WRITTEN QUESTION No. 133/98 by Katerina DASKALAKI to the Council. Murder of church sexton in Istanbul
Date: 1998-01-23
Institutions: DASKALAKI, European Parliament
Subjects: Greece, Türkiye, fight against crime, heritage protection, human rights, physical aggression, protection of minorities, religious group, religious institution

C 196/118

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 6. 98

(98/C 196/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0133/98

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Council

(23 January 1998)

Subject: Murder of church sexton in Istanbul

The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has recently suffered a number of attacks such as the bomb attack
which severely injured a clergyman. The latest target of the attacks was the font of the church of Ayios Therapon
which was set ablaze by persons unknown who stole priceless icons and vessels and murdered the church sexton,
V. Khavieropoulos, after a horrifying ordeal.

No-one has ever been arrested in connection with the intermittent attacks on the Ecumenical Patriarchate while
the Turkish authorities do not allow the Greek Consul-General to communicate with the Istanbul local authorities
to protest.

In view of the fact that Turkey has specific agreements associating the country with the EU and is required to
protect Christian monuments, what measures can and will the Council take to pressure Turkey into taking steps
to safeguard the monuments concerned and to protect the very few Greeks who remain in Istanbul?

Answer

(30 April 1998)

The Council regrets and condemns the violent incidents mentioned by the Honourable Member, including the
bombing of churches. It also notes that under the Treaty of Peace, signed at Lausanne in July 1923, the Turkish
Government  undertook  to  grant  full  protection  to  churches,  synagogues,  cemeteries,  and  other  religious
establishments of non-Moslem minorities.

The European Council meeting in Luxembourg on 12-13 December 1997 again underlined the necessity for the
Turkish  Government  to  meet  its  fundamental  obligations,  including  the  protection  of  minorities,  which
encompasses  religious  minorities  as  well.  It  recalled,  in  line  with  the  Council  position  expressed  at  the
Association Council with Turkey on 29 April 1997, that strengthening Turkey(cid:146)s links with the European Union
also depended on that country(cid:146)s pursuit of political and economic reforms, including the alignment of human
rights  standards  and  practices  on  those  in  force  in  the  EU.  In  this  context,  respect  for  and  protection  of  all
minorities is essential.

These issues are brought up virtually on every appropriate occasion with the Turkish authorities.

(98/C 196/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0138/98

by Hugh McMahon (PSE) to the Commission

(23 January 1998)

Subject: Brussels › Strasbourg flights

Is  the  Commission  aware  that  a  number  of  complaints  have  been  lodged  concerning  the  non-availability  of
economy  airfares  on  Sabena  World  Airlines  flights  between  Brussels  and  Strasbourg  during  Parliament
part-session weeks?  Would it be possible for the Commission to investigate whether there is an infringement of
competition rules, given the monopoly on this route by the aforementioned airline?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 1998)

The Commission is not aware of any complaints on the non-availability of economy fares on Sabena Belgian
World Airlines on the route between Brussels and Strasbourg during the plenary week.