WRITTEN QUESTION E-3308/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Terrorist cells in the Balkans

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Osama bin Laden visited the Balkans three times between 1994 and 1996, and it has been widely reported by foreign news agencies that he holds a Bosnian passport issued in 1993 by the Bosnian Embassy in Vienna. Moreover, in 1997 the Bosnian government granted Bosnian nationality and a passport to Mehrez Amdouni, a close associate of bin Laden, who had fought in Bosnia at the beginning of the 1990s. Amdouni was arrested at Interpol's behest on charges of participating in terrorist activities.

According to a report that appeared in the Sunday Times (November 1998) bin Laden ran a terrorist network in Albania which carried out operations in Kosovo. Fatos Klosi, the head of the Albanian secret service, told the newspaper that the network was run by the Saudi citizen Osama bin Laden and that he sent units to fight in Kosovo. Allegations of bin Laden's ties with Albania were confirmed at the murder trial of Claude Kader who was a member of the bin Laden's Albanian network when Mr Kader revealed that bin Laden had visited Albania between 1996 and 1997.

According to a report in the Washington Times, bin Laden donated $ 7 million to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), and many KLA members are supposed to have been trained in al-Qa'ida's terrorist camps. Furthermore, Jamal al-Fadl an al-Qa'ida member accused of bombing the US embassies in East Africa stated at his trial in February 2001 that tests were carried out with uranium in the occupied part of Cyprus in 1994 to make dirty bombs which spread deadly radioactivity.

1. Does the Commission have any information to corroborate this information and if so, what is it?

2. What does it intend to do to shed light on this mass of information relating to the activities of terrorist cells in the Balkans which allegedly have close ties with al-Qa'ida?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2002)

Following the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 the alleged links between the former authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and suspected terrorists from Islamic countries have been high on the agenda of both local and international media. In early 2000, the BiH Council of Ministers established the Commission for Revision of the Status of Naturalised BiH Citizens to investigate cases of passports which may have been irregularly issued. The Commission has now finalised its screening for the war-time period 1992-1995, and as a result, the citizenship of 94 naturalised Bosnians has been revoked. A similar procedure is underway for the post-war period.

The findings of this Commission confirm the assurances of the BiH authorities that Osama bin Laden was never granted a BiH passport. Although it cannot be excluded that Osama bin Laden or any of his associates stayed in BiH during the war, so far no credible evidence has been produced to prove these allegations. Prior to 11 September 2001 the number of so-called Mujahedeen in BiH was estimated at a couple of hundred.

On alleged activities in Kosovo, the Commission has no information and suggests that the question should be addressed to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and the peacekeeping force in Kosovo (UNMiK and KFOR).

As regards Albania, the Commission has not the necessary elements to corroborate the information to which the Honourable Member refers. However, the Commission has been assured

by the Albanian authorities, on various occasions this year, that there is no terrorist or paramilitary activity on its territory. Moreover, following the tragic events of 11 September 2001, Albania has shown full commitment in the fight against terrorism, and has supported the United States and Union positions.