WRITTEN QUESTION E-2962/03 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Damage to valuable works contained in the temple of St Sofia.
Date: 2003-10-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, cultural object, financing method, heritage protection

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/771

Reply

(4 March 2004)

Like the Honourable Parliamentarian, the Council is of the view that the resignation of PM Abu Mazen has
highlighted that serious obstacles to the Middle East Peace Process remain and that Israelis and Palestinians
have not yet done enough for the serious implementation of the road map.

On the other points, the European Council on 16/17 October 2003 has taken a clear position:

(cid:1) it calls on Israel to abstain from any punitive measures which are not in accordance with international

law, including extra-judicial killings;

(cid:1) the European Council was also particularly concerned about the route marked out for the so-called
security fence in the Occupied West Bank. The envisaged departure of the route from the ‘green line’
could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to
implement. It would cause further humanitarian and economic hardship to the Palestinians. Thousands
of Palestinians west of the fence are being cut off from essential services in the West Bank, Palestinians
east of the fence will lose access to land and water resources;

(cid:1) the EU regularly raises these issues with Israel,

the EU-Israel
(see 18 November 2003) which offers a good opportunity to convey firm

in particular on the occasion of

Association Council
messages to the Government of Israel in this respect;

(cid:1) the European Council has urged all sides in the region to immediately implement policies conducive

to dialogue and negotiations.

(2004/C 78 E/0821)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2962/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 October 2003)

Subject: Damage to valuable works contained in the temple of St Sofia

According to the Turkish ‘Miliyet’ newspaper, around 550 invaluable religious paintings and relics
(vestments, holy manuscripts, etc.) currently being stored in the temple of St Sofia in Istanbul, are in
extremely poor condition since not even the basic minimum has been done by way of conservation. The
temple became a repository for those works, which were brought in from disused churches in various
regions of Turkey, when it was converted into a museum in 1935.

Is it possible to earmark funding for the conservation and restoration of these works in cooperation with
the responsible authorities and from which programme?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(3 November 2003)

The Community’s financial assistance programme for Turkey does not allow to provide support for
conserving and restoring religious or cultural works, such as those stored in the Hagia Sofia. The
programme is designed primarily to support Turkey’s alignment with Union standards in the political,
economic and legislative areas. Project proposals are prepared by the Turkish Government and are subject
to approval by the Commission, which is given only for projects that contribute to meeting the priorities
of the Accession Partnership, as adopted by the Council of Ministers on 15 May 2003.