Jim Murphy

The Balkans - international pressure point

The world has rightly been focussing on the crisis in Georgia and I've also blogged about it in the last couple of weeks. But it is important that we don't forget about the other international pressure points - one of which is Bosnia and Herzegovina. This week I met Miroslav Lajcak, the International Community's most senior representative there. Bosnia and Herzegovina was the scene of unspeakable ethnic cleansing in the 1990s. I visited Sarajevo earlier in the year and saw the progress but also the pressures. A wide-ranging agreement with the EU in June was an important step. But there remain significant obstacles to progress and we have to maintain our focus to ensure the country moves forward.

The Balkans remains a sensitive region. Kosovo is now independent and faces the challenge of building a successful multi-ethnic country ; Serbia has elected a moderate government and faces the challenge of moving definitively towards Europe; Karadzic is appearing before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia charged with war crimes, but Mladic remains on the run; and Macedonia remains fragile and in dispute with Greece over its name. All of these are complex situations, and until they're resolved, rebuilding following the shattering consequences of the break up of Yugoslavia will not be complete.

Posted at 15:18 05 September 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[1]

Serbia's ambassadors reinstated

You may have heard last week that the Serbian government has decided to reinstate its ambassadors who were withdrawn from the EU countries that recognised Kosovo's independence. This is good news. It is only by having regular contact that differences can be reconciled and relationships strengthened. This decision will allow us all to work together to achieve our shared objective - Serbia in the EU.

The new Serbian government has shown in the last week that facing up to the past is the only way for Serbia, and the region, to secure lasting peace and prosperity (see my blog on Karadzic arrest). I am pleased that the new government is seizing opportunities to move Serbia closer to the EU.

Of course there is still more for Serbia to do to fulfil its EU ambition and  I  hope they continue to progress with the same pragmatism and drive they have shown this week.

Posted at 10:05 29 July 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[4]

Turkey (Again)

Just to pick up some of the points raised in response to my earlier blog on Turkey:  Mike asked how far I thought the EU could expand, as Turkey was pushing the geographic boundaries.  I am against setting any pre-ordained limit on EU expansion - enlargement has been a huge positive both for the countries already in the EU, ourselves included, and those that have joined more recently.  Certainly the countries of the Balkans belong in Europe, along with countries to the EU's east like Ukraine.  Linked to this is an answer to Simon's points regarding the economics of EU expansion and the issue of values.  I strongly believe that Turkey joining the EU would be a real boost to British business.  Turkey has a strong economy, growing at around 7.5% per annum in recent years, so it would benefit the EU's single market and British jobs and growth. This is something I was asked about on a radio phone in for Radio XL last week.

Simon writes that he hasn't seen the EU doing much inter-faith outreach work.  Of course there is a lot of activity carried out by EU countries on an individual basis - for example Spain has played a leading role - with Turkey - in establishing an "Alliance of Civilisations" (more info at http://www.unaoc.org).  There are also some good EU-level initiatives.  For example the President of the European Parliament was recently in the UK and included in his visit talks with British Muslim leaders and a speech on intercultural dialogue at the London School of Economics.  If people have ideas on what the EU's role should be in this then I'm keen to hear them. 

I disagree entirely with the comments made by 'Lord Truth' - but it gives me the chance to point out that the entry of a reformed Turkey into the EU would be an excellent symbolic rejection of the idea that Europe is exclusively a "Christian club".  Turkey is a democracy, and it is making further reforms on its path to EU membership.  In recent years Turkey has abolished the death penalty, significantly reduced torture, ensured constitutional rights for women and improved the cultural rights of minority groups.  The EU accession process will continue to be a catalyst for reform.  To answer Richard's question - every indication I have seen suggests Turkey very much wants to join the EU, and is making progress towards doing so.  It's a balance - Turkey needs to keep going along the reform track, and the EU needs to reassert that membership is the destination.

With most of the House of Commons debate on the Treaty over, I am looking forward to having some more time to focus on issues like Turkey, Cyprus, Kosovo and the Balkans, and our relations with Russia, as well as things like inter-cultual dialogue.  I am the Minister responsible for the UK's "public diplomacy", and I'll be blogging about that in due course.  In any case, you'll be pleased to know this may mean a wider range of blogs!

Posted at 09:54 10 March 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[3]