WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1394/98 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. Rapes by the Turkish army in Kurdish areas
Date: 1998-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, MATIKAINEN-KALLSTROEM
Subjects: Kurdistan question, Türkiye, armed forces, democratisation, ethnic group, human rights, national minority, protection of minorities, sexual violence

11.12.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 386/123

(98/C 386/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1394/98

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstr(cid:246)m (PPE) to the Commission

(7 May 1998)

Subject: Rapes by the Turkish army in Kurdish areas

According to reports by various human rights organizations, gang rapes are a central element in the Turkish
troops(cid:146) tactics for hounding the country(cid:146)s Kurdish minority.

What will the Commission do to bring pressure to bear on the Turkish Government to give an exhaustive account
of its troops(cid:146) operations against the Kurds, in order to verify the claims concerning these appalling crimes?

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

(11 June 1998)

The Commission has received information from the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and the Turkish
Human Rights Association concerning several complaints involving rapes committed in the south-east of Turkey.
According to the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights, two women have won their case at the European Court
of Human Rights.

In its report on Developments in relations with Turkey since the entry into force of the Customs Union, (1)
adopted on 4 March 1998, the Commission noted a lack of progress in Turkey in respect of human rights and
moves towards greater democracy. In the same report, the Commission refers also to the situation in south-east
Turkey, stressing the necessity of observance of the rule of law in that region, as well as the importance of
reaching a civil, non-military solution to the problem.

In the more general context of relations between the Community and Turkey, the European Council, at its
meeting in Luxembourg in December 1997, emphasised that a strengthening of links between the Community
and Turkey would depend also on furtherance of the political reforms already begun in the country, particularly in
the alignment of human rights standards and practices on those in force in the Community, and also on the
question of respect for and protection of minorities.

The Commission will continue to make known to the appropriate Turkish authorities its concerns over these
matters.

(1) COM(98) 147 final.

(98/C 386/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1404/98

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

Subject: Bureaux de change

With the introduction of the single currency the estimated volume of foreign exchange transactions should fall,
reflecting the disappearance from the market of the currencies absorbed by the Euro. Bureaux de change
authorized to carry on their business by national central banks will therefore be forced to reduce the scale of their
business and many of them will cease trading altogether.

In the same way that provisions were made for customs officers when the single market was introduced:

1. Has the Commission planned measures aimed at dealing with the phenomenon?

2. Does the Commission not consider it advisable to envisage an incentive in the form of compensation for

people who, because of this situation, would be willing to take early retirement?