WRITTEN QUESTION No. 269/98 by Yiannis ROUBATIS to the Commission. Destruction of the archaeological site of Vouthrotou
Date: 1998-02-13
Institutions: European Parliament, ROUBATIS
Subjects: Albania, Greece, Unesco, archaeology, cross-border cooperation, cultural heritage, heritage protection, historic site, international aid, theft

C 304/66

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

Will the Council say:

1. 

Is it aware of these tactics by the Tudjman regime?

2.  Does  it  intend  to  finance  and  to  support  by  every  means  the  institutions  in  Croatia  which  are  being

prosecuted?

3.  Does  it  intend  to  call  on  the  Croatian  President  to  cease  prosecuting  bodies  which  are  supporting  the

independence of the mass media, human rights and democracy in Croatia?

Answer

(8 June 1998)

The Council is closely following events in Croatia and is concerned about the fact that democratic rules are still
not being observed in many areas, including freedom of the media.

The Union is already providing assistance to promote democracy and the development of independent media,
including the (cid:145)Feral Tribune(cid:146) newspaper.

The Union(cid:146)s relations with Croatia are governed by the (cid:145)regional approach(cid:146) adopted in February 1996 and by the
general conditions set out in the Council(cid:146)s conclusions of 29 April 1997. These conditions include respect for
democratic principles and the rule of law. The Council will continue to take every opportunity to express its
concern that Croatia should act in accordance with recognized international standards. At the meeting which it
held in London in March 1998 the Ministerial Troika of the European Union explained in detail to the Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Mr Granic, what the Union expects of Croatia, in particular with regard to the media. In its
conclusions of 27 April 1998 the General Affairs Council also expressed the concern felt by the European Union
at the situation of the media in Croatia.

(98/C 304/93)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0269/98

by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Commission

(13 February 1998)

Subject: Destruction of the archaeological site of Vouthrotou

According to UNESCO(cid:146)s World Heritage Committee, the archaeological site of Vouthrotou in southern Albania
is  one  of  the  most  important  world  heritage  sites  which  is  threatened  with  destruction.  In  particular,  the
archaeological  site  of  Vouthrotou  in  the  Examiliou  peninsula,  south  of  Aghia  Saranda,  is  directly  threatened
because of pillaging in the region and the museum during the recent disturbances.

Does  the  Commission  intend  to  support  the  Albanian  State  and  the  archaeological  services  of  the  town  of
Ioannina (Epirus, Greece) to save the archaeological site of Vouthrotou and other Byzantine monuments and
archaeologic treasures which are under direct threat in southern Albania?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1998)

The Commission would like to refer the Honourable Member to its replies given on the same subject in oral
question H-350/97 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos during question time at Parliament(cid:146)s May I 1997 part-session (1)
and Written Question E-1439/97 by Mrs Katerina Daskalaki (2).

(1)  Debates of the Parliament (May I 1997).
(2)  OJ C 21, 22.1.1998.