WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3495/97 by Katerina DASKALAKI to the Commission. Looting of archaeological and religious treasures in Cyprus
Date: 1997-11-10
Institutions: DASKALAKI, European Parliament
Subjects: Cyprus, Türkiye, archaeology, cultural heritage, heritage protection, occupied territory, religion

25. 5. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 158/131

Article  8(3)  of  the  draft  in  fact  obliges  banks  to  convert  into  euros  all  amounts  credited  to  their  customers(cid:146)
accounts. It applies both to essential conversion operations during the transitional period between 1999 and 2001
(e.g. in cases where the debtor(cid:146)s account and the creditor(cid:146)s account are denominated in different currencies, one
in euros and the other in national currency) and to the definitive changeover of bank accounts in 2002.

As regards compulsory acts, there is every reason to believe that the conversions will be carried out free of charge
for customers. This also applies to the definitive conversion in 2002 of notes and coins in national currency into
euros.

It  should,  however,  be  noted  that  Article  8(3)  does  not  cover  all  the  questions  arising  in  connection  with
conversion  charges.  For  example,  the  invoicing  arrangements  between  1999  and  2001  for  services  in  euros
requested  by  banks(cid:146)  customers  remain  an  open  question,  as  does  the  exchange  of  notes  and  coins  between
currencies participating in the euro area in the period from 1999 to 2001.

In order to examine these matters, the Commission set up in the spring of 1997 a working group composed of
representatives  from  all  the  interested  parties:  banking  and  professional  associations,  consumer  groups  and
public authorities. The objective is to determine by the end of the year whether a common approach is required
on the part of all the participating Member States and to spell out, also by the end of the year, what needs to be
done, if anything, in terms of legislation or a code of conduct.

(1)  OJ C 236, 2.8.1997. The Council has reached unanimous agreement on this text. However, in view of its legal basis (Article 109l(4)), it

cannot be formally adopted until the list of Member States participating in the euro is known.

(98/C 158/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3495/97

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission

(10 November 1997)

Subject: Looting of archaeological and religious treasures in Cyprus

Religious  and  archaeological treasures  of  great  value, looted from churches  and  monasteries in  the  occupied
sector  of  Cyprus,  were  to  be  found  in  Munich  in  late  October.  The  objects  concerned  comprise  more  than
40  icons,  mosaics  and  murals  from  the  first  Byzantine  period,  which  were  being  offered  for  sale  by  Alytin
Dikman, a Turkish illicit dealer in antiquities, whose extradition has been requested by the authorities of the
Republic of Cyprus. Since this is not the first occurrence of the looting of Cypriot archaeological and religious
treasures by the Turkish invaders, will the Commission say whether it intends to take a closer interest in this
criminal endeavour to destroy and sell off important parts of the European cultural heritage? If so, what practical
measures can it and does it propose to take?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 1997)

The Commission refers to its answer to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s written question No E-3079/96 (1) as well as to
its answer to written question No P-3094/96 by Mr Alavanos (2). There are no new elements to be added at this
stage.

(1)  OJ C 105, 3.4.1997.
(2)  OJ C 83, 14.3.1997.

(98/C 158/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3497/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 November 1997)

Subject: Extension of the Via Egnatia

The Via Egnatia is part of the trans-European networks and its construction is already being jointly funded by the
EU and the European Investment Bank. The decision has already been taken to link up the Balkan capitals, which
is an extremely important project, but extending the Via Egnatia to Istanbul would give the network another
dimension.