WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1009/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Council. Conflict in Rwanda/Zaire
C 82/4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 3. 98 Answer (28 October 1997) The matter raised by the Honourable Member is for the authorities of the Member State concerned and not one on which the Council itself has any locus to intervene in the way proposed. Measures to be taken against illicit drug trafficking organizations active on the Balkan route are being studied in detail within the Councilís bodies on the basis of an EDU report. (98/C 82/04) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0952/97 by Peter Truscott (PSE) to the Council (10 March 1997) Subject: Restriction of freedom of movement by the Belgian authorities Following recent rulings against the Belgian Government by the European Court of Justice regarding illegal restrictions on the freedom of movement of EU citizens, the Belgian authorities now appear to be placing unacceptable restrictions on the travel of third-country nationals. Will the Council investigate and comment on reports that the Belgian Embassy in London is refusing to issue visas to third-country tourists and business people using the UK as a base? Could the Council further condemn what appears to be the increasing intolerance and racism of the Belgian authorities responsible for issuing travel and work permits for EU citizens and third-country nationals? Answer (16 October 1997) The Honourable Member is referred to the reply to his Oral Question No H-0355/97 of 14 May 1997. (98/C 82/05) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1009/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Council (24 March 1997) Subject: Conflict in Rwanda/Zaire The full-scale war which had been feared in the region of the African Great Lakes has unfortunately become a reality, with its harrowing trail of slaughters, racial hatred and tragic suffering for the helpless populations, old people, women and children. The European Union has been unable to prevent full-scale war from breaking out, and has thus once again shown its incapacity to take a united stance on international political events. Will the Council 1. call on those Member States with the greatest influence in that part of Africa to use this influence to convene a peace conference with a view to resolving the conflict? 2. make use of the power of such States within the United Nations to ensure that the conference takes the necessary steps to achieve a global political settlement in the region of the Great Lakes?