WRITTEN QUESTION E-1523/03 by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Council. The case of Oriel de Armas Peraza.
Date: 2003-05-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cuba, Italy, competence of the Member States, human rights, political asylum, residence permit

C 51 E/104

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

Reply

(13 October 2003)

As already expressed in the reply to Written Question P-1496/03 by the Honourable Member
1.
Florence Kuntz, the Council is deeply concerned about the destruction of cultural goods, archaeological
sites and historical monuments in Iraq, the vandalism and looting of Iraqi museums and libraries of
worldwide importance and resulting possible trafficking in artefacts illegally removed from Iraq.

2.
The Council at its meeting on 6 May 2003 agreed unanimously on a declaration in which it stressed
in particular ‘the need to protect in an efficient way the cultural goods of Iraq and to return the objects
illegally removed from museums or archeaological sites’, and in which it declared ‘the European Union’s
active support of Unesco’s related initiatives and actions’. This declaration was formally adopted on
26 May 2003.

3.
The Council equally adheres to UN Security Council resolution 1483 on Iraq of 22 May 2003, which
in its paragraph 7 stipulates that ‘all Member States shall take appropriate steps to facilitate the safe return
to Iraqi institutions of Iraqi cultural property and other items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare
scientific, and religious importance illegally removed from the Iraq National Museum, the National Library,
and other locations in Iraq (…) including by establishing a prohibition on trade in or transfer of such items
(…).’ The Council is currently examining a draft common position following-up on the UNSC resolution
and providing in particular for ‘taking appropriate steps’ in regard of Iraqi cultural property.

The Honourable Member will remember that the Council did report to the European Parliament

4.
plenary session of 12-15 May on the general situation in Iraq (14 May 2003).

(2004/C 51 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1523/03

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Council

(6 May 2003)

Subject: The case of Oriel de Armas Peraza

At its April part-session the European Parliament adopted an urgent resolution on human rights in Cuba in
which it vigorously condemned the Castro regime’s abuses of power.

Since detainees are mainly accused of offences such as expressing disagreement with the Cuban
Government’s policies and practising freedom of speech (and hence of subversive activity under Law 88
on the protection of the country’s independence), the Council’s attention is drawn to the symbolic case of
Mr Oriel de Armas Peraza.

The Cuban exile Oriel de Armas Peraza, who has lived for a year in Vicenza (Italy) with his wife and four-
year-old daughter, is a militant within the Alianza Patriótica Cubana human-rights association and he is
awaiting a decision on the application for political asylum which he has submitted to the appropriate
Italian authorities. If he is sent back to Cuba he will undoubtedly be arrested on account of his political
activities and his many attacks on the Castro regime.

Furthermore, his situation poses a particular problem, since he has no access to medical care and is unable
to secure treatment for his daughter, who is asthmatic.

The residence permit granted to Mr Oriel de Armas Peraza expired on 8 August 2002 but it was extended
by the authorities in Vicenza until 14 February 2003, pending a decision on whether or not he should be
granted political asylum.

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/105

Can the Council (not least in view of the fact that Italy is soon to assume the Council Presidency) take
steps in order to ensure that the Italian and German Governments tackle this issue, so that ‘European
political asylum’ can be granted in such cases of extreme human rights abuse, thereby enabling Oriel de
Armas Peraza and his family to secure a renewal of their residence permit?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The Council cannot intervene in individual asylum cases in the Member States.

(2004/C 51 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1534/03

by Anne Van Lancker (PSE) to the Commission

(30 April 2003)

Subject: Implications of the cancellation of the debts of third world countries for the excessive deficit

procedure

The cancellation by Member States of the debts of developing countries represents an important means of
achieving the Community’s development cooperation policy objectives, in particular the fostering of the
sustainable economic and social development of the developing countries, the harmonious integration of
those countries into the world economy and the fight against poverty.

However, in accordance with ESA 95, debt cancellations are entered in Member State budgets as capital
transfers, which have an impact on the balance of claims outstanding against other countries. In other
words, the budget balance suffers, with possible adverse implications for the Member States concerned
under the excessive deficit procedure. This procedure (Article 104 of the EC Treaty), as now implemented,
thus acts as a serious deterrent to those Member States wishing to carry out such debt cancellation
operations.

The EC Treaty also stipulates that, when implementing policies which may have implications for
developing countries, the Community must take account of development policy objectives. Although this
is not a policy area which has direct implications for the developing countries, the indirect impact is clear.
Community policy on excessive deficits should therefore take account of this objective, for example by
amending Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 (1) on the European system of national and regional accounts in the
Community, by analogy with the steps taken in 2001 by means of Regulation (EC) No 2558/2001 (2) as
regards streams of payments under swaps arrangements. Is the Commission prepared to take action on this
matter?

(1) OJ L 310, 30.11.1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 344, 28.12.2001, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 2003)

The Commission considers that addressing developing countries’ debt problems indeed represents an
important means of achieving the Community’s development co-operation policy objectives. In the context
of the heavily indebted poor country (HIPC)
it also actively participates in it, with some
initiative,
EUR 1,3 billion pledged so far for the poorest and most highly indebted countries.