WRITTEN QUESTION E-1077/01 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council. Human rights in Iran.
Date: 2001-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Iran, human rights, political opposition, the EU's international role

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/165

Reply

(16 July 2001)

The Council has received no specific information concerning allegations of police brutality in the Czech
republic during the meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Prague in
September 2000.

The Council attaches the utmost importance to the respect, by the candidate countries, of the principles of
democracy, the rule of law and human rights. With regard to the Czech Republic, the Council notes that
the Commission(cid:146)s 2000 Regular Report on the Czech Republic(cid:146)s progress towards accession concluded that
the country continued to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria. It can be noted in particular that the
Czech Republic has continued to develop its internal institutional framework in the field of human rights
by following the establishment in 1998 of a Human Rights Commissioner with the creation in February
2000 of the office of the Public Protector of Rights (Ombudsman), who is empowered to deal with a range
of matters including complaints concerning the police.

If it turns out that there has been a violation of the fundamental principles mentioned above then the
appropriate representations to the Czech Republic, particularly within the framework of the bodies
established by the Europe Agreement, could be envisaged.

(2001/C 340 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1076/01

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Repression of peaceful activists in Indonesia

The Indonesian security forces are currently intensifying their repressive approach towards peaceful
political activists, particularly in outlying regions such as Aceh and Papua. many of these activists are being
silenced by being kept behind prison bars. What does the Council intend to do to ensure that these people
benefit from a fair trial which respects international standards?

Reply

(20 July 2001)

As the Honourable Member may know, the Union recently raised similar concerns to his own at
the UN Commission of Human Rights in Geneva. The EU noted continued disappearances, arbitrary
detentions, extra-judicial executions and torture, particularly in Aceh and Irian Jaya. It expressed particular
concern about the imprisonment of individuals who strive for autonomy in a peaceful manner, and called
for their immediate release.

(2001/C 340 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1077/01

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Human rights in Iran

The recent arrests in Iran of non-violent opposition groups who collaborate in an informal religious-
nationalist alliance calls into question whether or not Iranians are able to exercise their basic rights. What
steps does the Council intend to take to make its views known on this issue?

C 340 E/166

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Reply

(16 July 2001)

The EU has most recently made clear its concerns about the human rights situation in Iran by tabling
a draft resolution on Iran also at this year(cid:146)s session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (adopted on
20 April 2001). Human rights feature prominently in the political dialogue meetings between the EU and
Iran which are held twice a year. The EU will continue to raise these issues in its direct contacts with
Iranian authorities.

(2001/C 340 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1078/01

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Plight of the Turkish Kurds

What action does the Commission intend to take to ensure respect for the human rights of the Turkish
Kurds, with particular regard to Turkey(cid:146)s wish to accede to the EU?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 2001)

The Accession Partnership (AP) with Turkey adopted on 8 March 2001 (1) sets out the priorities for Turkey
in her efforts to make progress towards meeting all of the Copenhagen political criteria. The AP indicates
that Turkey should, in the short term, strengthen legal and constitutional guarantees for the right to
freedom of expression in line with article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights and, in the
medium term, should guarantee full enjoyment by all
individuals without any discrimination and
irrespective of their language, race, colour, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief or religion of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Commission welcomes the adoption, on 19 March 2001, of
the National Programme for the
Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA) by the Turkish Government. The Commission considers this document as
an important step and the first stage in a far-reaching programme of political reform in Turkey. With
regard to the political criteria for Union membership further efforts should be undertaken in areas such as
ensuring cultural rights for all citizens irrespective of their origin as mentioned by the Honourable
Member.

(1) OJ L 85, 24.3.2001.

(2001/C 340 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1079/01

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 April 2001)

Subject: Commercial action for the storage of umbilical cord blood for obtaining stem cells

In the Netherlands, and several other Member states, there is a commercial organisation called CRYO-Cell
(website: www.cryoc.com) which asks prospective parents to agree to blood from the foetal umbilical cord
or from the placenta to be frozen for a period of 20 years. The intention is that the blood should
subsequently be used to cure illnesses such as Alzheimer(cid:146)s and Parkinson(cid:146)s, brain haemorrhages, muscular
problems such as multiple sclerosis, malignant tumours and diabetes. The risk of children suffering from
these illnesses in the first 20 years of their lives is low. Furthermore, with progress in medical science it is