WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2030/98 by Yiannis ROUBATIS to the Council. Dismissal of distinguished Turkish journalists
Date: 1998-07-06
Institutions: European Parliament, ROUBATIS
Subjects: Türkiye, accession to the European Union, communications profession, dismissal, human rights, military regime, political system

8.4.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 96/25

(1999/C 96/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2018/98

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council

(29 June 1998)

Subject: Regulation No 258/97 on novel foods

Will the Commission please explain how the provisions of Article 8 of Regulation No 258/97 (1) will work in
practice. In particular:

› what form of words is recommended to comply with the provisions of the last subparagraph of Article 8(1)(a),
which require labelling to indicate the characteristics or properties modified and the method by which the
characteristics or properties were obtained?

› what criteria will be applied to the assessments required under Article 8(1)(b) and (c) (special health

implications and ethical concerns) and who will apply them?

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.

Reply

(19 October 1998)

In accordance with the rules of the Treaty, it is for Member States to take the measures required to implement the
Regulation referred to by the Honourable Member and for the Commission to ensure such implementation,
subject to possible verification by the Court.

(1999/C 96/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2030/98

by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Council

(6 July 1998)

Subject: Dismissal of distinguished Turkish journalists

On the basis of concocted (cid:145)information(cid:146) supplied by an alleged leading member of the PKK, the Turkish generals
have forced the employers of two distinguished Turkish journalists, Mehmet Ali Birad and Ghengiz ˙antar, to
dismiss them. In addition, there are fears that their dismissal also signals the go-ahead for the (cid:145)liquidation(cid:146) of the
two Turkish journalists by rogue elements in Turkey who are operating in close cooperation with the official
authorities, as the events at Sokuluk have demonstrated. All these events are taking place at the same time as
Turkey and some of its economic partners are insisting that the leaders of the country are sincere in wanting
Turkey to have closer relations with the Union.

1. What practical measures will the Council take to protect the two journalists from a probable assassination
attempt?

2. When will the Council explain to the Turkish leadership › in plain terms › that the principles on which
Europe(cid:146)s democracies are based also include freedom of expression and thought and that it is not possible to
ignore, for economic or any other form of gain, Turkey(cid:146)s renewed drift towards autocracy and totalitarianism?

Reply

(9 November 1998)

The Council does not possess information enabling it to assess either the reasons for the dismissal of the

1.
journalists Mehmet Ali Birad and Ghengiz ˙antar, or the extent to which their lives are in danger.

2.
The Council would point out that the European Council, at its meeting in Luxembourg on 12 and
13 December 1997, reiterated that, in accordance with the position adopted by the Council at the Association
Council meeting with Turkey on 29 April 1997, the strengthening of Turkey(cid:146)s links with the EU also depended on
the alignment of Turkey(cid:146)s standards and practices in respect of human rights with those in force in the European
Union. It regrets that Turkey is currently refusing to continue its political dialogue with the Union in this area.