WRITTEN QUESTION E-2996/00 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council. Democratic Republic of Congo.
Date: 2000-09-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Democratic Republic of the Congo, freedom of the press, government violence, right to justice

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/151

However, to date, the Council has not received any specific request for the provision of assistance to the
new Pakistan commission to protect women(cid:146)s rights and help raise their status. Nonetheless, the Council
can assure the Honourable Member that it will give favourable consideration to any request along these
lines.

(2001/C 136 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2996/00

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(25 September 2000)

Subject: Democratic Republic of Congo

Is the Council aware of the predicament of the media in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the
assumption of power by Kabila in 1997? Since his inauguration more than 130 journalists and media
workers have been harassed, beaten, arbitrarily imprisoned, or forced into exile.

In view of the plight of the two Kinshasa journalists held and charged with high treason against the state,
what are the Council(cid:146)s intentions?

Reply

(20/21 December 2000)

The Council has been fully aware of the difficult situation faced by the media in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo for many years, and unfortunately the situation has not improved since President Kabila
came to power. Although the cases raised by the Honourable Member have not been specifically brought
to its attention, the Council has reacted on several occasions to events in the country and has a well-
established policy on the crisis in the Great Lakes region. During its discussion on 22 May 2000 on
conflicts in Africa, the Council expressed its deep concern specifically concerning the continuous human
rights violations that are perpetrated by both state and non-state parties in the Great Lakes region.
Recently, in a declaration made on 22 September 2000, the Union also recalled that a return to peace in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region is conditional upon respect for the rules
of international law, protection of the population and of human rights and the restoration of democracy.

Within the United Nations framework, the European Union has also taken the initiative,
in the Third
Committee and the Human Rights Committee, of putting forward texts with a view to adopting resolutions
on the human rights situation in that country.

The Council can assure the Honourable Member that it will continue to ensure respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms in all cases, including respect for freedom of the press, and will pay close
attention to the fate of journalists who are wrongfully accused. Moreover, the Council will continue to
exert diplomatic pressure, notably through the work undertaken by its Special Envoy for the Great Lakes
region to support the implementation of the Lusaka agreement, which is the only instrument capable of
producing a negotiated solution to the conflict and restoring peace, stability and democracy in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(2001/C 136 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2998/00

by Marie-ThØrŁse Hermange (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Food aid programme for the most deprived persons in the European Union

According to the study conducted by the ADE consultancy firm at the Commission(cid:146)s request, the European
Union(cid:146)s food aid programme, a product of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3149/92 (1), has demon-
strated its social benefits and its relevance, given the persistent presence of poverty in Europe.