WRITTEN QUESTION No. 263/98 by Yiannis ROUBATIS to the Council. The systematic and provocative policy of increasing tension pursued by the Turkish Government
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, ROUBATIS
Subjects: Cyprus, Greece, Türkiye, accession to the European Union, human rights, peacekeeping, political violence, protection of minorities, religious discrimination, settlement of disputes

C 304/64

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 1998)

1.
The  Commission  is  not  aware  of  any  studies  linking  sudden  infant  death  to  dust  particles  found  in  the
indoor  environment  of  homes.  As  part  of  its  activities  in  the  field  of  biomedical  and  health  research  the
Commission financed a project entitled (cid:145)ECAS, European concerted action on sudden infant death(cid:146), the aim of
which was to identify methods of prevention. The final report for the project is being completed at present. In
addition, in the Environment and Climate research programme, there is a major research effort underway on air
quality  ranging  from  sources  and  behaviour  of  pollutants  to  their  impact  on  human  health,  including  both
morbidity and mortality endpoints.

2. and 3.

The Commission has no data on the incidence of sudden infant death in Member States.

(98/C 304/90)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0263/98

by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Council

(17 February 1998)

Subject: The systematic and provocative policy of increasing tension pursued by the Turkish Government

The  policy  of  systematically  increasing  tension  pursued  by  the  Turkish  Government  in  relation  to  Greece  is
jeopardizing  the  peace  in  a  vital  part  of  the  European  Union.  For  the  second  time  over  the  last  few  months
Turkish planes have attempted to buzz a plane carrying the Greek Foreign Minister. Within Turkey this policy by
Ankara is encouraging extremist criminal elements which two days ago burned down an Orthodox church in
Istanbul and murdered the sacristan.

Does the Council intend:

1. 

to make it clear to the relevant Turkish authorities that this behaviour sets an even greater distance between
Turkey and the European Union and makes it impossible to include it among the countries which will be
attending the European Conference?

2. 

to take measures to protect Orthodox churches in Turkey and the rights of citizens to freedom of expression
in religious matters?

Answer

(18 May 1998)

As  regards  relations  between  the  EU  and  Turkey,  the  Luxembourg  European  Council  on  12  and  13  Decem-
ber 1997, while confirming Turkey(cid:146)s eligibility for accession to the European Union, gave a reminder, in line
with the Council(cid:146)s position stated at the meeting of the Association Council with Turkey held 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  the
political and economic reforms on which it had embarked, including the alignment of human rights standards and
practices on those in force in the European Union; respect for and protection of minorities; the establishment of
satisfactory and stable relations between Greece and Turkey; the settlement of disputes, in particular by legal
process, including the International Court of Justice; and support for negotiations under the aegis of the UN on a
political settlement in Cyprus on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

The  Luxembourg  European  Council  also  invited  Turkey  to  participate  in  the  European  Conference  whose
opening session was held in London on 12 March 1998. Turkey is well aware that the members of the Conference
must  share  a  common  commitment  to  peace,  security  and  good  neighbourliness,  respect  for  other  countries(cid:146)
sovereignty, the principles upon which the European Union is founded, the integrity and inviolability of external
borders and the principles of international law as well as a commitment to the settlement of territorial disputes by
peaceful means, in particular through the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.

As regards the incidents referred to by the Honourable Member, the Council observed that, under the Treaty of
Peace signed at Lausanne in July 1923, the Turkish Government has undertaken to grant full protection to the
churches, synagogues, cemeteries and other religious establishments of non-Moslem minorities. The situation of
democracy and human rights in Turkey, which include freedom of expression in religious matters, remains high
on the Council(cid:146)s agenda. These issues are raised at virtually every meeting with the Turkish authorities.