WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3089/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Turkish military blockade of Orthodox Monastery
Date: 1998-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Orthodoxy, Türkiye, human rights, protection of minorities, religious group, religious institution, vocational education

C 96/160

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:237)n on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question No 2191/98 by
Mr Ford (1).

(1) OJ C 13, 18.1.1999, p. 152.

(1999/C 96/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3089/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(16 October 1998)

Subject: Turkish military blockade of Orthodox Monastery

The Orthodox Monastery of Mar Gabriel in Turkey is one of the most ancient in the world, being over 1 600 years
old. The Orthodox faith and the Aramaic language have been taught there down to the present day and it is the
spiritual home of three million Syrian Orthodox Christians. Over the last few months major American
newspapers (such as the Los Angeles Times, on 21 August 1998) have reported that the Islamist regional
governor of the region, Fikret G(cid:252)ven, has been attempting by various stratagems to put an end to the teaching of
the 30 students at this monastery.

Having implemented Turkey(cid:146)s infamous racist law banning non-Turkish citizens from being ordained, the
Turkish authorities are now seeking completely to deprive the monastery of teachers of the Christian faith. The
Turkish army has recently set up in the village of Haberli next to the monastery a checkpoint (which is guarded by
tanks) where the names of all the faithful wishing to visit the monastery are recorded.

Will the Commission give its views on this matter and say how it intends to react, since it is now clear that Turkey
is emboldened by the inertia shown by the EU whenever the rights of the non-Muslim minorities remaining on
Turkish territory are violated and takes even harsher measures to terrorize and persecute them?

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

(10 November 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-2159/98 by
Mrs Daskalaki (1).

(1) OJ C 31, 5.2.1999, p. 128.

(1999/C 96/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3092/98

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Delay in the payment of funds under the Leader I programme

(16 October 1998)

The rural development centre (cid:145)La Montaæa(cid:146) was set up in the municipality of Cocentaina (Alicante, Spain) and
has played an active part in the implementation of the Leader I programme.

It has acted as an intermediary in attracting a range of subsidies for projects which have already been concluded in
neighbouring rural areas. Nevertheless, despite the time which has elapsed since the granting of subsidies by
(cid:145)La Montaæa(cid:146) in 1994 and the conclusion of the projects for which grants were awarded, the beneficiaries have
still not received the full amount of the subsidies.

According to the explanation given by (cid:145)La Montaæa(cid:146) to the beneficiaries, the reason for the delay is that the full
amount due to them from the European Union has not yet been transferred.