WRITTEN QUESTION No. 442/99 by Glyn FORD Harp seals
C 341/114 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 11. 1999 (1999/C 341/159) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0441/99 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (4 March 1999) Subject: Human rights Egypt Is the Commission aware of the mass detention and torture of Egyptian Christians from the El-Kosheh village in Sohag Governate, upper Egypt? If so, does the Commission intend to make representations to the Egyptian authorities about this? Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (29 March 1999) The Commission is aware of the controversy surrounding recent events in El-Kosheh (Sohag Governorate; Egypt) and the alleged maltreatment of Christian villagers by the local police. The events have been reported in both the European and Egyptian press and were the subject of extensive analysis by the Egyptian organisation of human rights and other human rights organisations. The head of the delegation of the Commission in Egypt, together with his colleagues of the Member States, has followed this and other similar issues carefully and the government of Egypt is well aware of the importance that the Union attaches to the respect of human rights. On the basis of facts presently known to the Commission, there appears to be little evidence for the allegations in some quarters that the events in El-Kosheh were essentially or exclusively religious in nature. However, every allegation is handled on its own merits. The Commission, in the framework of the common foreign and security policy, does not hesitate to raise specific issues with the relevant Egyptian authorities in coordination with the Member States. (1999/C 341/160) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0442/99 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (4 March 1999) Subject: Harp seals Is the Commission aware of the number of mutilated Harp seals recovered from the Archangel area of the White Sea in Russia? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (26 March 1999) The Commission is unfortunately not aware of the fact put forward by the Honourable Member and has no information at its disposal on the matter. (1999/C 341/161) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0445/99 by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission (4 March 1999) Subject: Eradicating poliomyelitis The World Health Organization has set itself the goal of eradicating poliomyelitis before the year 2000, which will require approximately US$ 370 million for the necessary vaccination campaigns. What cooperation programmes is the European Union engaged on with the developing countries to eradicate this disease?