71 Quotes by Chris Patten

Certainly in Europe, I don't think that would be acceptable to our electorates. I think our electorates would much prefer us to say, well, we'll do what we can to ensure that at least on our part the protocol is ratified by the time of the conference on sustainable development in 2002,

But there is no cause for thinking sad thoughts, that there is dishonor in these endings. Nothing has melted away. There have been no defeats,

Frankly, there wouldn't have been much point in me coming unless I was prepared to go and see the head of the Tamil Tigers and make clear in no uncertain terms what the international community expects of him and his colleagues in coming weeks and months,

He would like Britain to take a leading role in the affairs of the EU, and to lay to rest our ambivalence about membership of the union,

What we are still not told is why it is necessary to restrict Hong Kong's civil liberties,

We must dig deep in our pockets to make sure Pakistan isn't destabilized by the humanitarian crisis that may be about to engulf the country,

Will Hong Kong people really be able to decide for themselves, as promised, how to run their domestic affairs, or will the decisions which matter be dictated by others?

We do think the appalling economic circumstances in the West Bank and Gaza, that the economic blockade by Israel, that the non-payment of revenues by Israel to the Palestinian Authority, that these things make the security situation worse,

The political situation is as hot as the temperature. I think frankly we are on a knife edge. There has to be some movement, I think, above all on the question of terrorism in order for us to see people pulling back from the brink. And that has to come soon.