91997E3993

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3993/97 by Olivier Dupuis (ARE) to the Council (15 December 1997)

Subject: Tunisia and the case of Mr Khémaïs Csila

Mr Khémaïs Csila, a Tunisian citizen and vice-president of the Tunisian Human Rights League, was arrested on 29 September 1997 because of a political statement he made to explain the reasons why he was going on hunger strike: to recover his job and his passport. His crime clearly consists of having expressed an opinion. On its recent visit to Tunis, the European Parliament raised a number of instance of violations of human rights and fundamental rights, including the case of Mr Csila.

What action has the Council taken, or does it intend to take, to put an end to the arbitrary imprisonment of Mr Khémaïs Csila and to the trumped-up charges against him? More generally, what action does the Council intend to take to encourage the Tunisian authorities to put an end to the human rights violations and to resolve to follow the path of democratization and the construction of a state founded on the rule of law?

Answer (30 March 1998)

The Council attaches great political importance to the promotion and respect of human rights in Tunisia and closely follows the evolution of the situation in this country.

As the Honourable Member will know, Tunisia was the first Mediterranean country to sign a new Euro-Med Association Agreement. This Agreement establishes a political dialogue which allows both parties to discuss openly a range of political issues, including human rights. Furthermore, it includes a 'human rights clause' which stipulates that bilateral relations, 'as well as the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles which guide their domestic and international policies and constitute an essential element of the Agreement'.

As a delegation from the European Parliament recently did, the Council has raised and will continue to raise the question of human rights and fundamental freedoms, both in general terms and with respect to specific cases, including that of Khémaïs Ksila, reminding its Tunisian interlocutors of their human rights responsibilities and undertakings in the framework of both the EC-Tunisian Agreement and the Barcelona Process.