B4-1530/rev., 1534 and 1559/95

Resolution on the human rights situation in Turkey

The European Parliament,

A. having given its assent on 13 December 1995 to a common position by the Community in the EC-Turkey Association Council on implementing the final phase of the Customs Union ((Part II, Item 1(a) of these Minutes.)),

B. whereas Turkey should respect the rules of international organizations it has joined and agreements it has signed, notably those of the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the European Convention of Human Rights and the International Convention Against Torture,

C. whereas the Heads of State of the EU Member States, when deciding upon the creation of the Union, confirmed their commitment to the principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law,

D. convinced that the implementation of the final phase of the Customs Union constitutes a decisive step towards the development of Turkey's relationship with Europe; whereas therefore the European Union, its Member States and Turkey must ensure through dialogue that these shared values are being implemented ever more effectively,

E. convinced that this relationship and dialogue will benefit both sides by strengthening Turkey as a secular democracy at the crossroads of Central Asia and the Middle East,

F. whereas at the same time reports keep coming in which show that human rights violations are still being committed; whereas although certain improvements have been made, the situation of human rights and democracy in Turkey still leaves much to be desired,

G. whereas recently the Turkish Government and Grand National Assembly started bringing about positive changes in constitutional and other laws regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms,

H. whereas terrorist actions by the PKK are still continuing, especially but not only, in the south-eastern region of Turkey,

I. whereas in that same region the Turkish Government continues to take repressive military measures, such as the evacuation of Kurdish villages,

J. whereas no concrete steps have been taken to solve the conflict in Cyprus and to end the Turkish occupation of part of this country,

The European Parliament,

1. Calls upon the European Union, its Member States and Turkey to give their full backing to a continuous and broad dialogue to promote respect for human rights and freedoms and calls on the Turkish Government and the Grand National Assembly to continue the necessary process of reform of the Constitution and the criminal laws in order to guarantee an ongoing improvement of the human rights situation and democratic reform in Turkey;

2. Calls upon the European Union, its Member States and Turkey to use every available mechanism to translate this dialogue into practice, including the Association Council and the Joint Parliamentary Committee and the Euro- Mediterranean Partnership agreed at the Conference in Barcelona;

3. Appeals to the Turkish Government, the PKK and other Kurdish organizations to do all in their power to find a non-violent and political solution to the Kurdish issue, calls upon the PKK to refrain from violence and calls upon the Turkish Government and Grand National Assembly to lift the curfew operating in the south-eastern region and to consider ways and means of allowing citizens of Kurdish origin to express their cultural identity while ensuring that the territorial unity of Turkey is guaranteed and respected;

4. Calls upon the Turkish Government and Grand National Assembly to review the case of the four members of the Grand National Assembly and others still in prison by considering a new amnesty bill;

5. Calls on the Council, the Commission, the United Nations and the Cyprus Government to do all in their power to bring the partition of Cyprus to an end and urges the Turkish Government to undertake concrete steps in that direction by implementing the UN Security Council Resolution on this issue;

6. Calls on the Commission and the Council to monitor permanently human rights and democratic development in Turkey and requests the Commission to present a report on the situation to the European Parliament at least once a year;

7. Calls on the Turkish Government to be rigorous in applying the law against torture and maltreatment of prisoners; points out that torture is a particularly serious problem in police stations and calls on the Turkish Government not to shelter behind any Article of the International Convention Against Torture, which allows it to refuse the publication of reports on torture in Turkey;

8. Will remain vigilant regarding developments in Turkey in order to react immediately if the Government of Turkey or the Grand National Assembly were to backtrack on moves towards strengthening democracy and guaranteeing full respect for human rights, principles which characterize Western European democracy to which Turkey aspires; reminds Turkey that its assent is to be considered as an encouragement to the Turkish Government's commitment to continue the process of democratization and improvement of the human rights situation;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Government and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Government of Cyprus and the UN Secretary-General.