Sir, The Palestinian elections (for which I chaired the European Parliament’s observer mission) and those in Iraq illustrate the principal finding of the 2002 UN Development Programme report: that there is a high Arab appetite for democracy.

Coupled with the expectation of EU membership raised by Viktor Yushchenko’s win in Ukraine (interview, January 31), this provides a double democratic challenge for the British Government, which currently chairs the G8 and has the presidency of the EU for the second half of this year.

First, Britain should actively promote parliamentary democracy under the G8’s “Democracy Assistance Dialogue” banner, and more specifically by setting up an EU version of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. An EU pro-democracy budget of some £100 million already exists, although it is currently poorly spent by the Commission.

The primary focus should fall on what has become the EU’s new neighbourhood, the countries to our east and the Arab world.

Secondly, Britain should use its presidency of the EU to begin serious discussions about how the EU can accommodate the aspirations of these countries. It is no longer fanciful to hope that others will follow Turkey’s example by introducing swift reforms in line with the EU’s full membership criteria. These were precisely the pledges made at his inauguration by the Palestinian President: it was clear to me that his people want EU membership too.

Some form of privileged relationship will need to be devised by the EU, going well beyond the association status currently on offer.

Yours faithfully,
EDWARD McMILLAN-SCOTT
(Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats),
Vice-President,
European Parliament,
Rue Wiertz, B-1047, Brussels.
emcmillan@europarl.eu.int
February 1.

From Mr Hugh Leach

Sir, It’s a bit rich our politicians wanting schools to teach more history (report, January 28).

It’s our politicians themselves who need to read it instead of law, their favourite subject. Had they read the history of Iraq, especially the period of our mandate, we wouldn’t be in the mess there we now are.

Yours faithfully,
HUGH LEACH,
21 Choumert Square,
Peckham Rye, SE15 4RE.
January 29.

From Mr Simon Palmer

Sir, I fear some of us are a little premature in our congratulations on the democratic elections in Iraq (leading article and Michael Gove’s Comment, February 1).

It is early days; the insurrection and chaos may well continue, with the coalition forces trying to hold together a semblance of order based on Western democratic ideology. There is some way to go before the Bush/Blair vision of invading an oil-rich country for the purposes of freeing its persecuted citizens becomes reality.

Yours faithfully,
SIMON PALMER,
27 Swan Lane,
Whetstone, N20 0PR.
February 1.

From Mr Geoffrey Fogwill

Sir, Regardless of party politics, doesn’t our Prime Minister, alongside President Bush, deserve a word of congratulation on the Iraqi election? He has certainly endured enough vitriol to get to the present promising situation.

Yours faithfully,
GEOFFREY FOGWILL,
The Bowery,
34 Churchill Crescent, Headley,
Nr Bordon, Hampshire GU35 8ND.
geoffreyfogwill@aol.com
February 1.

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