WRITTEN QUESTION E-1596/99 by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Council. Human rights in Uzbekistan.
C 170 E/46 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 Reply (29 November 1999) The EU has currently the following Special Representatives (EUSR), which are appointed on the basis of Article 18. 5 of the TEU: 1. Mr Aldo Ajello: EUSR for the African Great Lakes Region (Joint Action 96/250/CFSP). Annual mandate (current one expiring on 31 July 2000, see Council Decision 1999/423/CFSP). Current budget: € 1 137 000. Team: 4 people. Brussels office. 2. Mr Miguel Angel Moratinos: EUSR for the Middle East Peace Process (Joint Action 96/676/CFSP). Annual mandate (current one expiring on 31 December 1999). Current budget: € 2 400 000. Team: 9 people. Brussels office. 3. Mr Niels Eriksson: EU Adviser to Palestinian Authority on terrorism (Joint Action 97/289/CFSP). Appointed initially for three years, was extended until 31 May 2002 (Joint Action 1999/440/CFSP). Budget: € 3 600 000 until 30 June 2000. Team: 3 people. Based in Ramallah. 4. Mr Bodo Hombach: EUSR appointed to act as Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe. Appointed by Council Decision 1999/345/CFSP and confirmed by Council Joint Action 1999/523/ CFSP of 29 July 1999 until 31 December 1999. Budget: € 850 000. Team: 22 people. Brussels office. 5. Mr Panagiotis Roumeliotis: EUSR for the Royaumont Process (stability and good-neighbourliness in South-East Europe, see Common Position 98/633/CFSP). Annual mandate, current one expiring on 31 May 2000 (Council Decision 1999/361/CFSP). Current budget: € 550 000. Team: 4 people. Brussels office. The Royaumont Process was launched on 13 December 1995. It is intended that the Process will be incorporated into the OSCE in due time. It covers human rights and democratisation issues in the broad region of South-east Europe. The Stability Pact was formally adopted in Cologne on 10 June 1999. Its aim is to develop a synergy between organisations and other initiatives in the region. Democratisation and Human Rights are an important aspect of the Stability Pact. In this regard the EUSR Roumeliotis actively contributes to the work of the Stability Pactís Working Table on Democratisation and Human Rights. Moreover Article 2 of Joint Action 1999/523/CFSP states that the EUSR, Mr Hombach and the EUSR, Mr Roumeliotis shall coordinate their action. Concerning accountability of EUSR, Article 4 of Joint Action 1999/523/CFSP states that áthe EUSR shall be guided by, and report under the authority of, the Presidency, assisted by the Secretary General to the Council on a regular basis and as the need arises [ ]í. Following the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, this wording will be added to all Joint Actions on EUSR in the future. (2000/C 170 E/051) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1596/99 by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Council (20 September 1999) Subject: Human rights in Uzbekistan Concerned Christians in the European Union are continuing to draw attention to alleged abuses of human rights in Uzbekistan. They have pointed out that cases of Pastor Rashid Turibayev, Parhad Yangibayev, Iset Tanishiev and Nail Asanov who, they claim, have been jailed on false charges of drug possession. 20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/47 Is the Council monitoring the human rights situation in Uzbekistan particularly in regard to the treatment of converts to Christianity and what representations has it made to the Government of Uzbekistan in relation to the above-mentioned four prisoners? Reply (29 November 1999) The Council is closely monitoring the human rights situation in Uzbekistan. The EU is regularly raising this issue with the Uzbek authorities. In a demarche in Tashkent in July 1999 and in the First Cooperation Council EU-Uzbekistan on 13 September 1999, the Union expressed concern on the freedom of religion and in particular the ill-treatment of Christians in Uzbekistan. It encouraged the Uzbek government, in the framework of the recently concluded Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and in the light of Uzbekistanís OSCE commitments, to respect the international principles of freedom and religion. The EU also expressed strong concern about imprisonment on the grounds of political or religious belief and about prison conditions in Uzbekistan. The Council will continue to closely monitor the human rights situation in Uzbekistan in all its aspects and address the issue regularly with the Uzbek authorities. (2000/C 170 E/052) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1600/99 by Marco Cappato (TDI) to the Commission (7 September 1999) Subject: Conditions under which Mr Ashot Bleyan, former Education Minister of the Republic of Armenia, is being held According to his lawyer and to information in the press, Mr Ashot Bleyan, former Education Minister of the Republic of Armenia, who has been in prison for several months, has been beaten and placed in solitary confinement. What information does the Commission have about Mr Ashot Bleyan, particularly as regards the charges made against him, compliance by the authorities with the rules of penal procedure, the conditions under which he is being held and his current state of health? In more general terms, what steps has the Commission taken or does it intend to take to ensure that Mr Ashot Bleyan benefits from the rights of any accused person to a legal defence and to proper treatment that complies with the international rules governing the holding of prisoners? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (4 October 1999) The Commission has been following the detention and legal proceedings brought against former Education Minister Ashot Bleyan by the Armenian authorities, charging him with civil and criminal offences including embezzlement. The Commission is concerned by reports alleging that Mr Bleyan has been subjected to beatings while in custody leading to a serious deterioration in his health. The Commission is urgently seeking clarification on these allegations from the Armenian authorities. The partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) with Armenia, which entered into force in June 1999, provides a basis for discussion of human rights issues which will be on the agenda and discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the cooperation council on October 12th 1999