WRITTEN QUESTION P-0274/02 by Gian Gobbo (NI) to the Commission. Repressive action against the Kurdish bilingualist movement in Turkey.
Date: 2002-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, accession to the European Union, arrest, bilingualism, constitutional revision, political situation, teaching

C 277 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

the Commission agrees

that EPAs are primarily designed to promote the sustainable
However,
development of
the African, Carribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and to contribute to poverty
eradication in these countries. EPAs will therefore need to take account of the specific economic and social
constraints the ACP countries are facing as well as of their capacity to adapt to the liberalisation process.

In order to ensure that this objective will be achieved, the Commission will initiate, prior to the start of the
negotiations, a Sustainability Impact Assessment. This analysis will include the potential impact of trade
liberalisation on the fiscal revenues of ACP governments, the impact of market changes in the Community
on ACP export sectors and the potentials for tackling the existing, serious supply side constraints in ACP
thus provide an unique opportunity to combine analysis,
countries. The preparatory period will
negotiations and development co-operation in a most effective way to further the development of ACP
countries under future EPAs.

As far as least developed countries are concerned, the non-reciprocal preferences granted under the
‘Everything But Arms’ (EBA) will, of course, continue to apply. However, it must be borne in mind that the
removal of barriers to trade between the parties is an essential building block for the achievement of the
objectives of EPAs, which is to enlarge the markets of the ACP countries in order to allow them to increase
their level of competitiveness and to help them to attract investment. Least developed countries wishing to
participate in EPA can therefore not be excepted from this rule, without depriving EPAs of their essence.

(2002/C 277 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0274/02

by Gian Gobbo (NI) to the Commission

(1 February 2002)

Subject: Repressive action against the Kurdish bilingualist movement in Turkey

Since the beginning of the year, a movement has emerged in Turkey, made up of students and parents
calling for Kurdish to be taught in schools under the slogan ‘bilingual education is possible’.

The Turkish police have arrested hundreds of Kurdish students who signed petitions in support of the right
to be taught in their mother tongue. These students have apparently been prevented from having normal
contacts with lawyers. Various human rights organisations have protested about these arbitrary arrests.

Would the Commission agree that
these actions by the Turkish state contravene the ‘Copenhagen
principles’, including respect for human rights and the rule of law, on which accession to the European
Union is dependent?

If it has not already done so, would the Commission now be prepared to make representations to the
Turkish authorities, calling for an end to the repressive action taken against the Kurdish minority in
response to its legitimate demand for bilingual teaching?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2002)

it is
In the context of the medium term priorities of the Union Accession Partnership with Turkey,
foreseen that Turkey ensures cultural diversity and guarantees cultural rights for all citizens irrespective of
their origin. Turkey is thus expected to abolish any legal provisions preventing the enjoyment of these
rights including in the field of education.

The Commission assessed in its November 2001 Regular Report on Turkey (1) the progress made on
cultural rights. The amendment of Articles 26 and 28 of the Turkish Constitution abolishing the provision
forbidding the use of languages other than Turkish was regarded as a positive step. It was considered that
it could pave the way for the use of languages other than Turkish, provided that changes in existing
restrictive legislation and practices were introduced.

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/27

The Commission followed closely the recent developments and is preoccupied with the reports of
widespread arrests of students in connection with their petitions for Kurdish language courses.

A joint initiative was recently taken by the Commission and the current Union Presidency, in Ankara,
towards the Turkish authorities whereby concerns were expressed on a possible violation by the Turkish
authorities of the Constitutional right of petition.

The Commission will further raise this matter with the Turkish authorities.

(1) COM(2001) 700 final.

(2002/C 277 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0277/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 February 2002)

Subject: Political repression in Azerbaijan

Does the Commission believe that political repression in Azerbaijan is becoming more widespread and
what steps is it taking to improve the situation?

Does the Commission have any specific information on the imprisonment of the leader of the Azerbaijan
Democratic Party Rasul Gouliev and members of his family and on the arrest of Yagub Abbasov, the
founder of the newspaper ‘Ulus’, and on whether political prisoners in general in Azerbaijan are brutalised
while in custody?

Finally, what level of assistance is provided by the European Union to Azerbaijan, and what efforts have
been made by the EU to persuade the Azerbaijan government that respect for freedom of expression and
the rule of law are much more likely to generate long-term political stability and prosperity than crude
political repression?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2002)

The Commission is following the case of Rasul Gouliev (Quliev) and has information that suggests he is
not in prison but is at liberty in the United States. The Azerbaijani Government maintains that he is guilty
of embezzlement when he was in charge of state enterprises.

The Commission has no independent information on the treatment of Rasul Gouliev’s family members nor
does it have any specific information on the treatment of prisoners while in custody.

The International Committee for the Red Cross reached agreement with the government of Azerbaijan on
prison visiting in 2001 and their reports are available on their website (1). In parallel Human Rights Watch
and Amnesty International report on the treatment of prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Between 1992 and 2002 the Community has provided Azerbaijan with € 370 million of grant assistance:
TACIS Technical Assistance € 86,5 million, Food Aid € 65 million, Humanitarian Assistance (ECHO) € 92
million, Post conflict reconstruction € 19 million, Food Security assistance € 77 million, Exceptional
Financial Assistance € 30 million.

Through the provisions of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement the Union carries out a full
political and economic dialogue on a regular basis with Azerbaijan. The issues associated with press
freedom and the sentencing of prisoners was discussed in detail at the Cooperation Council in October
2001. The Union has consistently made the point that respect for the rule of law and of freedom of
expression are critical elements in the building of long term political stability in Azerbaijan and the whole
Southern Caucasus region.