by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the
Commission
(03 April
2002)
Subject: Tragic death of 14 girls in Saudi Arabia
|
E-1029/02EN
Answer
given by Mr Patten
on behalf
of the Commission
(21 May
2002)
As the Commission does not yet have a Delegation in Riyadh, it has
learned about the tragic death of the fourteen girls in Saudi Arabia mainly
through the media. Obviously, if the reports about the circumstances are
correct, this is totally unacceptable and unforgivable. The Commission will
raise the matter at the Middle East and Gulf (Comem) working group in the
Council and ask Member States for further information.
The human rights situation, including gender discrimination, in Saudi
Arabia is of serious concern to the Commission. It regularly raises these
matters within the framework of the yearly meetings of the Union/Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) Joint Council. Furthermore, there will be a human
rights clause in the Free Trade Agreement with the GCC, which is currently
being negotiated.
The Commission is planning to open a Delegation in Riyadh towards the
end of 2002. This presence on the ground will be an important development in
our bilateral relations, enabling us not only to strengthen our human rights
dialogue with the Government of Saudi Arabia, but also to take up certain,
individual cases.
The Commission wishes to assure the Honourable Member that it will
continue its efforts to improve the human rights situation, including gender
discrimination, in Saudi Arabia.