WRITTEN QUESTION E-1954/03 by Jannis Sakellariou (PSE) to the Commission. Human rights situation facing Yezidi in Georgia.
Date: 2003-06-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU relations, Georgia, ethnic discrimination, ethnic group, human rights, protection of minorities

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/53

In 2001, Turkey amended the primary legislation (Law No 4250) by a new Alcohol Act (Law No 4619)
which introduced thresholds for
independent pricing and distribution. Subsequently, a significant
development occurred with the setting up of the Tobacco and Alcoholic Beverages Markets Authority
(TABA) by Law No 4733 in January 2002. By this law the regulatory powers of TEKEL were transferred to
TABA, which is an independent authority. As a result TABA became responsible for secondary legislation
to implement the 2001 Alcohol Act. According to information available to the Commission, a decree to
this effect was published on 6 June 2003.

At the Community-Turkey Association Council in April 2003, the Commission and Turkey agreed to
establish a joint action plan for the Customs Union in order to address a number of outstanding
difficulties, including market access for alcoholic beverages. The action plan drawn up by the Commission
services has been sent to Turkey in early July.

Although the Turkish Government has taken steps to comply with its Customs Union obligations with
regard to alcoholic beverages, the Commission continues to have doubts over the compatibility of the
primary legislation (Law No 4250 as amended by Law No 4619) with these commitments.

The situation will have to be reviewed once the Commission has had the opportunity to assess the impact
of the newly adopted secondary legislation (i.e. the implementing decree) from the TABA on the import
market.

(1) Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of

the Customs Union, OJ L 35, 13.2.1996.

(2004/C 88 E/0056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1954/03

by Jannis Sakellariou (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Human rights situation facing Yezidi in Georgia

(13 June 2003)

Is the Commission aware of
Commission’s evaluation of this?

the difficult situation faced by the Yezidi

in Georgia? What

is the

What political efforts are being undertaken to make a lasting improvement to their situation?

What technical and financial possibilities are available to the Commission to support this minority in
Georgia?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2003)

The Commission understands that the Yezidi, an ethnic minority of non-Muslim Kurds in Georgia, face
difficulties that are common to many ethnic minorities in Georgia. The Yezidi constitute a small minority
in Georgia and lack the strong political organisation that could supply them with a voice in Georgian
decision making. While the Yezidi may not be specifically targeted for discrimination like other ethnic
minorities in Georgia, they sometimes suffer from shortcomings in the fields of law enforcement and the
rule of law.

The Commission is currently directing its political and technical assistance to Georgia towards the
strengthening of governance and the promotion of human rights and civil society. The new Indicative
Programme for Georgia proposes cooperation to support institutional, legal and administrative reform and
in addressing the social consequences of transition and assistance to social reconstruction. In addition, the
Commission continues to put pressure on the Georgian Government to implement its obligations under
the European Convention on Human Rights to respect minority rights, and to ratify the Framework
Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCPNM). The Commission is currently co-funding a
project along with the Council of Europe to promote the ratification and effective implementation of the
FCPNM, involving governmental as well as non-governmental actors.

C 88 E/54

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

The European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) is a financing mechanism to support
projects by non-governmental organisations worldwide. Georgia is one of 31 EIDHR ‘focus countries’
under this programme. One of the four thematic areas of the EIDHR is support to combat racism and
xenophobia and discrimination against minorities and indigenous peoples. Ongoing activities in Georgia
under the EIDHR include a recent project (cid:1) implemented by World Vision Deutschland e. V. (cid:1) to combat
the ethnicisation of conflicts among Georgian citizens in the Georgian regions of Samskhe-Javakheti and
Kvemo Kartli, where many Yezidi live. In addition, the Commission’s Delegation in Georgia is about to
launch a new Call for Proposals for microprojects, under the EIDHR for projects implemented by Georgian
non-governmental organisations. One of the priority themes foreseen to be included in this is ‘Support for
measures to combat racism and xenophobia and to protect religious and ethnic minorities’. The Call will
most likely be published in early July 2003 and the deadline for applications will be September 2003.

(2004/C 88 E/0057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1984/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 June 2003)

Subject: Turkish violations of Greek airspace

Turkish warplanes, often fully armed, are continually violating the rules of air traffic and Greek airspace,
and there are frequent interceptions and mock dogfights over the Aegean. These incidents occur on a daily
basis: they severely threaten peace in the region, constitute a threat against a Member State and certainly
violate the principles of good-neighbourly relations to which Turkey is supposed to have committed itself.
On 26 May 2003 General Hilmi Özkök, Chief of the Turkish General Staff, stated that Turkish warplanes
this would not constitute a violation, since it was
would move freely in Greek airspace and that
international airspace.

Has the Commission intervened with the Turkish authorities to put an end to these provocative actions
which pose a serious threat to a Member State of the European Union? What else does it intend to do to
persuade Turkey to apply the principles of good-neighbourly relations vis-à-vis Greece and other
neighbouring countries, a policy to which it has committed itself?

(2004/C 88 E/0058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2050/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 June 2003)

Subject: Harassment of a Greek passenger plane by Turkish warplanes

On Monday, 9 June, Turkish warplanes harassed an Olympic Airways passenger plane on flight 321 from
Athens to Istanbul. This incident
took place in international airspace, but within Greece’s area of
responsibility, the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR).

How does the Commission view these actions, and how may they affect Turkey’s prospects of EU

1.
membership?

2. What kind of initiatives will the Commission take to prevent any recurrence of such incidents which
jeopardise the safety of passengers?