PARLIAMENT RENEWS CALL FOR INITIATIVE ON KASHMIR

12.00.00am GMT Wed 6th Feb 2002

The European Parliament has backed an urgency resolution not only

condemning terrorism in the Indian sub-continent but also repeating a

call for the EU to offer its services as a facilitator to promote a wider

peace process over the disputed territory of Indian controlled Kashmir.

The motion, approved by a substantial majority after a debate in

Strasbourg this afternoon, also calls for all the parties involved to

renew dialogue in the spirit of the Simla Agreement, the Lahore

Declaration and the relevant United Nations resolutions on the disputed

territory.

Euro MP Liz Lynne and ELDR Deputy Secretary General Nicolo Renaldi were

the LibDem group representatives on the negotiating team which drew up the

final agreed text. In a speech to MEPs during the debate, Liz Lynne said

she was glad the motion had been widened to tackle the root causes of

terrorism.

She said: "We condemn terrorism and we condemn the attacks on the Indian

Parliament. There can be no justification for terrorism whatever the

perceived provocation.

"Having said that we need to look at the root causes of terrorism. This is

an opportunity to address the wider questions in the region.

"I welcome President Musharraf's announcement that he is clamping down on

terrorism. It is also important to look at the dispute over Jammu and

Kashmir which has been going on for the last 50 years.

"It is right that we repeat the call for the EU to offer its services as a

facilitator over Kashmir and to take into account the relevant UN

resolutions which have been on the table for over 50 years. What I am

calling for is something very similar to the service that Senator Mitchell

offered so successfully in Northern Ireland.

"Some people say this is not the way forward, but they do not suggest

alternatives to end the suffering of so many people. This resolution

demonstrates our horror at terrorism and our desire to see a reduction of

tension and to work for a longterm peaceful solution."