Soares (PSE). – (PT) Mr President, High Representative, ladies and gentlemen, I shall, of course, be voting in favour of the resolution that has arisen out of the agreement between various parliamentary groups. This is a possible compromise, but I believe it to be inadequate. The doctrine of a preventive war to protect the vital interests of the United States is unacceptable. The Pope has said this and felt obliged to condemn such a doctrine because it contravenes international law and the United Nations Charter. This doctrine should, therefore, be expressly criticised and rejected by the European Parliament.

Furthermore, the ‘erratic’ policy of the Bush administration – as Bill Clinton called it, and erratic is the least that can be said about it – conceals the monstrous concerns of a new strategy to control oil in the Middle East and has provided cover for the real and unacceptable State terrorism taking place; the terrorism perpetrated by the government of Ariel Sharon. I am saying this on the day following Ariel Sharon’s victory in the Israeli elections, which will, in my opinion, have tragic consequences for Israel. I very much hope that I am mistaken, because I consider myself to be a friend of the Israeli people.

Yesterday’s speech by George Bush was once again extremely arrogant and without any real foundation. He clearly wants war at any cost, for reasons of his own and to protect the interests of the United States. The existence of weapons of mass destruction, an accusation that President Bush is levelling – so far without any convincing evidence – at the dictator and murderer Saddam Hussein seems simply to be a pretext, ignoring Kim Jong-Il, the Korean dictator – who does indeed have atomic weapons – and all the other dictators in the Middle East.

I wish to conclude by praising the courage and political clear-mindedness of the French and German Governments for having condemned war against Iraq without the express authorisation of the United Nations. We, and I, as a Member of the European Parliament, are proud of the ‘old’ Europe. All the European governments, in my opinion, especially those of the Fifteen, should uphold this position. Telling the truth is the best way of demonstrating our friendship and respect towards the United States of America; the America of the pioneer spirit and of idealism, not the America of self-interest and dirty deals.

(Applause)