WRITTEN QUESTION E-0878/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Destruction of monuments in Afghanistan.
Date: 2001-03-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Afghanistan, cultural heritage, heritage protection, religious fundamentalism, the EU's international role

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/141

(2001/C 318 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0878/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Destruction of monuments in Afghanistan

(27 March 2001)

In Afghanistan the Taliban in their religious extremism are committing a crime against the World(cid:146)s cultural
heritage by destroying the country(cid:146)s pre-Islamic classical monuments, an act which has been condemned
by many Islamic leaders, such as the Iranian President, Muhammad Hatami. Many of the monuments bear
the stamp of European (cid:129) and specifically Hellenistic (cid:129) culture.

1. What immediate action does it intend to take to protect the monuments which have so far escaped
the destructive fanaticism of the Taliban?

2.
Does it intend to contribute to the immediate creation of a world fund for the purchase of Hellenistic
and other pre-Islamic works of art to save them and hand them over to the Afghan people when the dark
interlude of Taliban rule has ended?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2001)

The Commission, along with the Member States, political and religious leaders and cultural organisations
around the world has condemned the decision by the Taliban to destroy the statues of Buddha in Bamiyan.
Efforts by the Union Troika to meet the leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, in order to seek a reversal of
this decision were unsuccessful.

The Union declaration concerning the edict to destroy the statues urged the Taliban leadership not to
implement (cid:145)this deeply tragic decision, which would deprive the people of Afghanistan of its rich cultural
heritage(cid:146). Further destruction of early monuments would be equally tragic.

The most recent Union Common Position on Afghanistan of 22 January 2001 (1) states that the Union
shall urge all factions (in Afghanistan) to protect the cultural heritage of Afghanistan and shall encourage
activities in the field by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and the
Society for the Preservation of Afghanistan(cid:146)s Cultural Heritage (SPACH). In this regard, the Commission has
noted that the Director General of Unesco will shortly visit Pakistan to take up the issue of saving (cid:145)what
remains of Afghanistan(cid:146)s Islamic and pre-Islamic(cid:146) heritage.

The budget of the Community does not contain provision for the funding of measures destined to protect
the Afghan cultural heritage.

(1) OJ L 21, 23.1.2001.

(2001/C 318 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0879/01

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 March 2001)

Subject: Nationalisation of the property of Community nationals in Ethiopia and EU economic aid

In 1974-1975 the property of foreigners living in Ethiopia was nationalised without any compensation or
undertaking to provide such compensation being given by the State. This property included real estate
(such as factories, shops, houses and land) and moveable property (bank accounts, etc.) belonging to
Community nationals. Those whose property was illegally seized by the Communist regime of Mengistu
Haile Mariam included many Greek, Dutch, French and Italian nationals.