2001 Questions raised in the European Parliament about the Bletsas incident and OMO Ilinden

Gorka Knorr and Euring Wyn, EU Members of Parliament, asked the EU body several parliamentary questions regarding minority problems in Bulgaria and Greece.

On February 7, 2001 a parliamentary question was directed to the European Commission regarding the conviction and 15 month jail sentence of a Greek citizen of Vlach ethnicity, Mr. Sotiris Bletsas. The reason for the conviction was that during a recent festival of Vlach associations Mr. Bletsas distributed a brochure published by the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages in which it was written that there are five minority languages spoken in Greece, including Macedonian and Vlach. Mr. Bletsas was convicted by a Court in Athens using Article 191 of the Greek Penal Code. The conviction was based on the argument that Mr. Bletsas was "spreading false information which can disturb the citizens."

The question to the Commission requests an inquiry as to whether there is a violation of the right to free expression of Greek citizens and whether Article 191 of the Greek Penal Code is in agreement with the principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights as stated in international conventions.

The second parliamentary question was about the problems facing the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. Two questions were tabled. The first was to the European Commission and the other to the Council of Ministers.

On February 29, 2000, the Constitutional Court in Bulgaria declared a Macedonian-based political party, OMO "llinden" - PIRIN, unconstitutional. This party was registered in 1999 and took part in the municipal elections in October 1999. This party has always declared that it would respect the constitutional and legal system of Bulgaria and carry out its political activities peacefully. The party has filed a complaint with the European Court for Human Rights. Last February 4, 1999 a delegation of this party was prevented by police from laying flowers on a monument without providing any copy of the order.

Is the Commission of the opinion that this kind of decision may violate the right to freedom of association and constitute a discrimination against a national minority?
Has the Commission asked for any explanation from the Bulgarian authorities? Can the Commission inform us about the justification received by Bulgarian authorities?
Does the Commission consider that such a decision is compatible with the respect of democratic criteria established in Copenhagen?
Has the Commission the intention of dealing with this kind of attitude in the coming reports on the progress done by applicant states?

Answering to a previous parliamentary question (H-0290/00), the Council declared that the official translation of the unconstitutional act was not yet available. Has the Council received the official translation?
Is the Council of the opinion that this kind of decision may violate the right to freedom of association and constitute a discrimination against a national minority?
Has the Council asked for any explanation from Bulgarian authorities?
Does the Council consider that such a decision is compatible with the respect of the democratic criteria established in Copenhagen?

This is the second time that a similar question was tabled in front of EU regarding the banning of OMO Ilinden PIRIN. The Members of Parliament who asked the questions are members of the European Free Alliance, an alliance of minority and regional parties. RAINBOW is a member of this alliance.

It should be mentioned that within the framework of EFA Rainbow has informed in detail the members of this association about the situation of minorities in Greece and Bulgaria. Rainbow condemns the human rights abuses of the Macedonians in these countries and through its membership in the EFA will continue to strive for the further democratization of all Balkan societies where human rights are not respected.