Το Ευρωπαϊκό Λαϊκό Κόμμα (ΕΛΚ) με επέλεξε να το εκπροσωπήσω στη σημερινή συζήτηση για την ομοφοβία και τα δικαιώματα των ΛΟΑΤΚΙ στην Ολομέλεια της ΚΣ του ΣτΕ. Πρόκειται για ένα κρίσιμο ζήτημα που αφορά την προστασία των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων όχι μόνο εκατομμυρίων Ευρωπαίων συμπολιτών μας αλλά και τον ίδιο τον φιλελεύθερο χαρακτήρα των ευρωπαϊκών κοινωνιών μας.
Έλαβα τον λόγο, μέσω τηλεδιάσκεψης, από τη χιονισμένη Αθήνα, για να τονίσω μερικές απλές αλήθειες. Ότι παρά την πρόοδο που έχει σημειωθεί τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, συνολικά στην Ευρώπη, στο ζήτημα αυτό, η βελτίωση παραμένει ανομοιογενής και με μεγάλες διαφορές από χώρα σε χώρα. Μάλιστα, συγκεκριμένες κυβερνήσεις, όπως αυτή της Τουρκίας του Ερντογάν, έχουν συστηματικά στοχοποιήσει τους ΛΟΑΤΚΙ, στο πλαίσιο της αυταρχικής πολιτικής τους. Το ΕΛΚ καταδικάζει τέτοιες πρακτικές που πλήττουν την προστασία των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων συνολικά και θεωρεί απαράδεκτη κάθε μορφή διακρίσεων στη σημερινή Ευρώπη.
Ακολουθεί ολόκληρη η ομιλία μου:
Yes, good morning from a very snow-covered, white Athens, an unusually white Athens. I wish I were there with you, Mister President, to congratulate you in person, but you have the congratulations from everybody and the best wishes for a good work ahead.
Let me start with a very brief comment on the commissioner we just heard, Ms Helena DALLI. She comes from a country, Malta, a small Mediterranean Southern European country, Catholic country, that ranks at the very top of every international league on the protection of LGBTI rights. This is very important. Malta has sent a very powerful message all over the world and all over Europe. Its example should be imitated across Europe.
Now there is no doubt that there has been a lot of progress in protecting LGBTI rights recently. This progress is undoubtedly uneven; it’s not homogeneous. There are huge differences among European countries. There has been a very worrying trend that is being evidenced in the first report. Certain governments, such as those in Turkey under president Erdoğan, or in Russia under President Putin, or even in EU member States such as Hungary and Holland, have targeted the LGBTI community for petty electoral political reasons. This is totally unacceptable and goes contrary to our work here as the guardians of human rights all over Europe.
Furthermore, there are problematic areas such as the Southern Caucasus, whereas, despite the progress in countries such as Georgia, I cannot but express my shame and horror in reading some of the stories included in the second report, coming out of countries such as Azerbaijan. Absolute horror.
We at the EPP are adamant about the protection of LGBTI rights. It is part of who we are and who we want to be as a free, open, liberal European society.
It makes us all better and helps us harness the full potential of all members of our societies.
Discrimination is despicable, unproductive one might say, but totally acceptable and un-European, let me say.
Let me congratulate the two rapporteurs for the excellent job they’ve done and assure you all that the EPP will stand by the rights of all European citizens and support this Assembly’s commendable interest in LGBTI rights and their respect all over Europe.
Thank you.