WRITTEN QUESTION E-3256/01 by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Fate of kidnapped Israeli soldiers.
Date: 2001-11-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Israel, homicide, illegal restraint, international human rights law, military personnel, the EU's international role

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/81

What measures does the Council intend to take to put an end to the use of hostages as a negotiating chip,
to give hostages access to the International Red Cross (which is a fundamental right of anyone arrested
during an armed conflict), to oblige Israel to respect its commitments under the Geneva Convention and,
finally, to release all the hostages?

(2002/C 147 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3256/01

by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(23 November 2001)

Subject: Fate of kidnapped Israeli soldiers

More than a year ago, on 7 October 2000, three Israeli soldiers were forcibly abducted by the Hizbullah
operating out of Lebanese territory and there are growing fears that they may no longer be alive; can the
Council indicate:

1 what information is has on this matter and what efforts it has made to obtain such information?

1 what action it has since taken at diplomatic level to try to find a humanitarian solution to this

problem?

1 how it has reacted, or intends to react, to the resolution adopted by the Knesset on 15 October 2001
urging all governments, parliaments and international and civilian organisations to do all they can to
secure the immediate release of the three Israeli soldiers?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3052/01 and E-3256/01

(18 March 2002)

The European Union remains deeply concerned by the practice of hostage-taking in the Middle East.
According to the Council’s information, on 7 October 2000 Hezbollah abducted three Israeli soldiers in
the border area between Israel and Lebanon and, at around the same time, an Israeli businessman residing
in Europe, with the objective of securing the release of Lebanese nationals and Palestinians held by Israel.
Recently, Israel officially declared the three soldiers dead. Since then the Israeli government and the
families of the abducted persons have been calling for the bodies to be returned.

These cases have been raised by the EU representatives, notably the High Representative for the Common
Foreign and Security Policy, Mr Javier Solana, and the EU Special Representative for the Middle East peace
process, Mr Moratinos, with representatives of the governments of Middle-Eastern countries. They will
continue to use their regular contacts with these countries to pursue these efforts, in particular with regard
to the return of the bodies. The EU does not have direct contact with Hezbollah.

On 11 December 2001 Mr Solana received the families of the abducted persons and undertook to do
everything in his power to find a humanitarian solution at an early date.

For its part, Israel has been detaining Lebanese citizens since 1986 (‘administrative detention’) 1 a practice
strongly criticised by the EU and declared illegal by the Israeli Supreme Court. Israel released ten persons in
May 2000 but, according to Amnesty International, is still holding twelve Lebanese nationals. The EU
continues to protest strongly against this practice. At the second meeting of the EU-Israel Association
Council
‘The Union
reiterates its strongly held opinion that extra-judicial killings and other violations, such as administrative
detention and collective punishment,
including the increasing recourse to house demolitions, are
unacceptable and contrary to the rule of law. The EU calls on the Government of Israel to cease these
practices’.

(20 November 2001), the EU declaration referred to it in the following terms:

C 147 E/82

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

At the Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the 4th Geneva Convention on 5 December 2001,
the Union reaffirmed the universality of the Convention and emphasised that there can be no ambiguity
about the fact that international humanitarian law must be respected by all the parties involved in an
armed conflict.

(2002/C 147 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3054/01

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Sectarian riots in Nigeria

In the wake of the American air raids on Afghanistan at least 200 persons have been killed over the last
few days in sectarian riots in northern Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are leaving the region owing to the
activities of gangs of Muslim fighters.

What measures does the Council intend to take to help put an end to these sectarian killings of civilians?
Does it intend to assist the Nigerian Government to address the current crisis and to give humanitarian aid
to the civilians who are forced to abandon their homes?

Reply

(18 March 2002)

The Council is greatly concerned over the recent killings in northern Nigeria. In its view, a global approach
is needed if a lasting solution is to be found for the social, ethnic and religious clashes which are a
frequent occurrence in that country. The Council has, therefore, adopted a common position on Nigeria (1)
whereby the European Union will support action aimed particularly at consolidating democracy and
institutional reform and sustainable economic and social
respect for human rights, reducing poverty,
development. The EU also maintains a close and regular political dialogue with Nigeria. The EU Heads of
Mission, who are primarily responsible for the conduct of such dialogue, will raise the question of the
recent killings in northern Nigeria and the reaction of the security forces at their next meeting with the
Nigerian authorities.

(1) Common position 2001/373/PESC, OJ L 132, 15.5.2001.

(2002/C 147 E/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3058/01

by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE) and Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Request for extension of the deadline for completion of multi-regional operational programmes

Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/93 (1) and subsequent decisions relating to it are about to expire, and
the benefits deriving from the Regulation will come to an end as of 31 December 2001. In the context of
the Community support framework concerning Objective 1 regions for the period 1994-1999, the Italian
Ministry for Agricultural and Forestry Policy is responsible for programming and managing two multi-
regional operational programmes. The implementation of the two programmes, the completion of which is
of vital strategic importance for Italy, has been subject to substantial delays because of unforeseen
problems emerging over the years (slow bureaucratic procedures, the BSE crisis and foot-and-mouth, the
demoralisation of farmers, the slowness of markets, etc.). For these reasons the Ministry has requested an
extension of the time limit for the completion of the programmes.