WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3334/97 by Yiannis ROUBATIS to the Commission. Conviction of Esber Yamukdereli and the continued violation of human rights in Turkey
Date: 1997-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, ROUBATIS
Subjects: European Union, Türkiye, democratisation, freedom of opinion, fundamental rights, human rights, imprisonment, lawyer, national law

8. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174/41

(98/C 174/78)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3334/97

by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Commission

(22 October 1997)

Subject: Conviction of Esber Yamukdereli and the continued violation of human rights in Turkey

In an article in the Turkish newspaper Sabah of 29 September 1997, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem,
described Article 8 of the so-called anti-terrorism law as a (cid:145)disgrace(cid:146). In an interview with the German newspaper
(cid:145)Bild(cid:146) on 22 September 1997, the Turkish Prime Minister himself, Mesut Yilmaz, acknowledged that the laws on
the  protection  of  human  rights  needed  radical  change.  On  1  October  1997,  the  Turkish  President,  Suleyman
Demirel, said that it was a matter of priority (cid:145)to put an end to the disgrace of human rights violations(cid:146). Despite all
these  statements  being  made  during  the  first  week  of  October,  a  blind  52-year  old  Turkish  lawyer,  Esber
Yamukdereli, known for his defence of numerous dissidents in the Turkish courts, was sentenced to 23 years
imprisonment by the Ankara Court of Appeal under Article 8 of the anti-terrorism law.

1.  What practical measures will the Commission take to secure the immediate release of Esber Yamukdereli
and to compel the Turkish Government to repeal all the legal provisions which even its own officials call a
(cid:145)disgrace(cid:146)?

2.  How  long  will  the  Commission  tolerate  the  mockery,  inconsistency  and  untrustworthiness  of  successive
Turkish governments, which have been promising for two years to repeal all legal provisions used to violate
human rights and restrict freedom of thought and which serve as a pretext for depriving Turkish citizens
even of life itself?

3.  Does the Commission not believe that it is unthinkable to strengthen relations any further between the Union

and Turkey while this situation persists?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek On behalf of the Commission

(24 November 1997)

The Commission is extremely concerned to see an improvement in the human rights situation and continuing
democratisation in Turkey. Whenever it can the Commission presses the Turkish authorities to make headway in
these two areas. The Commission has also set out its ideas on this matter in Agenda 2000 (1). During his last visit
to Ankara on 30 and 31 October the Member of the Commission responsible for relations with Turkey took the
opportunity to point out the European Union(cid:146)s efforts in these areas and to raise the imprisonment of the blind
lawyer Esber Yamukdereli.

In Agenda 2000 the Commission states that the European Union must continue to support Turkey in its efforts to
resolve  its  problems,  whether  economic  or  political,  and  to  forge  closer  links  with  the  Community.  The
Commission communication of 15 July on the further development of relations with Turkey (2) proposes closer
cooperation between the Community and Turkey on human rights to develop civil society and the rule of law in
Turkey.

(1)  COM(97) 2000 final.
(2)  COM(97) 394 final.

(98/C 174/79)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3336/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(22 October 1997)

Subject: Luas light rail system for Dublin

In  September  the  EU(cid:146)s  Regional  Commissioner  Monika  Wulf-Mathies  stated  that  if  by  spring  next  year  it
appeared unlikely that Dublin(cid:146)s Luas light rail system was going to be introduced on schedule, (cid:145)all or part of the
funds [allocated to the project by the EU] will be decommitted or reallocated to other projects(cid:146).