WRITTEN QUESTION E-3553/03 by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission. Missing Cypriots.
Date: 2003-12-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, EU relations, Türkiye, civilian victim, international issue

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/585

3. Does the Commission believe that other forms of EU aid may be used to finance similar research

activities which could involve the use of foetuses or new born babies?

4.

Is the Commission aware of a possible connection between the strikingly large number of missing or
stillborn babies and research projects on human cells in Ukraine?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2004)

There is no Union-funded research project

1. and 2.
that concerns embryonic or adult stem cells
research and that involves a Ukrainian participant neither in the Fifth Framework Programme (1998-2002)
nor in the present stage of implementation of the Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006).

3.
The Commission does not believe that Union aid, and Technical assistance to the Commonwealth of
Independent States (TACIS) funding in particular, are used to finance research activities involving the use
of foetuses or new born babies.

4.
The Commission does not have any information on statistics for missing or stillborn babies in
Ukraine and has no reason to believe that there is a connection between infant mortality rates and human
cell research in Ukraine.

(2004/C 78 E/0619)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3553/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(1 December 2003)

Subject: Missing Cypriots

A group of my constituents, the Organisation of Relatives of Missing Cypriots (UK), wish to know what
the situation is in resolving the case of the missing persons in Cyprus.

Does the Commission believe the Government of Turkey could exert more pressure on the Turkish Cypriot
leadership to uphold its duties and responsibilities to human rights? If so, could the Commission please
state whether this issue will form part of Turkey’s accession negotiations?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2004)

Mr Clerides and Mr Denktash met in June and July 2002 to exchange proposals on the issue of missing
persons. The basis for this exchange was their agreement of 31 July 1997. The Greek Cypriot side
proceeded with its programme of exhumations and identifications in areas under its control. Investigations
are carried out by the United States (US) funded bi-communal Institute for Neurology and Genetics. The
Turkish Cypriot side has not yet designated scientists who would work with the Institute.

In its set of measures vis-à-vis the Turkish Cypriots of 30 April 2003 the Government of the Republic
announced several measures regarding relatives of missing and killed Turkish Cypriots. The measures
provide ‘inter alia’
for access to information, meetings between relatives of missing persons and
Government officials, exploratory excavations of burial places, and arrangements for the establishment of
a DNA Bank. A list of 500 Turkish Cypriots whose cases have been submitted to the Committee of
Missing Persons (CMP) was published by the Government of the Republic in Turkish Cypriot newspapers
on 14 June 2003. The Commission has also learned that information concerning the fate of 201 missing
Turkish Cypriots was officially conveyed to the International Committee of the Red Cross by Government
authorities.

C 78 E/586

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

In letter of 3 December 2003 to Mr Papadopoulos and Mr Denktash, United Nations Secretary-General
Annan urged the two leaders to invite their respective members of the CMP to resume formal meeting in
order to reactivate the work of the Committee.

As for Turkey, the Commission has repeatedly indicated to Turkey the need to use its influence over the
Turkish Cypriot leadership to find a comprehensive settlement. After the formation of a new ‘government’
in the north under opposition leader Mr Talat there is a window of opportunity to reach a settlement on
the basis of the Annan plan in the coming months. In the event of a settlement based on the Annan plan,
the question mentioned by the Honourable Member will be solved on the basis of the relevant provisions.

(2004/C 78 E/0620)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3554/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 December 2003)

Subject: Development of artificial viruses and bacteria in America and possible resultant neglect of

environmental protection in Europe

1.
Is the Commission aware that, since 1999, genetic engineer Craig Venter and his Institute for
Biological Energy Alternatives (IBEA), which receives USD 3 million per annum in subsidy from the US
Government, have been developing artificial viruses?

2.
Is the Commission aware that this research has now yielded a living product named PhiX174, which
consists of 5 386 base pairs coding for nine proteins, and that in addition an artificial bacterium consisting
of 580 000 base pairs, with 470 proteins, is still at the development stage?

3.
Is the Commission furthermore aware that (cid:1) unlike the artificial polio virus presented in New York
last year (cid:1) PhiX174 is capable of penetrating bacteria, modifying them and reproducing with their
assistance, just like natural viruses?

4.
Is the Commission aware of the press conference of 13 November 2003 in Rockville, Maryland, at
which the US Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham, announced that such manmade micro-organisms will
soon bring about revolutionary changes in environmental protection?

How will the Commission help to prevent EU Member States and regions or localities within them
5.
from neglecting their environmental protection responsibilities in the hope that a future panacea will
devour and clean up all previous pollution, including even radioactive waste?

Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 15 November 2003.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2004)

The Commission is aware of PhiX 174. This matter is addressed in detail in the Commission’s
1. and 2.
reply to the written question E-3555/03 (1) by the Honourable Member. It is to be noted that the virus to
which the Honourable Member refers in his written question is not an artificial virus.

As noted under point 1, PhiX 174 is not an artificial organism but a virus of the genus Microvirus

3.
and family Microviridiae.

4.
Yes. In his vision of the future, the United States’ Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham, gave as
examples microbes that could remove pollution from the emissions of power plants, or reduce water
pollution and the toxic effects of radioactive waste.