Antonio TAJANI, EP President, opens the plenary session of the European Parliament (01-04/10/2018) in Strasbourg. He makes a statement on the deadly earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia that happened on 29 September. He also makes a statement about the violent attacks against some MEPs as Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), and Eleonora FORENZA (GUE/NGL, IT).  The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

EU - Indonesia (T)

natural disasters (T)

EP plenary session: introductory remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President on the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia and minute of silence; and on the attacks against some MEPs (17:04 - 17:07)

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Honorable Members before we resume our business I would like to spare a thought to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami which have caused more than twelve hundred deaths in Indonesia. The Sulawesi archipelago was hit by a serious tremor which as well as causing many victims created a huge tsunami. It was six metres high and hit the capital city and a number of coastal villages. According to the UN one hundred ninety thousand people on the island of Sulawesi need support including forty six thousand children and 14000 older people. The European Union has released some initial humanitarian assistance of one and a half million euro to help with food supplies and housing and a Copernicus satellite system will also be deployed to provide help. We would like to express our condolences to the victims families. The Indonesian authorities and I would ask you to respect a minute's silence in memory of those who've lost their lives in this disaster. Thank you

Minute of silence to the memory of the victims

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, In recent weeks I've been informed of a number of personal attacks on colleagues in this House. I would like to reiterate forcefully that such incidents are unacceptable. Verbal or physical violence of any nature shows a lack of respect which is not only unjustifiable but it imposes limits on the mandate received from the citizens. So we condemn such acts from wherever they come and I wish to express my solidarity with Judith Sargentini who has suffered a hate campaign on social media. Ms Forenza has also suffered physical violence and her image was attacked during a demonstration in Hungary. I express again my condemnation. I hope that these unacceptable incidents will never be repeated.