WRITTEN QUESTION No. 215/98 by Iñigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO to the Council. Emergency aid for North Korea
C 223/138 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 7. 98 Answer (11 May 1998) The Council hopes that Cypriot airspace will become more peaceful in the future and that provocations will cease. It will continue to call on the parties concerned to refrain from any action that might increase tension in the region. The Union has emphasized to Turkey that aspiration to join the EU implies sharing the EUís major objectives, of which the establishment of good neighbourly relations is one. In the event of unauthorized military overflying of British bases in Cyprus, the United Kingdom Government will bring the matter to the attention of the authorities concerned, as it has done in the past. Regarding the negotiations for the accession of Cyprus to the European Union, the Council believes that the accession of Cyprus will help to bring about civil peace and reconciliation in the island. Progress towards accession and an equitable and viable solution will clearly further assist that process. The Council reaffirms its full support for the search for a solution through the talks currently being conducted under the aegis of the United Nations. (98/C 223/180) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0212/98 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Council (11 February 1998) Subject: Delays in ratifying the Agreement amending the Fourth Convention of Lome· Could all European Member States who have not done so make a commitment to ratify, without any further delay, the Agreement amending the Fourth Convention of Lome·, given that continued delays threaten to interfere with the operation of the Centre for the Development of Industry (CDI) and the ACP-EU Joint Assembly? Answer (11 May 1998) The Council is happy to be able to announce to the Honourable Member that all the Member States have now ratified the Fourth Convention of Lome·, as revised by the Mauritius Agreement of 4 November 1995. Pursuant to Article 360(1) of the revised Convention, the latter will enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of deposit of the instruments of ratification of the Member States and of at least two thirds of the ACP States, and of the act of notification of the conclusion of the Convention by the Community. This condition has now been fulfilled both by the ACP States and by the fifteen Member States. At its meeting on 27 April 1998, the Council adopted the Decision concerning the conclusion of the Agreement amending the Fourth Convention of Lome·. That revised Convention will therefore enter into force on 1 June 1998. With regard to the Centre for the Development of Industry (CDI) and the ACP-EU Joint Assembly, on 19 December 1997 the ACP-EC Council of Ministers adopted the necessary provisions for their functioning pending entry into force of the Second Financial Protocol to the Convention. (98/C 223/181) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0215/98 by Iñ igo Me·ndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Council (11 February 1998) Subject: Emergency aid for North Korea North Korea is currently facing one of the worst famines in its history. The country has food reserves sufficient only for three days and millions of citizens are in a very precarious situation, receiving only 180 grammes of