WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1281/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Destruction of graves in Greek cemetery in Istanbul
Date: 1998-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Greece, Orthodoxy, Türkiye, cemetery, religious discrimination, religious group

C 323/122

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

21. 10. 98

Therapon, in which the church warden was savagely murdered, repeated attacks on the Ecumenical Patriarchate
and an attack on the Church of the Annunciation on the island of Imbros. The perpetrators (gangs who also target
Jewish cemeteries) are never arrested.

Whenever the Council is asked a question on this subject, it answers in general terms full of pious intent. Will the
Council  say  whether  it  will  make  specific  representations  to  Turkey  in  regard  to  these  acts  of  vandalism,
particularly in view of its increasing interest in the (cid:145)European orientation(cid:146) of that country?

Answer

(6 July 1998)

The Council regrets the developments mentioned by the Honourable Member and is well aware that under the
Treaty of Lausanne signed in July 1923, the Turkish Government undertook to grant full protection to churches,
synagogues, cemeteries and other religious establishments of non-Moslem minorities.

The Council wishes to emphasise yet again the importance it attaches to strengthening Turkey(cid:146)s ties with the
European Union, but it must also point out that if such ties are to be strengthened, Turkey must continue with the
political and economic reforms it has embarked on, particularly in aligning its standards and practices in the field
of human rights on those obtaining in the European Union.

Although the particular cases referred to by the Honourable Member have not yet been raised by the Council, it
will not fail to inform the Turkish authorities that it sets great store by the adequate protection of human rights.
Cooperation in the field of human rights is a continuing feature of the dialogue with the Turkish Government and
forms an integral part of the European strategy for Turkey.

(98/C 323/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1270/98

by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Prostitution in Ukraine

Does the Commission have an overall view of how widespread the problem of prostitution is in Ukraine?

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

(20 May 1998)

The  Commission  is  aware  of  the  problem  of  organised  prostitution  in  Ukraine.  It  welcomed  the  Ukrainian
Parliament(cid:146)s  adoption  on  13  April  1998  of  a  law  prohibiting  prostitution  networks  of  Ukrainian  women  in
Europe and the Middle East.

There is also an EU-US joint programme covering Ukraine and Poland which fights prostitution. The programme
is implemented by the International Migration Organisation. Initial results are expected in mid-1998.

(98/C 323/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1281/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Destruction of graves in Greek cemetery in Istanbul

In the early light of 30 March 1998, vandals destroyed 51 graves in the Greek cemetery of Ayios Eleftherios at
Tataoula in Istanbul. Acts such as these have been perpetrated countless times and their constant repetition is