Object: radio information for Tibetans

The European Parliament has approved in its budget for the year 1996 and for the year 1997 the line B7-702 "Human rights and democracy in the developing countries", and its comment contains the following phrase: "Funds also destined to finance the initiatives connected with the verification of the respect for human rights ... and to promote the information, in particular radio information, of the Tibetans, both in exile and resident in Tibet, concerning any non-violent initiative in favour of protection and promotion of human rights and the democracy and freedom in Tibet, as well as the initiatives taken in this matter within the framework of the European union".

Which were the reasons for the delay from the part of Commission in adopting a decision both regarding the projects already presented for the exercise 96 that did not have any follow-up and regarding the projects related to the current exercise that did not have reply so far, projects regarding the realisation and transmission of information programmes in Tibetan language addressed to Tibetans in exile in India and to Tibetans resident in Tibet consequently with the indications given by the Budgetary Authorities?

Answer from Mr. Pinheiro

On behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1997)

During the years 1994 to 1996, the Commission has financed two projects addressed to Tibetan people, among them was a project realised by "Droit de parole - Observatory Maongpa". This project is to be concluded in 1996. At the end of 1996, two new media projects - one of them coming from the same organisation - have been presented.

With the purpose to stabilise a strategy of coherent intervention regarding the human rights for the aid projects to Tibetan refugees and to the people of Tibet, the Commission has sent on the spot an identification mission for the projects. The mission was realised during June 1997 and the report has been transmitted in the beginning of August accompanied with twenty projects related to different sectors of intervention, including media sector; among these projects were also two citations of respected deputy.

Projects that were received and recommended by two consultants charged for the mission will be subjected to the examining and selection procedure, which will take into account particularly the general policy followed by the Commission in this region.