WRITTEN QUESTION E-3322/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Sale of priceless archaeological treasures in Turkey.
Date: 2001-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, accession criteria, accession to the European Union, application of EU law, cultural object, sale

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/13

(2002/C 229 E/011)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3321/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) and Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Targeted demolition of buildings belonging to Greeks in Albania

(30 November 2001)

According to complaints by the Greek community of Cheimarra on 22 November 2001 the selective
demolition of buildings and homes belonging to members of the internationally recognised Greek ethnic
minority of southern Albania is scheduled to commence. The buildings concerned are properties returned
to their rightful owners by the local authorities immediately following the fall of Hoxha’s communist
regime and include houses, taverns, cafes and offices belonging to Greek organisations together with a
Greek language tuition centre.

The new mayor of Cheimarra, who belongs to the Socialist party, sent
fifteen selective letters of
notification of demolition to members of the Greek ethnic minority on the grounds that the buildings
concerned, which have been standing for many years and were returned to their rightful owners following
revocation of
the provisions confiscating them decreed by the previous Communist regime were
unauthorised.

What view does the Commission take of this? Are such racist tactics by the Albanian authorities against
ethnic Greeks in Albania consistent with officially accepted principles in the EU Member States? What
immediate measures can be taken to halt the measures thus decided and end the persecution by the
Albania of members of the ethnic Greek minority which is recognised not only internationally but also by
Albania itself?

Reply given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2002)

The Commission is not aware of the selective demolition of buildings and homes belonging to the ethnic
Greek minority in Albania.

According to the information available illegal buildings have been demolished all over the country during
2001, including in its Southern part (Himara region). However, according to the available data, there has
not been any kind of targeted demolition against properties belonging to the Greek minority, and
demolition has only concerned illegal constructions. Ethnic Albanian owners have also been the object of
these drastic measures.

The Commission is closely following the position of minorities in Albania, and is particularly attentive to
the issue raised by the Honourable Members. However, the Commission considers that Albania has, in
general, a constructive attitude as regards its national minorities, and has not observed either racist tactics
nor persecution against the Greek minority in Albania.

(2002/C 229 E/012)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3322/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Sale of priceless archaeological treasures in Turkey

(30 November 2001)

According to the Turkish ‘Milliyet’ newspaper, the ‘KUSAV’ (one of Turkey’s largest cultural foundations)
has decided to hold a public sale of rare archaeological treasures from the ancient Greek Hellenistic and
Byzantine period which are currently in its possession. For this purpose, it has placed an advertisement on
Internet inviting those interested in ancient artefacts to contact it. The Foundation is exhibiting for sale
treasures from the Magnesia and Pergamon areas of Asia Minor and ‘KURSAV’ representatives have
indicated that enormous interest has already been evinced in countries such as the USA, Switzerland, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and others. According to the same newspaper, another major exhibition has been
organised in the ‘SUAV’ gallery in Istanbul, where treasures of enormous value from the Hittite, Hellenistic,
Byzantine and Ottoman periods are being exhibited for sale.

C 229 E/14

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

Another prominent Turkish newspaper, the Hürriyet’ (issue of 11 November 2001) has revealed that a
smuggling ring dealing in cultural artefacts is doing a particularly brisk trade in treasures appropriated
from the occupied part of Cyprus and disposed of abroad. It also reports that an extremely large number
of such artefacts from occupied Cyprus are being displayed in New York, consisting mainly of antiquities
and extremely valuable icons stolen from churches in the north of the island which is under Turkish
military occupation.

What is the Commission’s response to the allegations contained in these two major Turkish newspapers?
Has it made official representations to the Turkish authorities regarding the auctioning of archaeological
treasures by Turkish ‘foundations’ presumably with responsibility for their conservation? What sanctions
can be imposed on states (in particular ‘applicant states’) which are, in an openly provocative manner,
organising auctions of cultural treasures from other cultures within their boundaries and tolerating the
activities of smuggling organisations, for example in occupied Cyprus, where the Turkish occupying forces
have, for 27 consecutive years, been allowing the cultural heritage of that country to be plundered?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

The Commission monitors closely the process of alignment of Turkish legislation with the acquis.

In its Regular Reports published yearly, the Commission gives an overview of the progress achieved by
Turkey including in the field of culture. In its most recent report published on 13 November 2001 (1), the
Commission indicated that only limited progress has been made in this field.

In light of the circumstances referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission will draw the
attention of the Turkish authorities to the need to adopt and implement Council Regulation (EEC) No
3911/92 of 9 December 1992 concerning the export of cultural goods (2) and Council Directive (EEC) No
93/7 of 15 March 1993 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a
Member State (3).

(1) SEC(2001) 1756.
(2) OJ L 395, 31.12.1992.
(3) OJ L 74, 27.3.1993.

(2002/C 229 E/013)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3333/01

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(30 November 2001)

Subject: Tax on the personal income of Community citizens living in Andorra

The Union and its Member States have launched a series of measures to combat money laundering and tax
evasion in what are termed tax havens. These measures, whose aims I fully support, have already achieved
some significant successes but also claimed their first innocent victims, namely a number of Community
citizens living and working in Andorra.

Recent changes in Spanish tax regulations regarding tax on the income of natural persons have overturned
the long-established arrangement, and the Spaniards habitually resident in Andorra, where they make up
the largest group of Community citizens, are consequently having to pay too much tax. The problem
appears to lie in the confusion between the concepts of residence for tax purposes and habitual residence.
Residents of other Member States are not affected in the same way. The end result
is that some
Community citizens are suffering discrimination compared with others. Is the Commission aware of these
facts?