WRITTEN QUESTION E-1537/01 by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Council. Kosovar Albanian prisoners in Serbia.
Date: 2001-06-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Kosovo, Serbia, political prisoner, prison system, right to justice

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/51

The Union has taken the opportunity in its political dialogue with Indonesia to voice its concerns, and has
encouraged the Indonesian authorities to continue their efforts to restore security, prevent further violence
and find solutions to regional disputes through dialogue rather than by force (cf. Union Presidency
statements of 28 November 2000 and 8 March 2001).

(2002/C 40 E/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1537/01

by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Council

(7 June 2001)

Subject: Kosovar Albanian prisoners in Serbia

While the recent partial release of Kosovar Albanian prisoners in Serbia is very welcome, does the Council
agree that this serves to deflect attention from the urgency of releasing all the remaining prisoners, some
of whom are very ill? In particular does the Council have any information on Skender Ferizi, Besim
Zymberi and Bedri Kukalai, in prison since the Dubrava massacre in Kosovo in May 1999?

Reply

(8 October 2001)

The Council has always taken a close interest in Kosovar prisoners in Serbia. The amnesty law passed
earlier this year was a direct result of pressure from the EU and more generally from the international
community. The subsequent release of a sizeable number of political prisoners and, in April, of all 145
Kosovo Albanian detainees of the so-called (cid:145)Djakovica group(cid:146) were publicly welcomed by the Council. This
was not a means to (cid:145)deflect attention from urgency of releasing other prisoners(cid:146), but rather real progress in
the consolidation of democracy and human rights in Serbia. According to the International Red Cross
(which, after agreement with the Belgrade authorities, is in charge of assisting detainees in Serb prisons)
some 273 people of Kosovar origin are still detained (number is decreasing day by day due to the
implementation of the amnesty). About 60 of these can be considered (cid:145)political prisoners(cid:146). The rest are
charged with criminal offences.

According the ICRC, the three detainees mentioned by the Honourable Member, are regularly visited by
them (and their doctors) and appear to be receiving appropriate medical treatment in prison. Only one of
them (Bedri Kukalai) needs, and is receiving, specialist medical attention. Like the other prisoners, they are
permitted to write regularly to their families through the Red Cross.

(2002/C 40 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1539/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 May 2001)

Subject: Implications of the growing demand for coltan used in mobile telephones for the continuation of

the civil war in Congo-Kinshasa

1.
Coltan is a metal which is used in electronic equipment including mobile telephones, pagers and
computers as well as aircraft turbines, surgical instruments and chemical processing plant. 70 % of the
world(cid:146)s coltan reserves are thought
Is the
Commission acquainted with the report published in the New Scientist of 7 April 2001 concerning the
link between the extraction of colombo tantalite (coltan) extraction and the continuing civil war in Congo?

to be found in the African country of Congo-Kinshasa.