During the plenary session (22-25 March 2019) in Strasbourg, Antonio TAJANI, EP President, gives the opening remarks. He offers his condolences to the families of the victims of the Utrecht attack in Netherlands, the Christchurch attack in New Zealand and the victims of the Idai typhoon, in Zimbabwé and Malawi. He also makes a statement on the 70th anniversary of the mass deportation from the Baltic states.

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

minute of silence

natural disasters (T)

fight against racism and xenophobia (T)

fight against radicalization (T)

Opening remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on the victims of attacks in Utrecht and Christchurch, on the victims of cyclone in Zimbabwé and Malawi, and on the 70th anniversary of the deportation of Baltic people

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Dear colleagues, before resuming at this session could I refer to the victims of the terrible attack in Utrecht last week in the Netherlands. Three people died and five people were wounded. I already expressed our condolences to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte at the meeting of the European Council which took place last week. And today could I avail of this opportunity to express the condolences of all of the Plenary to the Dutch people, to the families of the victims of this terrible attack which saddens us greatly. We cannot, not remember the victims of the Christchurch attacks in New Zealand where 50 people lost their lives. They were ferociously assassinated when they were in prayer in two mosques. These episodes remind us yet again that we must not lower our guard vis-a-vis racial and religious hatred. If we want to protect our societies against these barbaric acts, we must ensure that there is no violence and that there is no racial discrimination in our society. 

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, We would also like to express our condolences to the victims of the Idai typhoon which affected several countries in Africa and where there was considerable devastation. Today is the 70th anniversary of the mass deportation from the Baltic states which started on this date in 1949. In a few days 32,000 Lithuanians were sent to Siberia, 42,000 Latvians and many Estonians. Most of them were women and children. This was a terrible crime against mankind as established by the European Court for human rights. And since we obliged yet again to remember so many innocent victims, could I ask you as requested by some of our colleagues and I agree with this request for a one minute silence in memory of these victims of such tragic events.

MEPs stand up for a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the tragic events condemned by President Tajani (8 shots)