Brussels, 28/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Greek Socialist, Anna Karamanou, Chairperson of Women's Rights and Equal opportunities at the European Parliament, welcomed the adoption of the Swiebel report on human rights in the EU (EUROPE 17 January p 6). She stressed that only three of the twenty-five Greek MEPs (herself, Michalis Papayannakis and Dimitris Koulourianos) voted for the report, which requested the end to the ban on women having access to Moun Athos. She pointed out that this zone contained around twenty monasteries prohibited to women by monks in 1045, "in the Medieval ages in Europe and reflects the social conditions of that era when women did not have access to education, the arts or public life". She also stressed that the Christian religion had evolved since the decision was taken and that sexual equality was currently recognised universally. According to Ms Karamanou, the EP's resolution, "can form the basis for an open, dispassionate, public dialogue…Respect for tradition cannot be used as an alibi for restraining human rights and imposing discrimination based on gender". The Commissioner also indicated that the EU had generously contributed, from taxes that came from women, to restoring the monasteries and preserving cultural treasures in the region of Mount Athos.