. And this is also true for the refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. With the EU-Turkey statement, we locked up the refugees in Turkey. Not only can they not return, but they cannot easily build a future in Turkey. The EU should share this responsibility, step up support for Syrian citizens wherever they are, and invite the most vulnerable to our own hosting societies and begin a strategy of rebuilding Syria. Ten years of limbo is harmful. Let’s give Syrian citizens their lives back inside, but also outside, Syria.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Hermann Tertsch
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: ES

Señor presidente, señor Borrell, el desastre de Siria, que comenzó hace diez años, es una catástrofe humanitaria de dimensiones bíblicas y una inmensa hecatombe estratégica y de seguridad para la alianza occidental —para todos los países occidentales, para Europa y para los Estados Unidos—. Es una tragedia lo que hay allí: cientos de miles de muertos, millones de desplazados, Siria troceada y toda la región desequilibrada. Todo esto comenzó en junio de 2009 con aquel disparate del señor Obama en la Universidad de El Cairo. Desde entonces empezaron a caer: cayó Ben Ali en Túnez, cayó Mubarak en El Cairo y cayó Gadafi en Libia; y se creó en la región un vacío que han ocupado Irán, Rusia y Turquía. Nosotros estamos dando dinero a cambio de nada, y no tenemos ningún tipo de influencia para ejercer poder allí. Veremos si pasa algo con las Naciones Unidas, pero no tiene ninguna pinta.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Sylvie Guillaume
Political group: S-D
Country: Slovakia
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, la semaine dernière, je me suis rendue au Kurdistan syrien où une centaine d’épouses françaises de djihadistes et 200 enfants sont détenus depuis trois ans dans les camps de Roj. Le message que j’en tire est que certains pays, comme la France, commettent une erreur stratégique en refusant de rapatrier les femmes et en donnant leur accord seulement au cas par cas pour les enfants. Si la question de la sécurité est importante, et elle l’est, qu’est ce qui est le plus intelligent? Les rapatrier tous, juger, condamner et faire purger leur peine aux mères qui ont toutes reçu un mandat d’arrêt européen et placer les enfants ou bien les laisser mijoter encore pendant plusieurs années, risquer leur évasion, leur disparition dans les filières djihadistes reconstituées et les laisser développer une haine recuite à l’égard de leurs pays, dont la France? Je crois que le choix est clair, à défaut d’être facile devant l’opinion publique. Tous les experts de l’antiterrorisme sont convaincus que l’option de rapatriement est la bonne pour des motifs de sécurité. 64 000 personnes, dont de nombreux ressortissants européens, sont au camp d’Al-Hol. Monsieur le Haut représentant, ne pensez-vous pas que les gouvernements européens concernés auraient un intérêt politique à prendre une décision commune de rapatriement?
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Anna Bonfrisco
Political group: ID
Country: Belgium
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, riguardo alla crisi siriana vorrei vedere un'Europa meno cinica e meno indifferente rispetto a Russia, Iran, Turchia. La Siria rappresenta una minaccia alla sicurezza e alla pace sia del Medio Oriente che dell'Europa, per via del permanere di sacche terroristiche dell'Isis, del presidente Assad, che rimane un dittatore per formazione, dell'influenza dell'Iran che esporta la propria forma di terrorismo, dei dubbi sullo smantellamento del programma chimico siriano e della crisi migratoria e umanitaria che sta riducendo il popolo siriano alla fame. Signor Alto rappresentante, in Siria è sempre stata in gioco la democrazia, la libertà religiosa, il pluralismo. La diplomazia europea, con tutti i suoi strumenti, non può giocare un ruolo di secondo piano nel forgiare una soluzione politica in Siria e lo deve fare ora.
Debate: The Syrian conflict –  years after the uprising
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Hannah Neumann
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

Mr President, the war in Syria has now lasted for ten years, the political process in Geneva is stuck and Mr Borrell has come here today to just read out a statement about how much money we have thrown at the problem.  Mr Borrell, I really don’t think that’s enough. So, while listening to you and my colleagues, I drew up a list of things that we can actually do now. The first one is to finally use the political leverage that comes with all the money that we have spent. For that, we need a strategy. Our strategy comes from 2017, so maybe we should revise that. Then, continue the fight against impunity by supporting all the universal jurisdiction processes that are happening in the European Union, and make sure there are more of them. Repatriate European citizens from Al-Hol and Roj camp. Ease family reunification and resettlement. And, finally, please treat those in camps inside Europe with dignity. Support peaceful and democratic activists in exile, and ease the visa and protection mechanism for everyone who needs to get out.  Mr Borrell, dear colleagues, that is the least we owe to the people who have stood up against Assad’s regime for the last ten years.