WRITTEN QUESTION E-3319/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Arrests in Turkey.
Date: 2000-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Kurdistan question, Türkiye, accession to the European Union, cultural identity, fundamental rights, imprisonment, political parties

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/85

Reply

(26 February 2001)

The Council is aware of recent arrests and convictions of officials and supporters of the HADEP political
party, and will be monitoring this case closely. In EU-Turkey meetings, the EU takes the opportunity to
express concern over the treatment by the Turkish authorities of HADEP and its members, particularly in
the context of the Turkish candidature for the EU and the Copenhagen criteria. Legal reform to permit
genuine freedom of expression without fear of arrest is an essential element, and the European Union will
continue to insist that the Turkish Government take the necessary steps to that end as soon as possible.

(2001/C 163 E/091)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3319/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Arrests in Turkey

On 23 September this year 11 members of the pro-Kurdish Popular Democratic Party (HADEP), including
the party chairman, were arrested in the Turkish city of Simak. They were charged by the police with
possession of weapons and grenades. It should be borne in mind both that HADEP has always advocated
peaceful solutions to the Kurdish conflict and that once again the Turkish security forces have acted in an
underhand way.

Does the Commission know about this incident? What view does it take of it? What measures does it
propose to settle the Kurdish conflict?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2000)

The Commission has been informed about the case mentioned by the Honourable Member and is
following its development.

Concerning the question of Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin, the two regular reports in 1998 and 1999
underlined that (cid:145)a civil solution could include recognition of certain forms of Kurdish cultural identity and
greater tolerance of the ways of expressing that identity, provided it does not advocate separatism or
terrorism(cid:146).

The last regular report, adopted by the Commission on 8 November 2000 (1), makes the following
assessment: (cid:145)Regardless of whether or not Turkey is willing to consider any ethnical groups with a cultural
identity and common traditions as (cid:145)national minorities(cid:146), members of such groups are clearly still largely
denied certain basic rights. Cultural rights for all Turks, irrespective of their ethnic origin, such as the right
to broadcast in their mother tongue, to learn their mother tongue or to receive instruction in their mother
tongue, are not guaranteed (see the above section on economic, social and cultural rights). In addition,
these citizens are not given opportunities to express their views on such issues(cid:146).

Guaranteeing cultural rights for all citizens irrespective of their origin is also a medium-term priority
contained in the Commission(cid:146)s proposal of 8 November for a Council decision on the principles, priorities,
intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Turkey.

(1) COM(2000) 714 final.