WRITTEN QUESTION E-3573/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Political prisoners in Uzbekistan.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Czechia, Uzbekistan, arrest, democratisation, exchange of information, human rights, political cooperation, political prisoner

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/91

The Commission has noted the existence of a publicity campaign to encourage tourism to the United
States, which has been funded by contributions from American industry. On a legislative level, the
Commission understands that various proposals were made last year to adjust the tax system in order to
encourage American citizens to travel, but that none were passed into law by the end of the last
Congressional session.

As one of the implementing provisions of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which was signed
on 19 November 2001, the United States’ Customs Service has issued on 31 December 2001 an Interim
Rule requiring that each air carrier, foreign and domestic, operating a passenger flight in foreign air
transportation to the United States shall transmit to the United States’ customs prior to arrival a passenger
and crew manifest. These measures need to be implemented in conformity with the requirements of
Directive 95/46/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of
individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (1).

(1) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995.

(2002/C 172 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3573/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Political prisoners in Uzbekistan

Towards the end of November, a European delegation under the leadership of
the Commission’s
Directorate-General for External Relations and of the head of the Unit for Relations with the Caucasus and
Central Asia, Mr Cornelis Wittebrood, visited Uzbekistan. The delegation discussed not only economic but
also social and political relations between the Union and Uzbekistan, and it was agreed that relations in
these fields should be improved.

On 28 November 2001, the Uzbek democratic opposition leader Muhammed Salih (ERK) was detained at
Prague airport on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by the Uzbek authorities. A few days
previously Salih, who was recognised as a political refugee in Norway, had been my guest at the European
Parliament. The Government of Uzbekistan accuses Salih of responsibility for bombings directed against
the Uzbek authorities. No proof of his involvement has ever been provided. Salih managed to escape, but
according to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch there are still between 7 000 and 8 000
political prisoners in his country. AI and HRW have been denouncing this situation. As Tashkent is seen as
an ally in the battle against terrorism, however, the regime has a free hand in Uzbekistan.

1.
Is the Commission aware that there are thousands of political prisoners in Uzbekistan? Did the
European delegation raise this problem during its visit to the country? If so, what response did it receive
from the Uzbek authorities? If not, why not?

2.
Has the Commission obtained any information from the Czech Republic @ a candidate for
accession @ as to the circumstances in which Mr Muhammed Salih was detained? If not, does it intend to
do so?

3.
Has the Commission contacted the Uzbek authorities in connection with the arrest of democratic
opposition leader Salih? If so, what was Tashkent’s response? If not, does the Commission intend to do so?

Does the Commission intend to continue to support and promote trade relations between Uzbekistan

4.
and the EU if Uzbekistan does not change its attitude towards the democratic political opposition?

5. Will the Commission inform potential European investors about the human rights situation in
Uzbekistan? If not, why not?

C 172 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2002)

The Commission closely followed the recent events concerning Mr Mohammed Salih during his stay in the
Czech Republic. The Commission Delegation in Prague was immediately informed of Mr Salih’s arrest and
of the position of human rights organisations. It raised the issue at a meeting of EU ambassadors in
Prague. Contacts were also made with the Norwegian Ambassador in Prague, who confirmed his
government’s support for Mr Salih and the fact that he was in touch with the Czech authorities on the
matter. The Delegation was also informed of the close attention President Havel was personally giving to
the case. In agreement with the EU presidency it was decided only to make representations to the Czech
authorities if the initiatives already under way failed. The successful outcome of the matter was welcomed
by the Commission.

The Commission is fully aware of the human rights situation in Uzbekistan. The issue was raised at the last
Cooperation Committee meeting in Tashkent on 23 November 2001.
In accordance with the
Commission’s undertaking, the subject is addressed whenever the Commission has contact with the
Uzbek authorities. On the November 2001 visit to Brussels of the Uzbek troika,
led by Uzbekistan’s
Foreign Affairs Minister, Abdulaziz Kamilov (who also met Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs), the
Commission again broached the subject of human rights and the democratisation process in Uzbekistan.
Until recently the Uzbek authorities’ response had changed little from that given to the Parliament
delegation at the June 2001 Tashkent meeting of the Parliamentary Committee set up by the partnership
and cooperation agreement.

At the Cooperation Council meeting held in Brussels on 29 January the matter was once again raised both
by the Council Presidency and by the Commission. Progress became apparent: for the first time Mr Kamilov
did not react with irritation to mention of the subject. He said that his government actively wished to
improve the situation, but that democratic transition was slow since Uzbekistan was emerging from 70
years of Soviet domination and culture. The Uzbek authorities have already taken specific measures.
Mr Kamilov welcomed the agreement with the International Red Cross on prison visiting. He said that the
government wished to extend the scope of the agreement to all places of detention. He also referred to the
Ombudsman’s increasingly active role in dealing with human rights in Uzbekistan.

The Commission assures the Honourable Member that the points raised in his parliamentary question are
regularly addressed by the Commission in meetings with the community of European investors held in
Uzbekistan. Particular attention is given to respect for the rule of law (of major importance for private
economic operators) by the Uzbek authorities, in particular the judicial authorities.

(2002/C 172 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3582/01

by Ulla Sandbæk (EDD) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: MTBE

Can the Commission state what progress has been made on the risk reduction strategy for the petrol
additive MTBE? What does the strategy consist of, and is MTBE to be banned?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2002)

The substance tert-butyl methyl ether (MTBE) is a high production volume chemical mainly used as a fuel
additive in petrol. Other uses are in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and laboratories.