WRITTEN QUESTION No. 133/98 by Katerina DASKALAKI to the Council. Murder of church sexton in Istanbul
C 196/118 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 6. 98 (98/C 196/164) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0133/98 by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Council (23 January 1998) Subject: Murder of church sexton in Istanbul The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has recently suffered a number of attacks such as the bomb attack which severely injured a clergyman. The latest target of the attacks was the font of the church of Ayios Therapon which was set ablaze by persons unknown who stole priceless icons and vessels and murdered the church sexton, V. Khavieropoulos, after a horrifying ordeal. No-one has ever been arrested in connection with the intermittent attacks on the Ecumenical Patriarchate while the Turkish authorities do not allow the Greek Consul-General to communicate with the Istanbul local authorities to protest. In view of the fact that Turkey has specific agreements associating the country with the EU and is required to protect Christian monuments, what measures can and will the Council take to pressure Turkey into taking steps to safeguard the monuments concerned and to protect the very few Greeks who remain in Istanbul? Answer (30 April 1998) The Council regrets and condemns the violent incidents mentioned by the Honourable Member, including the bombing of churches. It also notes that under the Treaty of Peace, signed at Lausanne in July 1923, the Turkish Government undertook to grant full protection to churches, synagogues, cemeteries, and other religious establishments of non-Moslem minorities. The European Council meeting in Luxembourg on 12-13 December 1997 again underlined the necessity for the Turkish Government to meet its fundamental obligations, including the protection of minorities, which encompasses religious minorities as well. It recalled, in line with the Council position expressed at the Association Council with Turkey on 29 April 1997, that strengthening Turkeyís links with the European Union also depended on that countryís pursuit of political and economic reforms, including the alignment of human rights standards and practices on those in force in the EU. In this context, respect for and protection of all minorities is essential. These issues are brought up virtually on every appropriate occasion with the Turkish authorities. (98/C 196/165) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0138/98 by Hugh McMahon (PSE) to the Commission (23 January 1998) Subject: Brussels › Strasbourg flights Is the Commission aware that a number of complaints have been lodged concerning the non-availability of economy airfares on Sabena World Airlines flights between Brussels and Strasbourg during Parliament part-session weeks? Would it be possible for the Commission to investigate whether there is an infringement of competition rules, given the monopoly on this route by the aforementioned airline? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (18 February 1998) The Commission is not aware of any complaints on the non-availability of economy fares on Sabena Belgian World Airlines on the route between Brussels and Strasbourg during the plenary week