WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1469/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Council. Activities of non-governmental organizations in Belarus
11. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 76/35 Furthermore, Article 16 of Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 defines the information which may be placed on a label. This information includes, in particular, the country of origin, the identification number and sex of the animal, methods of fattening or other information related to feeding and a reference number or code to ensure the link between the meat and the animals from which this meat is derived. The Commission agrees with the technical provision of the Regulation and takes the view that the burdens imposed on the sector concerned are no more than absolutely necessary. (1) OJ L 117, 7. 5. 1997. (98/C 76/104) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1403/97 by Concepcio· Ferrer (PPE) to the Council (22 April 1997) Subject: Fatwaí pronounced against Salman Rushdie On the eighth anniversary of the Iranian áfatwaí pronounced against Salman Rushdie the Khordad-15 Foundation increased reward for his assassination from $2 to 2. 5 million dollars. Given that the Iranian Government has failed to response to the EUís call for a solution to be found to the problem, and in view of the fact that the áfatwaí contravenes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the principle of sovereignty of states is the Council intending to take further action to find a way of cancelling the áfatwaí pronounced against Mr Rushdie? Answer (25 September 1997) The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the declaration made on 13 February 1997 by the Presidency on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the ôfatwaö against Salman Rushdie. The Councilís views on Iranian behaviour remain unchanged; and although, under the present circumstances, there is no basis for the continuation of the Critical Dialogue with Iran, it will continue to demand that Iran abide by international law. (98/C 76/105) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1469/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Council (30 April 1997) Subject: Activities of non-governmental organizations in Belarus In view of the precarious food and health situation facing the population of the Republic of Belarus following the Chernobyl nuclear accident; Whereas by Law No 1710/12 of 9 January 1997, the Government of Belarus practically closed the borders to any type of humanitarian convoy, introducing extremely strict rules on entry, supervision, storage and distribution of medical products and equipment and food supplies in Belarus; Whereas every year NGOs organizing holidays for over 50 000 children from the contaminated Chernobyl area during the summer period in various EU Member States are finding it more difficult to carry out their work; Does the Council intend to bring pressure to bear on the Belarus authorities to ensure that measures are taken to facilitate and not to hinder humanitarian action in Belarus and prevent the political disruption in the country from affecting the population, which has already been hard-hit by the nuclear accident, and in particular children and innocent victims?