Posted on 07/30/2002 1:37:35 PM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
London (CNSNews.com) - European plans to replace U.N. Population Fund money withheld by the United States were attacked Tuesday by pro-life groups on both sides of the Atlantic.
Congress voted to give UNFPA $34.5 million this year, but President Bush froze the funds in January after concerns were raised that the agency was supporting coercive population control methods in China.
The move set off a war of words between pro- and anti-abortion activists. Last week, the Bush administration announced that the money would not be released to the U.N. and would instead go to family planning programs run by the U.S. government.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said UNFPA funds "go to Chinese agencies that carry out coercive policies" and support abortion and forced sterilization.
The European Union swiftly unveiled plans to donate about $32 million to the UNFPA. In announcing the decision, European Development Commissioner Poul Nielson called the U.S. action "regrettable and counter-productive."
"The decision to cut funding may well lead to more unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and increased dangers for mothers and infants," Nielson said. "The losers from this decision will be some of the most vulnerable people on this planet."
Thoraya Obaid, the UNFPA's executive director, said the funds would allow the agency "to help women plan their families, have safe pregnancies and deliveries, and protect themselves from HIV infection."
"We are very grateful to our staunch partners in the EU for their generous support of reproductive health initiatives," said Obaid said.
Pro-life campaigners, on the other hand, denounced the EU's announcement. Paul Dannon of the London-based Society for the Protection of Unborn Children called the move "tragic."
"It's not the first time the EU has shown its true colors," he said. "The EU is not a force for good."
"It is bordering on cynicism to make such an announcement such a short time after the U.S. has done what it has done," Dannon said. "The EU has put its money where its mouth is. There is no neutrality here."
"Aid can be used as an important lever on vulnerable countries and people," Dannon said. "We have scant evidence that abuses like (China's policy) have gone on in other countries, but pressure can be applied to people who need money or who are in awe of western medicine and science.""\b
Scott Weinberg of the Virginia-based Population Research Institute called the E.U. announcement a "slap in the face" to the Bush administration.
"The E.U. is trying to establish an anti-life hegemony across Europe," he said. "We're wondering when the people of Europe are going to see this and rise up against it."
But Kathy Siddle, a London-based spokeswoman for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said Bush's decision would have ended educational and AIDS prevention programs if not for the E.U. funds.
"Cutting off funding to these programs doesn't stop abortion," Siddle said. "It simply ends general programs, a decision that has a huge knock-on effect."
A drop in funding to the UNFPA would adversely affect women in developing countries, Siddle said.
Growing gap
Both Dannon and Weinberg said the dispute over the UNFPA money points to a larger trend - the growing gulf between the United States and Europe on ethical issues such as abortion and stem cell research.
"Under Clinton, you saw the E.U. and the U.S. ganging up on smaller nations," Dannon said. "The situation in the U.S. has since changed."
Weinberg agreed and said the E.U. is guilty of "petty jealousy."
"The E.U. is threatened by the U.S. and is trying to secure its power," he said. "How they can condone forced abortion in China and how they can attack the U.S. State Department is beyond me. It's cruel and unbelievable."
An E.U. spokesman denied the allegations Tuesday but said the funds were a "clear statement of support" for UNFPA. He pointed out that none of the European money would fund population control programs in China.
"The E.U. is only allowed to finance specific projects and programs, and these funds are going to a project in 22 developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific region," the spokesman said. "We believe the UNFPA is part of the solution, not part of the problem."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.