WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2989/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Arbitrary measures by Turkey in the Bosphorus
C 117/124 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 4. 98 Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (4 November 1997) During the adoption of the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, the Commission agreed to submit in 1997 a report and, if appropriate, a proposal for port projects using an approach similar to that followed for airports. The Commission is currently preparing this report which it hopes to submit to the Parliament and the Council before the end of 1997. (98/C 117/158) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2989/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: Arbitrary measures by Turkey in the Bosphorus According to statements by Turkish officials, Turkey has started taking unilateral measures to monitor shipping in the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, which has caused an outcry even among Turkish shipping agents, who are in favour of an international solution to this issue. The IMO, moreover, has already expressed disapproval of the Turkish Governmentís actions which will inevitably lead to a major crisis in the region. Another indication of the destabilizing tactics of the Turkish authorities is the introduction of checks on ships going through the Bosphorus to determine whether they are carrying the Russian S-300 defence system ordered by the Republic of Cyprus, which is to be installed on the island to protect it from Turkeyís insatiable greed. What are the Commissionís views on Turkeyís arbitrary actions, which are aimed at changing the status quo in the Bosphorus, and what steps does it intend to take should Turkey actually go ahead with such an unlawful measure? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (24 October 1997) According to the Commission’s information, the Turkish authorities have no plans to change the control of navigation in the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. (98/C 117/159) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2998/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: Turkey and freedom of expression Given the most recent communication from the Commission (COM(97) 394) which urges the broadest possible cooperation with European and, more importantly, Turkish NGOs working for improvements in human rights and so forth, is the Commission aware of the Turkish Interior Ministry document (number B05HID0000073/472) dated January 1997 which sets forth a programme impeding the activities of NGOs reporting on human rights? What assurances can the Commission give that this is no longer the policy of the Turkish government?