B4-0060, 0076, 0086 and 0089/96

Resolution on the situation in Turkey and the offer of a ceasefire made by the PKK

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Turkey, and in particular its resolution of 13 December 1995 on the human rights situation in Turkey ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 1(c).)),

A. wishing to contribute to a further deepening of the relations between the European Union and Turkey,

B. whereas following the 24 December 1995 elections for the Grand National Assembly no new Turkish Government has yet been formed,

C. noting the announcement of a unilateral ceasefire made by the President of the PKK as a gesture to arrive at a non-violent and political solution to the Kurdish issue,

D. having regard to the wave of terrorist violence affecting Turkey for a number of weeks, including attacks on journalists, academics, politicians, businessmen and trade union officials, the latest victim of which were Mr Sabanci and two of his colleagues,

E. having regard to the terrorist attacks on party headquarters, banks and shops in Turkey and Turkish buildings in the Member States of the European Union,

F. stressing that despite the release of several dozen intellectuals, journalists and others following changes in anti-terrorist laws, a number of people are still being held for political reasons,

G. recalling its appeal in its abovementioned resolution of 13 December 1995 to the Turkish Government, the PKK and other Turkish organizations to do all in their power to find a non-violent and political solution to the Kurdish issue respecting territorial integrity and unity of Turkey, while acknowledging the right of Turkish citizens to strive for a form of cultural autonomy within Turkey by peaceful means,

H. whereas Mrs Leyla Zana, the European Parliament's 1995 Sakharov prizewinner, is being held in a Turkish prison together with three other former MPs of the DEP for having advocated democracy and the recognition of the rights of the Kurdish people,

I. shocked by the gruesome images of Turkish soldiers brandishing the severed heads of Kurdish people, which have been published in the European press,

J. having regard to the scale of the revolt which occurred simultaneously in several prisons and having regard to the severity with which it was put down,

K. whereas a journalist working on the newspaper 'Evrensel', Metin Goektepe, who was investigating these events, was arrested by the police and found dead shortly afterwards with marks of torture on his body,

L. whereas the EU-Turkey Association Council has taken the necessary decisions to implement the EU-Turkey Customs Union by 1 January 1996, following Parliament's assent on 13 December 1995 ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 1(a).)),

M. noting the Italian Presidency's initiative to give the Union a role in finding a solution which would end the partition of Cyprus in line with UN resolutions,

1. Welcomes the fact that, notwithstanding the increased vote for religious fundamentalism, the result of the Turkish elections clearly indicates that a large majority of the Turkish people continues to reject religious extremism and the resultant isolation of Turkey, opting instead for maintaining and strengthening its relations with the European Union and other Western States;

2. Calls on the new Turkish Government which will be formed as a result of the recent elections to continue and reinforce its policies for further democratic reforms and for respect of human rights ; in particular reiterates its appeal to find ways and means of allowing citizens of Kurdish origin to express their rights to cultural identity while ensuring that the territorial unity of Turkey is guaranteed and respected;

3. Welcomes the announcement of a unilateral ceasefire made by the President of the PKK and considers it a first positive response to its appeal of 13 December 1995; expresses its hope that the Turkish Government will view this gesture as a positive contribution to finding a peaceful solution to the problem and calls upon all concerned in Turkey to seize the present opportunity to consider ways and means to start a national dialogue, with the objective of finding a political and non-violent solution to the problems in the south-eastern region;

4. Condemns all terrorist activity which is aimed at destabilizing the country, and the terrorist attacks carried out within the European Union;

5. Condemns the murder of the businessman Mr Sabanci and his colleagues, expresses its sympathy with the families of the victims and calls on the Turkish Government to investigate the background to this and earlier terrorist attacks;

6. Calls on the Turkish authorities to ensure that the future government clearly states that promoting respect for human rights and, in particular, combating torture are among its priorities;

7. Calls on the new government to propose a revision of the law in order to permit the immediate release of Leyla Zana, the three other former DEP Members of Parliament and the other political prisoners;

8. Urges the Turkish authorities to establish an impartial expert commission of inquiry into the deaths resulting from maltreatment in police custody and incursions of security forces into prisons;

9. Condemns the murder of the journalist Metin Goektepe and calls on the authorities to throw light immediately upon the circumstances of his death and to bring those responsible to justice;

10. Asks the Council and the Commission to investigate recent newspaper reports including photographs which show Turkish soldiers holding the severed heads of presumed anti-government fighters;

11. Asks the Turkish authorities to investigate and, in the event of verification, to punish those responsible;

12. Deplores the declaration of acting Prime-Minister Ciller's statement on the possible incorporation of the northern part of Cyprus into Turkey in relation to Cyprus' future accession to the European Union and urges Turkey to conform with the provisions of the Customs Union with regard to Cyprus; urges the Commission and the Council to undertake the necessary steps to encourage the ending of the partition of Cyprus and urges them to nominate a mediator to assist in bringing about a solution to the problem;

13. Calls on the Commission to abide by its undertakings to monitor the human rights situation in Turkey and asks it to forward to Parliament as soon as possible the second interim report on human rights in Turkey;

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Turkish Government and the Grand National Assembly.