WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1117/98 by Paraskevas AVGERINOS to the Commission. Desecration of Armenian monastery in occupied Cyprus
Date: 1998-04-08
Institutions: AVGERINOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Armenia, Cyprus, Türkiye, heritage protection, occupied territory, religious discrimination, religious group, religious institution

C 354/66

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

19. 11. 98

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(25 May 1998)

Germany submitted, pursuant to Article 103 of the Euratom Treaty, by letter dated 13 August 1997, the draft of a
bilateral agreement with the Russian Federation for the supply of 1 200 kilogrammes of enriched uranium to be
used  in  the  research  reactor  Munich  II  throughout  its  lifetime.  The  Commission  was  not  associated  with  the
negotiation of the draft agreement.

The  Russian  Federation  has  been  granted  prior  consent  rights  by  Germany  in  the  agreement.  The  agreement
states, however, that it does not modify, in particular, obligations imposed on Germany as a party to Euratom.

By letter dated 25 September 1997 the Commission informed the German authorities that it concluded from the
text that the agreement did not contain clauses which impede, in practice, the application of the Euratom Treaty.
The  Euratom  Supply  Agency  will  be  involved  in  the  supply  of  this  uranium  in  accordance  with  the  relevant
provisions of Chapter VI of the Euratom Treaty.

The Commission is not involved, other than through the provisions laid down in Article 103 of the Euratom
Treaty, in the negotiation of bilateral agreements between Member States and third parties. Any further detailed
questions concerning this bilateral agreement should be referred to the German authorities.

The agreement negotiated between Germany and the Russian Federation to which the Honourable Member refers
has not yet been signed.

The agreement on partnership and co-operation concluded between the Community and the Russian Federation
on  24  June  1994  and  which  entered  into  force  on  1  December  1997,  provides  the  framework  within  which
specific bilateral agreements including on trade in nuclear materials may be concluded. Arrangements for the
implementation of specific co-operation projects are under discussion.

(98/C 354/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1117/98

by Paraskevas Avgerinos (PSE) to the Commission

(8 April 1998)

Subject: Desecration of Armenian monastery in occupied Cyprus

The Turkish forces of occupation in Cyprus have taken an outrageous decision to convert the historic Armenian
monastery of Ayios Magar, situated in occupied northern Cyprus, into a hotel.

Is the Commission aware of this decision and, if so, what does it intend to do to ensure that Turkey finally puts an
end to its flagrant violation of human rights and destruction of historic relics which are an important part of
mankind(cid:146)s cultural heritage?

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

(30 April 1998)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  answer  to  written  question  E-968/98  by
Mrs Daskalaki (1).

(1)  OJ C 323, 21.10.1998, p. 100.