Aadel Collection
Official Journal of the European Communities — Debates of the European Parliament — 1980-1981 Session — Report of Proceedings from 15 to 19 September 1980 — Europe House, Strasbourg
SS O378-
Annex Official Journal
of the
European Communities
No 1-260
English edition Debates of the European Parliament
1980-1981 Session
Report of Proceedings
from.15 to 19 September 1980
Europe House, Strasbourg
Contents Monday, 15 Septewbet 1980
Resumption, p. 2 — Committees, p. 2 — Parliamentary immunity of a Member,
p. 2 — Petitions, p. 2 — Documents, p. 3 — Texts of treaties, p. 3 — Authorization
of reports — Reference to committee, p. 3 — Statement on motions for resolutions,
p. 3 — Urgent procedure. P. 3 — Order of business, p. 3 — Speaking time, P. 4 —
Tabling of amendments, P. 6 — Action taken on Parliament's opinions. p. 7 —
Question Time, P. 8 — Urgent procedure, p. 24 — Next sitting. p. 24 — Annex,
p. 25
Tuesday, 16 September 1980 4
Minutes, P. 46 — Urgent procedure, p. 47 — Hunger, p. 52 — Committees,
p. 78 — Hunger (contd), p. 79 — Urgent procedure, p. 107 — Withdrawal of a
motion for a resolution, p. 107 — Next sitting, p. 107
Wednesday. 17 September 1980 10
Minutes, p. 109 — Documents, p. 110 — Urgent procedure, p. 110 — Wdcorne ,
p. 116 — Structural problems of the UK — Financial mechanism, P. 116 — Human
rights in Poland, p. 138 — Tabling of amendments, p. 142 — Human tights in
Poland (contd), p. 142 — Situation in Turkey, p. 152 — Urgent procedure, p. 161
— Question Time, p. 161 — Next sitting, p. 175 — Annex, p. 177
Thursday, 18 September 1980 18
Minutes, p. 184 — Documents, p. 184 — Urgent procedure, p. 184 — Hunger
(contd), p. 187 — Membership of Parliament, p. 218 — Votes, p. 219 — Creden-
tials, p. 227 — Regional devdopmcnt, p. 228 — Speaking-time, P. 233 — Dates
of sittings, p. 233 — Regional development (contd). p. 233 — Agenda, p. 245 —
Alternative energy sources, P. 245 — Urgent procedure, p. 252 — Motor-vehicle
engines, P. 252 — Safety-belts and interior fittings, p. 253 — Insurance contracts,
p. 255 — Appropriations within Section 111 of the budget, p. 264 — European
Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, p. 265 — Next sitting, p. 268
—Annex.p. 269
(Continued overleaf)
BP000433
NOTE TO READER
Appearing at the same time as the English edition are editions in the five other ofuici
languages of the Communities: Danish, German, French, Italian and Dutch. The Engli
edition contains the original texts of the interventions in English and an English transl 1
lion of those made in other languages. In these cases there are, after the name of tJ
speaker, the following letters, in brackets, to indicate the language spoken: (DK) f
Danish, (D) for German, (1 .1 for French, (7) for Italian and (2VL) for Dutch.
The original texts of these interventions appear in the edition published in the langua
spoken.
Contents (continued) Friday, 19 Septetnber 1980 305
Minutes, P. 307 — Documents, p. 307 — Committees, P. 307 — Consultative
Assembly ACP-EEC, P. 307 — Urgent procedure, p. 308 — Flax and hemp,
p. 310 — Martinique and Guadcloupe, p. 311 — Fisheries, p. 314 — Votes,
p. 320 — Fisheries (contd), P. 327 — Baliais in Iran, p. 331 — Bolivia, p. 334 —
Tyrc, P. 337 — Mrs Macciocchi, p. 338 — Iron and steel, p. 344 — Kim Dac
Jung, p. 346 — Adams, p. 346 — Petition No 1/79, P. 347 — Next sittings,
p. 347 — Minutes, p. 347 — Adjournment, p. 347
Resolutions adopted ai sittinp of 1/to 1.9 September 1.980 appear in the Official Journal of the
European Communities C 2 / of 13. 10. 1.980
Sitting of Friday, 19 September 1980
305
I
SITTING OF FRIDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 1980
Contents
• 3. Membership of committees
4. ConsultativeAssembly EEC-A CF
5. Urgent procedure:
Procedural motion: Mr Forth (ED)
MrPannella
Procedural motion: Mr Fergusson
Mr Sarre (S). Mr Klepsch (EPP); Lady Elles
(ED); Mr Martin (COM); Mr Donnez; Mr
Van Minnen (S); Mr Thebbach (EPP); Mr
Donnez; JMr Sherlock
6. Regulations on flax and hemp — Report by
Mr Blaney on behalf of the Committee on
Agriculture (Doc. 7-389/80):
Mr Provan, deputy rapporteur
Mr Coppieters; Mr Sutra; Mr .Gundelach ,
Vice-President oft / ic Commission
7. EEC emergency aid for Martinique and
Guadelou pe — Motions for resolutions by Mr
Clement and others (Doc. 1-362/80), by Mr
Sable and others on behalf of the Liberal and
Democratic Group and Mr d'Ormesson and
others on behalf of the Group of the European
People's Party (CD) (Doc. 1-377/80) and by
Mr Verges and others on behalf of the
Communist and Allies Group (Doe. 1-384/
80):
MrC!ément
Mr Sable .
Mr Verges
Mr d'Ormesson
‘Mr Sutra (S); Mr NataJi , Vice-President of
the Commission
8. Fisheries policy— Motions for resolutions by
Mr Glinne and others on behalf of the Social-
ist Group (Doc 1-382180/rev.) and Sy Mr
Calvez and others (Doe. 1-403180):
Mrj6sselin
Mr Caivez . ..
Mr Battersby (ED); Mr Papapietro (COM);
Mr Remilly (EPD); Miss Quin; Mr Kirk;
,MrsLeRoux
Procedural motions: Mrs Castle; Mr Kirk
9. Votes:
Procedural motion: Mrs Castle
• Travaglini report (Doc 1-347/80):
Regional development programmes:
Amendment to paragraph 4
Mr Travaglini , rapporteur 320
Amendment to paragraph 12
Adoption of the resolution 320
Procedural motions: Mrs ,Kelleu-
Bowman; Mrs Castle . 320
• Sassano report (Doe, 1-214/80): Alterna-
tive energy sources:
Amendment to paragraph!
Mr Sassano, rapporteur 320
Amendment after pa rag rap/i I
MrSassano 321
Adoption of the resolution 321
• Von Wogau report (Doe. 1-340/80): Fuel
consumption and engine-power of motor-
vehicles:
Adoption of the resolution
• Von Wogau report (Doc. 1-343/80):
Safety-belts and interior fittings of
motor-vehicles:
Adoption of the resolution
• Turner report (Doc. 7-237/80): Insurance
contracts:
Amendments to the proposed di recti ye:
Mr Turner, rapporteur
Consideration of the motion for a resolu-
tion:
Amendment to paragraph 1
Mr Turner 323
S. -
1. Approval of the ninutes
2. Documents received
307
307
307
307
314
315
316
319
320
30$
308
308
30$
310
311
311
312
313
313
314
321
321
321
306
Debates of the European Parliament
Amendment to paragraph 2
Mr Turner .
Amendments to paragraph 3
Mr Turner
Amendments after paragraph 3
Mr Turner . . . . . . .
Amendment to paragraph 5
Mr Turner
Amendment to paragraph 6
Mr Turner
Amendment to paragraph 9
.Mr Turner
Explanations of vote: Mrs Seibel-Emmer-
Thig (S);MrJanssen van Ra .ay (EPP); Mrs
Scrivener , Lady Elks (ED) -
Adoption of the resolution
Key report (Doc. 2-334/80): Use of certain
appropriations available in the budget:
Adoption of the resolution .
• Ryan report (Doc 1-344/80): Discharge to
the European Centre for tbe'Devdopment '
of Vocational Training:
• Adoption of the decision
Adoption of the resolution . .
• Blaney report (Doc 1 389 80): Flax end
hemp:'
Amendment to the sole paragraph:
Mr Proven,' deputy rapporteur .
Adoption of the resolution
• Clement et aL motion for a resolution
(Doc 1-362/80): Emei ency aid for
Martinique:
Adoption of:he re olution . .
• Sable et al motion for a resolution (Doc
1-377/80): Community aid to Martinique
and Guadeloupe:
Adoption of.che resolution . .
• Verges et a! motion for a resolution (Doc
• . 1-384/80): Community aid to Guadeloupe
and Martinique:
Adoption of the resolution
Procedural motion: Mr Collins :
10. Fzsberies policy (contd)
Mr Harris; Miss Bmokes; Mr Gundelach,
Vice-President of the Commission .
• Consideration of the motion for a resolution
• in Doc. 1-382/80/rev.):
Amendment to replace the motion .
• Explanations of vote: Mr Welsh; Mr Enrigbt
Adoption, of the resolution
Adoption of the resolution in Doc 1-403/80
11. Persecution ofBahais in Iran — Motion for a
resolution by Mr La/or and Mr IsraEl on
• behalf of the Group of European Progressive
Democrats, Mr Glinne and Mrs Van den
Heuvel on behalf of the Socialist Group 1 Mr
Klepsch and others on behalf oJthe Group of
the European Peçple's Party (CD), Mr Scott-
Hopkins and others on behalf of the European
Democritic Group and Mr Bangemann and
Mr Berkhouwer on behalf of the Liberal and
Democratic Group (Doc 2-397/80/rev.):
MrIsra9l
Mr Habsburg (EPP); Mr Purvis (ED); Mr
Hahn; Mr Proven; Mr Natali, Vice-Presi-
dent of the Commission; Mr Romualdi; Mrs
Dekker
Consideration of the motion for a resolution:
Amendment after parag raph 4 . ..
Explanations of vote: Mr Papapietro; ‘Mr
Prag; Mrs Kellett-Bowinan; Mr Harris
Adoption of the resolution
12. Events in Bolivia — Motions for resolutions
by Mr Glinne and others on behalf of the
Socialist Group, Mr Klepsch and Mr Blumen-
fold on behalf of the Group of the European
• People's Party (CD). Mr Fergusson on behalf
• of the European Democratic Group, Mrs
Careuoni Romagnoli, and Mr Berkhouwer
on behalf of the Liberal and Democratic
Group (Doc 1-391/80/rev.) and by Mr Fanti
and others on behalf of the Communist and
‘Allies Group (Doc 1-385/80):
MrPapapietro
Mr Fergusson
• Mr Bersani (EPP); Mr Arndt (S); Mr IsraEl
(EPD); Mr Natal Vice-President of the
Commission
Explanati6ns of vote: Mrs Casteiina; Mr
Fennel/a; Mr Klepscb.
• Procedural motions: Mr Fe gusson; Mr
Pannella
Adoption of the resolution
13. Protecting the site of Tyre — Motion for a
resolution by Mr Beyer de Ryke and others
(Doc 1-388/80):
Mr Beyer de Ryke
Mr Habsburg (EPP)
Adoption of the resolution
14. Termination ofMrs Macciocchi's appointment
with the French University system — Motion
for a resolution by Mr Glinne and others
(Doc. 1-395/80):
MrsRoudy
Mr Ga/land (L), Mrs Bonino; Mr Habsburg
• Consideration of the motion fore resolution:
Amendment to the preamble
Ame.ndm nt to paragraph I .
Amendment to paragraph 2
Amendment to paragraph 4
i
5 '
-e
• . 324
• 324
324
• 324
3.
3:
3:
3:
3:
324
325
325
326
326
326
326
326
326
326.
327
327
327
327
330
330
331
331
31
33
33
3
33
Sifting of Friday, 19 September 1980
307
Explanations of vote: kits Castellina; Lord
O'Hasan; Mr Charnbeiron; Miss Roberts;
Mr Glinne; Lady Elles; Mr K. Schön; Mr
Gallant!; Mr Coppieters; Mr Pannella
• Adoption of the resolution . 34.1
15. Crisis in the iron-and-steel industry —
Motions for resolutions by Mr Michel and
others (Doc .1-402/80/rev.) and by Mrs
Salisd.' and others, on behalf of the SociAlist
• Group (Doc. 1-414/80/rev.):
MrK. Scbön
Mrs Saliscb . 345
Mr Natali, Vice-President of the Commission 345
• Explanations of vote: Mr Chambeiron; Mrs
KelIetLBowman 345
Adoption of the resolution in Doc. 1-402/
80/rev. 345
Adoption of the resolution in Doc. 1-414/
• 80/rev. : . 346
16. Sentencin,g to death of Kim Dae Jung
Motions for resolutions by the Socialist Group
(Doc. 1-407/80/rev.) and by Mr Fanti arid
others on behalf of the Communist an Allies
Group ‘Doc. 1-419/80):
MrC/inne
MrChambeiron
• Adoption of the resolution in Doc 1-407/
80/rev. 346
• Adoption of the resolution in Doc. 1-419/80 346
17. Adams case — Motion fora resolution by Mr.
Glinne and others on behalf of the Socialist
Group (Doc 1-410/80):
MrGlinne
Mr Natali, Vice-President of the Commission
Adoption of the resolution . . .
18. Petition No 1/79 - Report; without debate,
by Mr D'Angelosaszte on behalf of the
Committee on the Rules of Procedure and
Petitions (Doc 1-286/80):
Adoption of the resolution 347
19. Dates of the next part-session 347
20. ApprovAl áfthe minutes 347
21. Adjournment of the session . . . . . 347
— a request from the Liberal and Democratic Group for
• the appointment of Mr Beyer de Ryke as member of
the delegation to the Joint Parliamentary Committee
of the EEC-Greece Association;
PresdenL — The non-attached Members of Parlia-
ment have informed me that they have nominated Mr
Romualdi as representative to. the EEC-ACP Consult-
.ative Assembly.
346.
346
346
346
347
3. Membership of committees
President. — I have received:
IN THE CHAIR: MR PFLIMLIN
Vice-President
(The sitting opened at 9a.m.)
President. The sitting is open.
1. Approval oftbe minutes
President. — The minutes of proceedings of yester-
day's sitting have been distributed.
Are there any comments?
The minutes are adopted.
2. Documents received
President. I have received various documents,
which you will find listed in the minutes.
— a request from the European Democratic Group for
the appointment of Mr J. M. Taylor to the Committee
on Budgetary Control, to replace Mr Patterson.
Are there any objections?
The appointments arc ratified.
4. C risultative AssemblyACP-EEC
Are there any objections?
The nomination is ratified.
Sitting of Friday, 19 September 1980
331
Enright
out, in reply to Mr'Welsh, that it is absurd nonsense to
say that you will vow at 10. 30 and then not vote at
ID. 30. Either we have procedures cut and dried in this
House or we all pack up and go home.
Presdent. — I put the motion for a resolution as a
whole to the vote.
The resolution is adopted.'
I put to the vote the Calvez et ai. motion for a resolu-
tion (Doc. 1-403/80).
The resolution is adopted.'
11. Persecution ofBahais in Iran
President. — The next item is the motion for a reso-
lution by Mr Lalor and Mr Israel on behalf of the
Group of European Progressive Democrats, Mr
Glinne and Mrs van den Heuvel on behalf of the
Socialist Group, Mr KJepsch and others on behalf of
the Group of the European People's Party (CD
Group), Mr Scott-Hopkins and others on behalf of the
European Democratic Group, and .Mr Bangemann
and Mr Berkhouwer on behalf of the Liberal and
Democratic Group, on the persecution of members of
the Bahai community in Iran (Doc. 1-397/80/rev.).
I call Mr israd.
Mr Israel. — (F) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen,
the Bahai religion is separate and distinct from the
three great monotheistic movements which preceded
it. However, it shares a common origin with those reli-
gions in that it accepts much of their teaching. In Iran,
where this religion was born, there has been a revolu-
tion which has totally disrupted human relations. The
Bahai are a religious minority of 300 000 people living
within the empire of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran's
recently adopted constitution, like all constitutions,
provides in theory for the protection of religious
minorities.
Unfortunately, the Bahai religion is not one of the
minority religions protected by the Constitution. The
reason for this omission is that in Iran followers of the
Bahai faith are generally former Moslems. The fierce
persecution to which they are subject is aggravated by
the fact that members of the Bahai sect appear to be
considered as unfaithful to Islam according to the
ideas of the Ayatollah Khomeiny.
In these circumstances, the followers of the Bahai faith
are totally isolated and deprived of legal protection
inside and outside their own country. There is no
Bahai Vatican, there is not a sufficiently strong world
community to protest against the fate handed out to
the Bahais in Iran. It is therefore quite natural that the
Bahais should turn to us as the Parliament of Europe
and that they should look to our Assembly for the
support which they lack everywhere else in the world.
Mr President, this Parliament would greatly add to its
dignity by adopting this resolution which is moreover
tabled by the five major groups inthis Assembly.
President. — I call Mr Habsburg to speak on behalf
of the Group of the European People's Party (Chris-
tian-Democratic Group).
Mr Habsburg. — (D) Mr President, the Group of the
European People's Party has also been greatly
dismayed to witness in recent months an example of
religious persecution which is particularly abhorrent
because the people concerned are completely defence-
less. I therefore believe, as my colleague Mr israel has
said, that we must make our voice heard, although I
am not generally a supporter of resolutions which have
no direct bearing on European matters.
I have one further point. It has been stated here that
Islam is responsible for the persecution of the Bahais. I
would stress that someone like the Ayatollah Khom-
einy is nothing more than a traitor to Islam. The
Ulemas in Morroco have already made that quite
clear. Islam is a deeply tolerant faith. What Khomeiny
is doing is as much a travesty as were the policies of
Stalin, Amin or Maclas. I therefore believe it is our
duty to protest most seriously, in the interests of Islam,
in the interests of the peoples of Iran and also to
uphold the honour of Europe.
(Applause)
President. — I call Mr Purvis to speak on behalf of
the European Democratic Group.
Mr Purvis. — Mr President, having been led
privately to concern for the Bahais of Iran by repre-
sentatives of thit faith in my part of Mid-Scotland and
Fife, I found subsequently that there was widespread
concern amongst my colleagues in this group, and on
reaching Strasbourg this week I found myself part of a
Europe-wide concern. The Bahais of Europe have put
their faith in the European Parliament. They fully
believe that it is through us that the protection of their
co-religionists in Iran can best be safeguarded. So our
constituents have placed their faith in us and we must
justify that trust by wholeheartedly supporting this
resolution. And I would like to see it supported right
round the Chamber.
Certainly, we must also condemn the fact that Euro-
pean missionaries and religious figures in iran have
been imprisoned without trial and have been expelled
OJ C 265 of 13. 10. 1980.
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Debates of the European Parliament
Purv
unreasonably from the country. Certainly we must
express our concern for other religious minorities in
Iran — the Christians and the Jews, whose security is
- at risk, who have been harrassed and in some cases
• executed. But the Bahais are altogether the most
extreme case. There are over 300 000 in Iran. Their
faiçh is tolerant of other religions. Their faith does not
• permit involvement in politics, but enjoins loyalty and
obedience to the government of their country. And yet
the Prime Minister of Iran has vowed to rid the coun-
try of the Bahais. Why' They surely pose no threat to
the stability of either his government or his country.
Their sacred places have been destroyed. They have
been harrassed from their homes and villages. They
have been dispossessed of their property. They have
been removed from government jobs. They are being
pressed to recant their faith. They have been arre sted
and imprisoned, and some have been executed after
secret, so-called trials. Their leaders are even now held
incommur icado in pris 6 n, and one can but fear for
their lives. They are not even recognized as a religious
mir oriry, as other religious minorities are. In fact, the
• Traiiian government claims they don't exist! The regis-
trat ion of their births, marriages and deaths is not
per nitted and so they do not exist.
For; these reasons, my colleagues in the European
Democratic Group join wholeheartedly with
colleagues throughout the European Parliament and
all our constituents, Bahai and non-Bahai, throughout
Europe, in an appeal directed to the Iranian Government
to observe the basic human rights of their Bahai coun-
trymen, and we ask the Council of Ministers and the
Member States to use all the pressure that they can
muster with the Iranian Government to ensure that
these tolerant and peaceful people are protected in
their homeland.
(Applause)
President. — I call Mr Hahn.
Mr Hahn. -i—. (D) Mr President, ladies and gentle-
men, it is particulirly gratifying that all the groups in
this House should stand up for the Bahai religion and
plead for tolerance to be shown towards it in Iran. We
can only say that it. is particularly abhorrent that perse-
cution on religious grounds can still occur in the 20th
century. What is happening in Iran at the moment can
only be compared with what happened to the Jews
under Hitler's so-called Third Reich. The tactics are
almost exactly the same as they were then in Germany:
the leaders of Bahais are being murdered, they are
being killed and executed, temples are being
destroyed, these people are being stripped of all rights
and their children expelled from schools. Ladies and
gentlemen, when such action claims to be taken in the
name of a religion, it can only bring that religion itself
into disrepute.
I agree with my colleague Mr Habsburg that this is
not the nature of Islam. Precisely because we say ‘yes'
to religion we must protest at its exploitation for such
repressive and destructive measures against a large
minority within a people and within a State such as
Iran. The whole House should speak out against this.
Pr ident. — I call Mr Provan.
Mr Provan. — What we are discussing this morning
is reafly a cover-up of what is taking place in Iran
today, and if it had not been the case that had been
brought forward so eloquently by the Bahais in
Europe, this might not well have been discussed this
morning. It is a cover-up because we have fanatical
factions roaming the streets and the countryside of
Iran, secret courts, imprisonments, murder, all of
which is going ahead in the name of religion, but it is
not religion at all. It is religious persecution, because
the Iranian authorities are looking for a scapegoat.
They are trying to deceive their people: one deception
is the use of a previous British Ambassador's signature
on a document, and yet he ceased to Le Ambassador
four years ago.
Religious persecution, Mr President f the Bahais —
yes, and of Christians also. The Christians basically in
Iran are ethnic groups, and therefore it is persecution
of ethnic minorities within Iran as well as religious
persecution. But it is the religious persecution that we
•abhor most, because these religious bodies thought
that with the arrival of Ayatollah Khomeiny they were
going to get some help. They were deceived, and
Christianity itself is only receiving lip service as a
recognized religion.
What is the history of this? In the first months since
the revolution, we• have had an Anglican priest
murdered. In the second month, we have had a hospi-
tal taken over, and unfortunately the health standards
are very much lower because of it. We have had other
hospitals seized, ahd the Anglicans are not allowed to
4o their business. I support very strongly indeed the
third paragraph of the motion, which refers to other
religious minorities, because Bishop Dequani Tafti's
son has been murdered and now we also find his
secretary, Jean Waddell, who is a constituent of mine
in East Scotland, in prison. We do not know where
she is, we do not know what her fate is; she has
already faced attempted murder when she was
molested and imprisoned, and we know not what is
going to happen. We are not allowed any access what-
soever to her to find out, and this cannot be applauded
by anybody who thinks properly and sanely in the
Western world.
Therefore, Mr President, I ask this Parliament to
support most strongly an amendment which has been
put forward — Amendment No I, which requests the
Commission and Council of the European Communi-
ties to impose an embargo on all sales of surplus prod.
333
4
Provan
Sitting of Friday, 19 September 19 0
ucts to Iran where subsidies are involved, so that
human rights can be iestored to iranian citizens.
President. — I call Mr Natali.
Mr Natali, Vke-Pre.cident oj the Commission. (1)
Mr President, the Commission shares the deep
concern expressed in the two motions for resolutions
over the fate of the Bahai Community and viii do
everything in its power to comply with the vote of the
European Parliament.
President. — I call Mr Romualdi.
Mr Romualdi. — (I) Mr President, I should just like
to say that the Italian non-attached Members share the
indignation and protest expressed by all the groups in
• this Parliament at the action being taken against the
right to life and religious liberty of the Bahai in Iran.
• We shall therefore vote in favour of this resolution in
• the name of'freedom for all faiths and for the defence
of the lives of all those who profess their religious
belief.
President. — I call Mrs Dekker.
Mrs Dekker. — (NL) Mr President, I also want
briefly to express my full support for the resolutions
on the persecution of the Bahai community in Iran,
and I am pleased that they are finding such clear and
broad support in this Parliament. I agree that the
Bahais' case has been well stated in the European
Parliament, and I therefore hope that our clear
condemnation of this situation will also apply to other
groups now being persecuted because of their religion,
particularly in Iran. I am thinking of the Jews and of
the Christians, but this should apply in general to
groups which are persecuted because of their religion,
race or sex, or on the basis of any other distinction.
President. — The debate is closed.
We shall now consider the motion for a resolution.
(Parliament adopted she preamble and paragraphs I to 4)
After paragraph 4, I have Amendment No 1, tabled by
Mr Hord and others, seeking to insert a new para-
graph:
4 a. Requests the Commission and Council of the Euro-
pean Communties to impose an embargo on all sales
of surplus agricultural products to Iran where subsi-
dies by European taxpayers are involved until full
human rights are restored to Iranian citixens.
(Parliament adopted Amena'ment No I and paragraph 5)
I can now give the floor for explanations of vote.
I call Mr Papapietro.
Mr Papapictro. — (I) Mr President, just a very brief
statement. We should have supported this motion for a
resolution if there had not been a purely technical
error. The motion tabled is different from that which
was discussed.
However, we support the principle of the motion for a
resolution and will vote for it, expressing our total
solidarity with the followers of the Bahai religion who
are being so ruthlessly persecuted;
President. — I call Mr Prag.
Mr Prag. — Mr .President, I just want to explain why
I voted against the amendment.
Very simply, it was because I think that when we pass
a resolution of this kind, it must be in order to achieve
an effect. I am afraid that, given the present state of
mind of the Iranian Government, we are not likely to
do a great deal of good with paragraph 4 a.
Unofficially, there are some 450 000 Bahais in Iran,
rather than the official figure of 300 000. I think they
are all in danger. We can, perhaps, prevent a quite
appalling pogrom, which is what they are threatened
with. If children dare to be born, they are illegitimate.
If people dare to marry — because their marriage
cannot be recognized — they are accused of prostitu-
tion.
If we are to prevent a quite appalling massacre, we
should have kept our resolution a little more moderate
than it now becomes with Amendment No 1. That is
why I voted against the amendment. But I do hope
that the power of this Parliament, through its unani-
mous resolution, will be recognized by the Iranian
Government and that we shall see some moderation of
their appalling treatment of the Bahai faith.
President. — I call Mrs Kellett-Bowrnan.
Mrs Kellett-Bowman. — I voted for the amendment
for the perfectly simple reason that all too often this
Parliament seeks to take action with words only. This
would be a practical way in which we could help to•
bring home to the Iranian Government our very strong
feelings in support of the Bahai community.
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Debates of the European Parliament
President. — I call Mr Harris.
Mr Harris. — As co-author of the amendment, I
‘would like to support the last speaker in this, although
I do respect the views of my colleague, Mr Prag. I can
see that is is a finely balanced argument. Very often we
in this place need to focus on matters which are within
our own competence. This is a matter within the
competence of this Parliament, or at least the shared
competence of this Parliament. I think the amendment
highlights the relevance of this Parliament to this
particular issue. I feel tha i. we must take a stand on
this, particularly as we understand that considerable
amounts of subsidized food are being supplied to Iran,
and that we really should speak out as a parliament on
this issue. I do not think we can just shirk it.
President. — I put the motion for a resolution as a
whole to she vote.
The resolution is adopted. 1
12. Events in Bolivia
President. — The next item is a joint debate on
— the motion for a resolution by Mr Glinne and others
on behalf of the Socialist Group, Mr Klepsch and Mr
Blumenfeld on behalf of the Group of the European
People's Party (Christian-Democratic Group), Mr
Fergusson on behalf of the European Democratic
Group, Mrs Carettoni Romagnoli, and Mr Berkhou-
wet on behalf of the Liberal and Democratic Group,
on the events in Bolivia (Doc. l 38 1/80/rev.); and
— the motion for a resolution by Mr Fanti and others,
on behalf of the Communist and Allies Group, on
relations between the EEC and the new regime n
Bolivia (Doc. 1-385/80).
I call Mr Papapietro.
Mr Papapiesro. — (I) Mr President, we shall vote in
favour of the motion tabled by the other groups (Doc.
i -38 1/80/rcv.).'We should have preferred also to vote
for our own motion (Doc. 1-385/80), because it
contains an extra element — namely, the implied
.recognition of the lawful government elected by uni-
versal suffrage, which does not feature in the other
motion. The other motion, however, is satisfactory in
• all other respects. We shall therefore vote for the other
motion and ask that ours be dealt with pursuant so
Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedurc.
President. — I call Mr Fergusson.
Mr Fergusson. — Mr President, I very mud
welcome what we have just heard from the other sidi
of the House. For the second time in a week we havi
the whole House, everyb6dy and every group in shi
House, prepared so back a parliamentary resolution. I
comes almost without any kind of opposition eviden
at all. The House is at one in condemning what ha
happened in Bolivia, just as it was at one, or to al
intents and pus-poses at one, in expressing its fears am
congratulations in respect of Poland. -
On behalf of my group, I wish to support this motion
because we want to lend our voiccs to those whicl
have already been raised throughout she world
condemn the coup in Bolivia. This coup is particularl
repugnant because it took place immediately after
free and fair election. The weight of military reps-es
sion was brought to bear on the Bolivian peopl
because they had taken advantage of their opportunir
‘to express their views, and the colonels there, as w
know, have now set their face against what they quit
cynically describe as any further electoral adventures
We can only regret this. Obviously we all have differ
ent views about democracy and about militar ' dicta
torships, but we all regret it whenever a military dicta
torship supersedes a civil administration. However,
may perhaps make some instructive comparison
between this coup and another, which we discussei
earlier this week, in Turkey, where the political partie
had reached a stalemate and the military, on takin,
power, immediately swore, with a very good record o
the same thing behind them, from the outset to pro
vide a speedy return to democracy. One might alsi
contrast what has happened in Bolivia with the othe
Andean Pact cOuntries, notably Peru, whose new an
freely-elected government took office in Julyihis yeai
I would draw the attention of the House particularl
to the second indent of paragraph 4, because the justi
fication here for this very short debate and a rathe
long resolution is that for once there is action whic.
the Community has taken and can take to counte
what has happened. Therefore, Mr President,
support this motion and express the hope that thi
resolution, and the action taken by the Comrnissio
and the Heads of Government of the Nine, will noi
bring about a speedy end to this very dark period c
Bolivian history.
President. — I call Mr Bersani to speak on behalf c
the Group of the European People's Party (Christian
Democratic Group).
OJC265ofJ3.l0. 980.
