WRITTEN QUESTION P-1763/01 by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ill-treatment of conscientious objector.
Date: 2001-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Turkmenistan, conscientious objection, human rights, the EU's international role, violence

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/243

(2001/C 340 E/279)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1689/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 June 2001)

Subject: Validity of the tendering procedure for the privatisation of Olympic Airways

Concerning the closing date for the tendering procedure relating to the privatisation of Olympic Airways,
the government-appointed consultant has delayed the
for which the closing date was 14 May,
communication of details regarding the tenders submitted by potential buyers. According to newspaper
reports (Eleftherotypia of 19 May 2001 and Kathimerini of 25 May 2001), the tendering arrangements
were accompanied by secondary negotiations by which the potential buyers sought to secure certain
advantages in exchange for purchasing Olympic Airways, such as contracts to supply the armed forces
(with tanks, helicopters and communications equipment) or the purchase under favourable conditions, of
portions of the former Helleniko airport.

Will the Commission examine these extremely serious allegations which, if they prove to be true, would
constitute an infringement of European Union competition rules?

If this is the case, will it intervene to cancel the tendering procedure and ensure that legal, credible and
sustainable solutions to the question of Olympic Airways are found without delay?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 2001)

The Commission follows closely the developments in the privatisation process. In this context,
it has
informed the Greek authorities by letter of 26 April 2001 that the tender procedure will have to be
examined in the context of the rules of the EC Treaty concerning State aid. Therefore, once a preferred
bidder has been identified by the Greek State and a transaction agreed, a notification of the privatisation
project should follow without further ado. In accordance with procedural rules on State subsidies, any
transaction will have to obtain the Commission(cid:146)s approval on the basis of a complete notification of the
arrangements of the sale, including the purchase price and all issues of transferal of rights and obligations.

The Honourable Member will have already learned that the Greek Government has decided to regard the
second bidding phase as not successful and has invited all pre-selected parties to submit legally binding and
complete bids by 18 June 2001.

(2001/C 340 E/280)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1763/01

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Ill-treatment of conscientious objector

A conscientious objector, Dimitri Meljnitsenko, was recently seriously ill-treated by the Turkmenistan
secret service for having refused to swear an obligatory personal oath of allegiance to the President due to
his Christian convictions. Following the ill-treatment, Dimitri Meljnitsenko was returned to his unit and
there is great uncertainty as to what is to happen with him now.

Is the European Commission aware of this serious violation of human rights? What does the Commission
think it could do to bring pressure to bear on the Turkmenistan authorities to prevent a repetition of such
events in future?

C 340 E/244

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2001)

the human rights violation against Dimitri
The Commission is trying to obtain information about
Meljnitsenko, the conscientious objector, through the Member States(cid:146) embassies represented in Ashgabat
and the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Turkmenistan.

Dimitri Meljnitsenko(cid:146)s case is not the only one of its kind. Young Turkmen must complete two years
compulsory military service, during which time they must swear an oath of allegiance to the President.
Since Turkmen legislation does not recognise conscientious objection, a number of young people,
particularly Christians have been arrested for refusing to complete the period of military service and swear
the oath.

The Commission raises these issues at each meeting with the Turkmen authorities in order to ensure
Turkmenistan keeps its promise to respect human rights and its international commitments. It has also
supported the many steps taken by the OSCE regarding the rights of minorities and religious freedom
within the framework of the European Union Presidency.

(2001/C 340 E/281)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1770/01

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Pure antibiotic powder (cid:129) publication of research results

Given that at present most pharmaceutical companies only make pure antibiotic powder available to
researchers on the written undertaking that the researcher will not publish research results without prior
authorisation from the company and given the importance of research into the whole field of antibiotic
resistance, will the Commission consider drawing up rules of good practice whereby researchers may be
able to publish their results after a set period, perhaps 6 to 12 months, without further consultation with
the pharmaceutical companies?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2001)

The issue of antimicrobial resistance forms an inherent part of the Community(cid:146)s health strategy and
comprises actions in all the relevant sectors, public health, veterinary and phytosanitary. The Commission
has adopted on 20 June 2001 a communication setting out a Community strategy against antimicrobial
resistance from this multisectoral perspective (1).

With respect to the specific question on access to antibiotic powder for researchers, and having contacted
several companies who may be concerned, the Commission understands that it is standard practice for
pharmaceutical companies who supply antibiotic powder free of charge to researchers to request
undertakings from these researchers that the research is legitimate and appropriate and to request sight
of the results in advance of publication. The Commission is not aware that, in practice, publication of the
results of such research is restricted. The Commission considers that
in which the
pharmaceutical industry supplies antibiotic material for academic research is, in general, appropriate, but
is not in a position to comment on individual contractual arrangements between a specific company and
a specific academic institution. The Commission is willing to address the question of the need for good
practice guidelines with the appropriate associations representing the European pharmaceutical industry.

the manner

(1) COM(2001) 333 final.