WRITTEN QUESTION E-3204/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 November 2002)

Subject: Personal freedoms in Turkey and Albania

According to Community officials, the EU wishes to send a message of encouragement to Turkey, while continuing to strengthen relations with Albania. However, the Albanian press reports that private correspondence between Albanian citizens is constantly interfered with, and the respected French newspaper, Le Figaro, reported on 22 October 2002 that Mr A. Firat, a candidate standing in the Turkish elections on 3 November, had been arrested by the Turkish police on 21 October 2002 and charged with using the Kurdish language at an election rally.

Is the Commission aware of these flagrant violations of personal freedoms in Turkey and Albania? Why do such violations continue despite years of protest by MEPs, respected international publications, NGOs and other bodies? Has the Commission perhaps failed to make clear that any country's economic or other relations with the EU are dependent on absolute respect for fundamental personal freedoms, which are an integral part of European culture? Why are the reforms recently announced by Turkey concerning the use of Kurdish in education and broadcasting not being implemented? Do the reforms announced by the Turkish government include the repeal of the antiquated electoral law applying in Turkey, which prohibits candidates from using any language other than Turkish?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 2003)

The Commission is well aware of the case of Mr A. Firat, the leader of Rights and Freedoms Party (HAK-PAR), who was detained at a rally in Diyarbakir on 21 October 2002 after speaking Kurdish. Mr A. Firat was released after five hours on the same day without further repercussions.

According to Turkish electoral law, the Turkish language has to be used in electoral campaigns. The Commission is not aware of any concrete proposals to change this law. However, the new government has indicated its intention to revise the electoral law in the spirit of recent constitutional changes.

As for the recent reform package adopted in August 2002, these reforms relate to education and broadcasting in languages other than Turkish.

A Regulation on the learning of the different languages and dialects traditionally used by Turkish citizens in their daily lives entered into force on 19 September 2002.

A Regulation concerning broadcasting in languages other than Turkish has not yet been adopted. According to Law No 4771 of 9 August 2002 all regulations foreseen should enter into force one year after the date of the publication of the law.

The Commission monitors closely the situation of human rights, as indicated in the recently published 2002 Regular Report(1) on Turkey's progress towards accession to the Union, and will continue to do so in the future.

As far as Albania is concerned, the Commission, despite following closely the Albanian press, is not aware of systematic interference with private correspondence between Albanian citizens. According to information available to the Commission, sporadic opening of private correspondence cannot be excluded, but this is mainly the consequence of a deficient Albanian postal service. The Commission will however be particularly attentive to this issue, and will continue to stress that the respect of human rights and personal freedoms is indispensable for the strengthening of EU-Albania relations.

(1) COM(2002) 700 final.