WRITTEN QUESTION No. 93/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Turkey and antipersonnel mines
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Greece, Kurdistan question, Türkiye, disarmament, explosive, frontier region, refugee, the EU's international role

16. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187/141

Answer

(23 March 1998)

As the Honourable Members know, the Council has no authority to amend or correct the text of the Treaties (1).

Nevertheless,  the  Council  would  point  out  that  it  will  take  measures  under  Article  13  which  it  considers
appropriate, acting by unanimity after consultation of the European Parliament.

The Council firmly condemns violence against, and sexual exploitation of, children, and has taken appropriate
measures under Title VI of the Treaty on European Union. These include the joint action of 16 December 1996
extending the mandate given to the Europol Drugs Unit (2); the joint action of 29 November 1996 establishing an
incentive and exchange programme for persons responsible for combating trade in human beings and the sexual
exploitation of children the STOP programme (3), and the joint action of 24 February 1997 concerning action to
combat trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children (4);

(1)  The Council understands the reference made in the Written Question to the new Article13 of the draft TEU as being a reference to Article 13

of the TEC as renumbered by the Treaty of Amsterdam.

(2)  OJ L 342, 31.12.1996, p. 4.
(3)  OJ L 322, 12.12.1996, p. 7.
(4)  OJ L 63, 4. 3.1997, p. 2.

(98/C 187/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0093/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Turkey and antipersonnel mines

In  accordance  with  international  agreements  and  appeals  by  the  European  Parliament  Greece  has  decided  to
support the ban on the use of antipersonnel mines. Turkey, on the other hand, is showing no sign of complying
and  is  keeping  the  entire  area  along  its  border  with  Greece  mined.  Furthermore,  in  an  unprecedented  act  of
insensitivity and sadism it is directing towards the mined area hundreds of desperate Kurdish refugees seeking to
enter Greece and, from there, the rest of the EU.

What measures will the Commission take with a view to bringing Turkey into line with international agreements,
with  which  Greece  has  already  complied,  sacrificing  strategic  advantages  and  defence  requirements  to
humanitarian considerations?

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

(17 February 1998)

The Commission has been a strong supporter of the Ottawa process and, in dialogue with third countries, has
encouraged adherence to the Convention to ban the use of anti-personnel landmines.

The Member States which have signed the Convention are committed to use their best endeavours to ratify it at
the earliest opportunity, to take appropriate steps to comply with the objectives of the Convention pending its
entry into force, and to promote universal accession.

The  Community  will  also  seek  to  promote,  in  all  appropriate  international  fora,  including  the  Conference  of
disarmament,  in  which  Turkey  is  a  participant,  all  efforts  likely  to  contribute  to  the  total  elimination  of
anti-personnel landmines world-wide as well as contributing to solving the problems already caused by these
weapons.

The Commission will continue to play a strong role in these activities, wherever appropriate in accordance with
its responsibilities.