WRITTEN QUESTION P-0822/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Destruction of cultural treasures in Afghanistan.
Date: 2001-03-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Afghanistan, cultural heritage, the EU's international role

C 261 E/202

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2001)

According to the latest available data (1999), the main markets for Community exports of raw tobacco are:

(cid:129) Russia (20 % of total Community exports), United States (13 %), Egypt (7 %), Poland (6 %), Romania
Indonesia (2 %), Turkey (2 %),

(6 %), Switzerland (5 %), Algeria (5 %),
Uruguay, (2 %), Czech Republic (2 %), Tunisia (2 %) and Hungary (2 %).

Japan (3 %), Ukraine (3 %),

Community exports of raw tobacco have decreased from 192 000 tonnes in 1995 to 118 000 tonnes in
1999, i.e. a reduction of approximately 40 %, particularly in the area of lower priced tobaccos; this meant
that the quality of the tobacco actually exported has improved, as shown by an increase in the unit value
of the exported product. The average unit value of Community tobacco exported towards the 15 principal
importing countries represented in 1995 around 30 % of the average unit value of the tobacco imported
from the 15 principal exporting countries. In 1999 this proportion amounted to 60 %. The average price
of Community exported raw tobacco in 1999 was € 2,49 per kilogram while the average world price was
approximately U$ 2,60.

Concerning the final destination of Community exported raw tobacco, the Commission is not in a position
to confirm that a substantial proportion is used in the manufacturing of high-tar and nicotine cigarettes.
As a matter of fact cigarettes are manufactured with blends of raw tobacco from numerous origins. In
addition, it should be borne in mind that additives and manufacturing technology used by the cigarette
industry have a significant effect on the content of nicotine and tar in cigarettes.

Furthermore, the new reform of the common market organisation (CMO) in raw tobacco applied since
1999 has incorporated a quota buy-back programme and the possibility of transferring between varieties.
This has resulted in a decrease in the production of lower priced tobacco varieties, which often contain
high levels of tar and nicotine.

(2001/C 261 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0822/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Destruction of cultural treasures in Afghanistan

(13 March 2001)

The Taliban Government in Afghanistan recently announced its criminal decision to destroy a host of non-
Muslim monuments located on Afghan territory. These artefacts which include Hellenistic monuments and
Buddhist statues have survived for thousands of years, but the Taliban has already begun (cid:129) or will begin
shortly (cid:129) to turn them into heaps of stones in an anachronistic display of hatred and contempt for the
treasures of human artistic creation.

Will the Commission say whether it intends to take immediate action (cid:129) and, if so, what action (cid:129) to put
an end forthwith to this destruction and to save whatever monuments can still be salvaged from the
destructive rage of the Taliban, given that many of these monuments are also symbols of Europe(cid:146)s cultural
creation? Can it make any funds available to protect the world(cid:146)s cultural heritage? How does it view the
idea of setting up a special EU fund for buying up cultural treasures which are threatened with destruction?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2001)

Despite what has probably been an unprecedented number of appeals from governments, international
organisations, religious and cultural organisations from around the world, the leader of the Taliban
organisation in Afghanistan, Mullah Omar, has refused to reconsider his order that two Buddhist statues
at Bamiyan should be destroyed. It now appears from press reports that the statues have been destroyed.

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/203

When the news from Afghanistan concerning the edict to destroy the statues first reached the outside
world, the Union immediately issued a declaration urging the Taliban leadership not to implement what it
called (cid:145)this deeply tragic decision, which would deprive the people of Afghanistan of its rich cultural
heritage(cid:146).

The Union(cid:146)s latest Common Position on Afghanistan of 22 January 2001 (1) states that the Union shall
urge all factions to respect and protect the cultural heritage of Afghanistan and shall encourage activities in
the field by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and the Society
for the Preservation of Afghanistan(cid:146)s Cultural Heritage (SPACH).

The budget of the Community does not contain provision for the funding of measures destined to protect
the world cultural heritage. There are at present no plans by the Community to create a special fund to
buy cultural treasures threatened with destruction.

(1) OJ L 21, 23.1.2001.

(2001/C 261 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0825/01

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 March 2001)

Subject: Pollution of the Cares and Deva rivers in the Picos de Europa

The Picos de Europa mountains, situated in the north of Spain in the regions of Asturias, Le(cid:243)n and
Cantabria, have been designated a national park by the Spanish authorities.

Beech, oak, yew, holly, ash and lime trees shelter a rich fauna, including 64 species of mammal and 146
kinds of birds, several of which are protected, including the capercaillie, golden eagle and goshawk. It is
the only national park to be home to bears, wolves and salmon, three of the species that are most
representative of the native wildlife.

Until recently, the rivers running through the national park were clean and clear. But over the last ten
years, untreated urban and agricultural waste has been threatening this purity. Discharges into the Deva
and Cares rivers and their tributaries may infringe Directives 78/659/EEC (1), 79/923/EEC (2), 91/271/
EEC (3) and 76/464/EEC (4) on water quality, the recently revised Directive 91/676/EEC on pollution by
nitrates and Directive 92/43/EEC (5) on habitats.

What steps does the Commission plan to take,
compliance with Community environmental legislation in this area?

in its capacity as guardian of the Treaties, to ensure

(1) OJ L 222, 14.8.1978, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 281, 10.11.1979, p. 47.
(3) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40.
(4) OJ L 129, 18.5.1976, p. 23.
(5) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2001)

The Commission is aware of the situation described by the Honourable Member.

A complaint received recently on the subject has been registered and is now being examined.

In its capacity as Guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will take the necessary steps to ensure that the
relevant Community legislation is complied with in this case.