Statement by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC during the debate on the killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.  The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

debate

plenary session

EU - Saudi Arabia (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

MOGHERINI, Federica (IT, EC)

freedom of press and media (T)

The killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul: Opening statement by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC (16:59 - 17:06)

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Zdzis&#322;aw KRASNOD&#280;BSKI (ECR, PL), EP Vice President, Which means that we can now move on to the next point on our agenda. This is the statement by the vice president of the Commission on the high present representative the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, M. President And thank you all for having decided to put this issue on the agenda of your plenary today. I think it is extremely important for the Parliament to have its voice heard on this. Let me start by saying something basic and very clear that I think we have to start from. That a crime against one Journalist wherever in the world is a crime against freedom of speech freedom of information.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, And as such I would say it's a crime against our societies everywhere in the world, our way of life in particular in Europe, our principles, our values. It's a crime against all of us.

Three weeks after the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi we now know that he was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia has now arrested a number of officials in connection to the case. Yet too many details about what happened to the journalist are still missing.

The confirmation of that is a first step towards the truth and towards accountability. But the explanations offered so far by the Saudi authorities leave many doubts and many questions unanswered. From the very first day we have asked Saudi Arabia to shed light on the events of October the second through a full credible transparent and prompt investigation.

We expect the Saudi institutions to provide all the information they have about the case and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. Last week, the Foreign Affairs Council all 28 foreign ministers of the EU member states agreed to demand united a credible and transparent investigation. Together with the foreign ministers of the countries of the G7, we have coordinated our approach. First asking for a credible investigation, and right now in this hours we are working on further steps and statements to be taken together.

And just a few days ago I expressed once again our expectation for clarity and full accountability on behalf of the whole European Union of all our member states. We have also asked Saudi Arabia for full collaboration with the Turkish authorities.

We hope that everyone will work towards the goal of establishing the facts. This is the starting point. The investigation must be driven by the search for the truth and not by geopolitics. We will not just wait for more clarity or ask for it. We will also continue to act together with our partners for achieving clarity.

The European Union's reaction from now on will depend on the next steps that will be taken by Saudi authorities. We will continue, first of all to coordinate among ourselves with united European Union positions and also we will continue to coordinate with our partners around the world and we will continue to follow the case and work to coordinate the appropriate reaction that will have to be a united one at European level. And together with our international partners as I said the Saudi leadership has promised ambitious reforms for the country.

The way this investigation will be managed is a very important test in terms of free speech human rights and the rule of law for all the people of Saudi Arabia. Just a few months ago our staff at the External Action Service in Brussels welcomed Khashoggi for a conference on Saudi Arabia and on the situation in the region.

We engaged with him on several occasions as a credible and authoritative voice in the debate about his country and the Middle East. And in this last year or bad which was published after is that you asked for a free and independent platform for Arab voices through the years. We as the European Union have worked precisely to support young and independent Arab voices.

We have trained young Arab journalists. We have financed independent media and we have engaged in policy dialogues through initiatives such as Young Mediterranean voices free speech lies at the core of our values and it will continue to be the basis for our foreign policy. And we believe that national interests can never never be a justification to curb freedom of speech.

On the contrary. When basic human rights are violated our countries get weaker and I think this is the voice that means to be heard in this moment of history from the European Union and from this Parliament united. It's a point of strength. To respect and protect human rights starting from the freedom of speech. It's not a point of weakness it's a point of strength of our societies.

Because one fundamental freedoms come under attack. There can be no peace no security and no human development. Repression makes states and societies weaker not stronger he had always advocated not only free speech but also greater tolerance and respect for diversity. And I think that reading some of his words today is somehow painful. Thinking of the way in which the story ended the best way we have to honor his memory is to be firm.

And determined in asking for the truth and working for the truth not only for the truth but also for accountability which is different. Both from scapegoating and from revenge. I think it is important for us to say this now we will not only ask for justice but we will keep working for justice for free speech and human rights in Saudi Arabia in the region in all the region of the Gulf and everywhere in the Gulf in the words thank.