WRITTEN QUESTION E-2139/03 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Violation of religious freedom and legal restrictions on the exercising of religious activity in Belarus.
Date: 2003-06-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belarus, EU relations, church-State relations, freedom of religious beliefs

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/383

(2004/C 88 E/0389)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2131/03

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 June 2003)

Subject: Re-opening of mineral extraction plant at Pergamon (Bergama)

The re-opening of Eurogold’s gold extraction plant in the Pergamon area of Turkey, opposite the island of
Lesbos, is a danger to the ecosystem and public health in the region. Data compiled by experts show that
6,8 tonnes of gold and 8,5 tonnes of silver were produced in 2002 and that these were extracted using
25 tonnes of cyanide. This quantity of toxic waste is stored at a distance of only 25 kilometres from the
shores of the Greek island of Lesbos and the town of Mytilini, while a storage basin for toxic waste and
cyanide salts has been set up near the village of Ovacik. Given the high level of seismic activity in the area
and the possibility of a leakage of toxic cyanide waste into the water table and the Aegean as the result of
a major earthquake, the potential consequences are catastrophic.

In view of the fact that Parliament has already adopted a resolution condemning activities of this kind
(B4-0410/94) (1), will the Commission ask Turkey for information on the above matter, in the context of
that country’s efforts to forge closer links with Europe, and take the necessary measures to avoid far-
reaching environmental damage in both Greece and Turkey?

(1) OJ C 341, 5.12.1994, p. 169.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(7 August 2003)

The Commission is aware of the facts mentioned by the Honourable Member. The activities of the
companies involved in mineral extraction in Bergama have been subject to a judgement of the Izmir
Administrative Court of 10 January 2002. In accordance with the principle of the rule of law, which is
part of the Copenhagen criteria, the Turkish Authorities are expected to fully abide by decisions of the
judiciary. Mining activities such as those mentioned by the Honourable Member may have potentially
serious implications for the protection of the environment and human health if they are not carried out
properly. As part of its preparations for accession, Turkey undertakes to adopt and implement the ‘acquis’
in due course.

The Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely in light of the relevant political and ‘acquis’
criteria.

(2004/C 88 E/0390)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2139/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(26 June 2003)

Subject: Violation of religious freedom and legal restrictions on the exercising of religious activity in

Belarus

Mikhail Balyk, a Pentecostal evangelist, is refusing to pay a fine for conducting religious ceremonies of an
unregistered religion, an activity that constitutes a crime under Belarusian law.

Balyk emphasises the fact that the state authorities have committed a number of procedural violations in
drawing up the protocol against him: he was not in fact approached at the time of the illegal activity of
which he is accused, and thus the authorities have no proof that he created or led an unregistered religious
organisation.

C 88 E/384

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Balyk and his lawyer, Nina Shavtsova, claim that the current legislation creates a vicious circle.

According to the new, more restrictive law on religion, which came into force last November:

(a) an organisation can be registered and function legally only when it is made up of at least 20 members;
however, according to the administrative code, a religious organisation cannot conduct religious
activity without being registered;

(b) only large national religious organisations, or those made up of a minimum of ten communities in at
least four of the country’s six regions, have the right to found monasteries, convents or other
educational institutions for the exercise of religious activity.

New organisations must be registered and those already in existence have until 16 November 2004 to
conform to the guidelines required by the new law and thereby be able to continue operating.

According to Article 19 of the new law, monasteries, convents and other monastic institutions must be
made up of a minimum of ten participants, while educational institutions must have qualified bilingual
(Russian and Belarusian) teachers.

At the current time very few Belarusian organisations are in a position to meet the law’s requirements and
thus be able to continue to conduct religious activity.

In view of the excellent relations that exist between the EU and Belarus in terms of economic and trade
cooperation, can the Commission state:

(cid:1) whether it is aware of these facts; and

(cid:1) what initiatives, within the limits of the cooperation relationship, could constitute a serious and

effective instrument to make Belarus respect freedom of religion?

(2004/C 88 E/0391)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2183/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(30 June 2003)

Subject: Further violations of religious freedom and legal restrictions on religious practice in Belarus

On the evening of 1 June, a group of armed police burst into a private apartment in the capital, Minsk,
interrupting a Hindu meditation ritual.

The leader of the group, Natalya Solovyova, said that the raid had occurred exactly one week after a
similar meditation meeting had been interrupted in another part of the city.

The Hindu group was not fined for meeting, but was threatened with legal repercussions, including prison,
after having been dismissed as a sect by the police.

On no occasion have the authorities cited any legal grounds for such raids.

The group had attempted unsuccessfully to register before the entry into force of the more restrictive law
on religion introduced last November.

No official responsible for national or local religious affairs,
including Alla Ryabitseva, head of the
Department for Ethnic and Religious Affairs in Minsk, has provided an explanation of the grounds for the
armed raids on these meetings.