26.9.2002 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 229 E/13

(2002/C 229 E/011) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3321/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)and Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE)to the Commission (30 November 2001)

Subject: Targeted demolition of buildings belonging to in

According to complaints by the Greek community of Cheimarra on 22 November 2001 the selective demolition of buildings and homes belonging to members of the internationally recognised Greek ethnic minority of is scheduled to commence. The buildings concerned are properties returned to their rightful owners by the local authorities immediately following the fall of Hoxha’s communist regime and include houses, taverns, cafes and offices belonging to Greek organisations together with a tuition centre.

The new mayor of Cheimarra, who belongs to the Socialist party, sent fifteen selective letters of notification of demolition to members of the Greek ethnic minority on the grounds that the buildings concerned, which have been standing for many years and were returned to their rightful owners following revocation of the provisions confiscating them decreed by the previous Communist regime were unauthorised.

What view does the Commission take of this? Are such racist tactics by the Albanian authorities against ethnic Greeks in Albania consistent with officially accepted principles in the EU Member States? What immediate measures can be taken to halt the measures thus decided and end the persecution by the Albania of members of the ethnic Greek minority which is recognised not only internationally but also by Albania itself?

Reply given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (22 January 2002)

The Commission is not aware of the selective demolition of buildings and homes belonging to the ethnic Greek minority in Albania.

According to the information available illegal buildings have been demolished all over the country during 2001, including in its Southern part ( region). However, according to the available data, there has not been any kind of targeted demolition against properties belonging to the Greek minority, and demolition has only concerned illegal constructions. Ethnic Albanian owners have also been the object of these drastic measures.

The Commission is closely following the position of minorities in Albania, and is particularly attentive to the issue raised by the Honourable Members. However, the Commission considers that Albania has, in general, a constructive attitude as regards its national minorities, and has not observed either racist tactics nor persecution against the Greek minority in Albania.

(2002/C 229 E/012) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3322/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)to the Commission (30 November 2001)

Subject: Sale of priceless archaeological treasures in Turkey

According to the Turkish ‘Milliyet’ newspaper, the ‘KUSAV’ (one of Turkey’s largest cultural foundations) has decided to hold a public sale of rare archaeological treasures from the ancient Greek Hellenistic and Byzantine period which are currently in its possession. For this purpose, it has placed an advertisement on Internet inviting those interested in ancient artefacts to contact it. The Foundation is exhibiting for sale treasures from the Magnesia and Pergamon areas of Asia Minor and ‘KURSAV’ representatives have indicated that enormous interest has already been evinced in countries such as the USA, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and others. According to the same newspaper, another major exhibition has been organised in the ‘SUAV’ gallery in Istanbul, where treasures of enormous value from the Hittite, Hellenistic, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are being exhibited for sale. C 229 E/14 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26.9.2002

Another prominent Turkish newspaper, the Hürriyet’ (issue of 11 November 2001) has revealed that a smuggling ring dealing in cultural artefacts is doing a particularly brisk trade in treasures appropriated from the occupied part of and disposed of abroad. It also reports that an extremely large number of suchartefacts from occupied Cyprus are being displayed in New York, consisting mainly of antiquities and extremely valuable icons stolen from churches in the north of the island which is under Turkish military occupation.

What is the Commission’s response to the allegations contained in these two major Turkish newspapers? Has it made official representations to the Turkish authorities regarding the auctioning of archaeological treasures by Turkish ‘foundations’ presumably with responsibility for their conservation? What sanctions can be imposed on states (in particular ‘applicant states’) which are, in an openly provocative manner, organising auctions of cultural treasures from other cultures within their boundaries and tolerating the activities of smuggling organisations, for example in occupied Cyprus, where the Turkish occupying forces have, for 27 consecutive years, been allowing the cultural heritage of that country to be plundered?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

The Commission monitors closely the process of alignment of Turkish legislation with the acquis.

In its Regular Reports published yearly, the Commission gives an overview of the progress achieved by Turkey including in the field of culture. In its most recent report published on 13 November 2001 (1), the Commission indicated that only limited progress has been made in this field.

In light of the circumstances referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission will draw the attention of the Turkish authorities to the need to adopt and implement Council Regulation (EEC) No 3911/92 of 9 December 1992 concerning the export of cultural goods (2) and Council Directive (EEC) No 93/7 of 15 March 1993 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State (3).

(1) SEC(2001) 1756. (2) OJ L 395, 31.12.1992. (3) OJ L 74, 27.3.1993.

(2002/C 229 E/013) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3333/01 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE)to the Commission

(30 November 2001)

Subject: Tax on the personal income of Community citizens living in Andorra

The Union and its Member States have launched a series of measures to combat money laundering and tax evasion in what are termed tax havens. These measures, whose aims I fully support, have already achieved some significant successes but also claimed their first innocent victims, namely a number of Community citizens living and working in Andorra.

Recent changes in Spanish tax regulations regarding tax on the income of natural persons have overturned the long-established arrangement, and the Spaniards habitually resident in Andorra, where they make up the largest group of Community citizens, are consequently having to pay too much tax. The problem appears to lie in the confusion between the concepts of residence for tax purposes and habitual residence. Residents of other Member States are not affected in the same way. The end result is that some Community citizens are suffering discrimination compared with others. Is the Commission aware of these facts?