WRITTEN QUESTION P-0005/00 by Nicole Thomas-Mauro (UEN) to the Council. Situation in Sudan.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/123 None of these studies (looking into thermal effects and possible metabolic disturbances at cellular level caused by various types of electromagnetic field) has revealed the existence of negative effects on health, but further results will be necessary in order to provide a complete response to public concerns. (1998-2002), Within the Fifth Framework Programme for research and technological development electromagnetic radiation is specifically included in the working programme for Key Action 4 (Environ- ment and Health) of Theme 1, Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources. During the 1999 call for proposals this Key Action received 21 proposals for research on this subject. Following evaluation, five proposals were selected for a total allocation of €9 million. A table of these proposals will be forwarded directly to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament Secretariat. Among these projects is a wide-ranging epidemiological study (Interphone) coordinated by the Interna- tional Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which should go some way towards providing reliable responses to the question of whether the electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile telephones can be carcinogenic. In any case, the five projects selected will go some way towards resolving the outstanding questions on the supposed effects of using global system for mobile communications (GSM) phones, and determining whether long-term exposure at low levels has negative effects on health. (1) 1999/519/EC: Council Recommendation of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz), OJ L 199, 30. 7. 1999. (2000/C 303 E/124) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0005/00 by Nicole Thomas-Mauro (UEN) to the Council (14 January 2000) Subject: Situation in Sudan While the international community, the European Union and its Member States quite rightly express their the difficult circumstances faced by various peoples around the world, amidst widespread anger at indifference the Christian minority in southern Sudan is being subjected to unacceptable persecution by the government authorities. The latter are implementing a policy of forced Islamisation, causing the Christians to flee en masse. They are misappropriating humanitarian aid and carrying out murder, torture and the abduction of women and children to be sold as slaves or prostitutes. Could the Council state what measures it has taken or intends to take in response to this intolerable situation? Could it not encourage the Member States to take at the same time strong measures to persuade the Sudanese authorities to respect human dignity, religious freedom and human rights in general? Reply (10/11 April 2000) The Council agrees with the Honourable Member that the human rights situation in Sudan is worrying. The European Union raised the human rights situation in Sudan at the 55th session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and in the Third Committee convened at the 54th session of the UN General Assembly, and has called on the Sudanese Government to improve the situation on the ground and to cooperate fully with the UN mechanisms, while recognising that some progress has been achieved in the course of the year. In parallel, the EU engaged last year in a dialogue with the Government of Sudan which centres on the peace process, on reforms based on democracy and the rule of law, on the respect of human rights, on policies against terrorism and on Sudanís relations with its neighbours with the aim of improving the C 303 E/124 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 situation in all of these areas. This dialogue has just begun and it is therefore too early to draw conclusions, all the more so in the light of recent developments with regard to Sudanís internal situation (dissolution of the Parliament on 12 December 1999 and formation of a new Government) as well as the positive move to normalisation of its bilateral relations with its neighbours, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Uganda. The Council is, of course, fully aware that positive developments at this stage do not necessarily secure the respect of human rights throughout this largest country on the African continent. The Council will continue to monitor the situation in Sudan very closely and to contribute, within its possibilities, to an improvement of the human rights situation in this country. (2000/C 303 E/125) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0015/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Projects for the restoration of Kosovoís cultural heritage (19 January 2000) In its answer to my Written Question E-1587/99 (1) on the restoration of historic monuments damaged by the war in Yugoslavia, the Commission stated that it ádoes not itself have competence to take any measures for the protection of Kosovoís cultural heritageí. Nevertheless, the subject was raised by Commissioner Reding at the recent Council of Ministers for Culture in November 1999, and it was stressed that, after February 2000, projects would be considered with a view to listing the measures required for the preservation of Kosovoís cultural heritage. Does the Commission have anything to add to its reply to the points raised in Written Question E-1587/ 99 following the Council of Ministers for Culture? 1. In what way does it intend to support restoration work? 2. Has a specific restoration programme been drawn up, including scientific studies, timetables and priorities? 3. Will similar attention be paid to the restoration of monuments damaged in the remainder of Yugoslavia? (1) OJ C 170, 20. 6. 2000, p. 41. Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (28 February 2000) Following the recent meeting of the Culture Council and the member responsible for Education and Cultureís statement as to the initiative to be undertaken for measures required for the preservation of Kosovoís cultural heritage, the Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that a covenant has been concluded with the Council of Europe. This foresees the establishment of a high level group of experts in the field of cultural heritage with the aim to propose solutions to problems arising from the damage and destruction of cultural property in Kosovo. The membership of the high level group of experts will be determined through close consultation between the Commission, the Council of Europe and the International Administration of Kosovo and other international institutions and non-governmental organisations such as International Council of monuments and sites (Icomos), International Council of museums (ICOM), Center for international restoration studies in Rome (Unesco) (Iccrom), International federation of association for the protections of Europeís cultural and natural heritage (Europa Nostra). With the involvement of and co-ordination with the International Administration of Kosovo, the Agency for reconstruction (established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2454/99 of 15 November 1999 amending Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 relating to aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in particular by the setting up of a European agency for reconstruction (1)) and the authorities at local, regional or federal level the aim of the high level