WRITTEN QUESTION E-2357/03 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Violation of religious freedom against Muslims in Uzbekistan.
Date: 2003-07-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Uzbekistan, cooperation agreement (EU), freedom of religious beliefs

C 88 E/402

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

implementation of the programme on American persons to specific authorisation by law from Congress.
This text was signed into law by the President of the United States on 20 February 2003. On 20 May
2003, the Department of Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) published that report. The
name of the programme was changed from ‘Total’ to Terrorism Information Awareness project, as noted
by the Honourable Member.

2.
Given the nature of the TIA programme and the possibility that its activities might involve the rights
of European citizens, the Commission is actively monitoring developments in this field and has already
raised the issue in the framework of the ongoing discussions with the United States on access to personal
data collected by airlines (Passenger Name Record or ‘PNR’). The Commission shares the Honourable
Member’s view that the scope of United States’ legislation on data collection should not operate extra-
jurisdictionally. The nature of the activities under examination, however, is such that international co-
operation will be needed to find solutions to areas of concern.

3.
Although the TIA was not formally on the agenda of the Union-United States Summit of 25 June
2003, the broader issue of data protection was, in connection with the discussions on PNR referred to
above.

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that the various United States’
laws aimed at
collecting data are likely to affect the rights of European citizens and will therefore continue to monitor
developments and discuss the matter with the United States in order to find satisfactory solutions that
ensures the greatest possible respect for European data protection principles and safeguard the right to
privacy of European citizens.

4.
The Commission takes note of the Honourable Member’s opinion that the most appropriate way of
settling such issues is an international treaty and will give consideration to this option in its internal
deliberations as well as in its discussions with the United States. The Commission will continue to keep the
Civil Liberties Committee of the Parliament informed on the progress of these discussions and would
welcome further debate on this matter in that forum.

(2004/C 88 E/0408)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2357/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(17 July 2003)

Subject: Violation of religious freedom against Muslims in Uzbekistan

Given that:

(cid:1) on 17 June about 50 women met in Namangan to call for the release of their husbands, who are

‘prisoners of conscience’, imprisoned because of their Muslim faith;

(cid:1) Misor Ubaidulaeva, one of the demonstrators,

is complaining about the conditions in which her
husband is detained. He is beaten daily and has now lost his hearing because of the blows he has
received;

(cid:1) the local police do not deny that they have put pressure on her to sign a written statement promising

that she will not take part in any more ‘unlawful meetings’.

In view of the excellent economic and commercial cooperation relations between the European Union and
Uzbekistan can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether it is aware of the facts outlined above;

(cid:1) what steps it will take, in the context of cooperation relations, as a serious and effective means of

inducing Uzbekistan to respect religious freedom?

8.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/403

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(14 August 2003)

The Commission is fully aware of
Commission is aware of this meeting in Namangan and is following the situation carefully.

the very difficult conditions facing Muslims in Uzbekistan. The

The EU/Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement provides the appropriate framework for the
discussion of such issues.

The Commission will continue to raise the question of religious freedom with the Uzbek authorities at
each bilateral meeting.

(2004/C 88 E/0409)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2359/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(17 July 2003)

Subject: Violation of religious freedom in Kosovo

Given that:

(cid:1) on 27 June 2003 on a visit to Pristina the Secretary-General of Nato, George Robertson, called on the

Kosovo Albanians to be more tolerant and to build a multi-ethnic society;

(cid:1) on the same day graves in the Orthodox cemetery in Kosovska Vitina were desecrated and the
Orthodox church of St Nicolas in Pristina, from which the Nato peace-keeping force KFOR had
withdrawn its protection at the end of last year, was attacked;

(cid:1) on 28 March 2003 unknown individuals shot at two Spanish KFOR sentries, who were guarding the

Orthodox convent of Gorioc near Istok;

(cid:1) on 31 May 2003 a grenade was thrown at the Greek KFOR checkpoint protecting the church of St

Czar Uros in Urosevac in the south of the country;

(cid:1) the United nations mission, UNMIK, and KFOR are trying to find those responsible for the latest
incidents, but in the last three years there have not been any arrests in connection with the hundreds
of similar attacks against Orthodox churches and cemeteries;

(cid:1) Kosovo and Metohija are areas suffering the aftermath of war, where four years after the end of the

conflict it has not yet been possible to restore the places sacred to Christians.

In view of the enormous sums the European Union is investing in Kosovo:

(cid:1) can the Commission say whether it is aware of the events mentioned above; and

(cid:1) what measures might constitute a serious and effective means of inducing the Kosovar administration

to respect religious freedom?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 August 2003)

The protection of Serb Orthodox religious sites in Kosovo is a matter of considerable concern to the
international community. The Commission strongly condemns the attacks that have taken place against
such sites and welcomes the fact that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-led peacekeeping
force in Kosovo (KFOR) devotes considerable troop resources to the protection of patrimonial sites in
Kosovo.