Vol. 504 No. 4
95 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Turkey including the human rights situation following the visit of a Turkish parliamentary delegation to Ireland led by the speaker of the Turkish Parliament. [11999/99]
The Government's concern about the protection of human rights and basic freedoms in Turkey, including the Kurdish population of south east Turkey, is well known. This has been conveyed in our bilateral contacts to the Turkish authorities on numerous occasions. On 4 March I availed of the visit to Dublin by the Turkish parliamentary delegation led by the then speaker Cetin to stress the Irish Government's concerns in this regard and the importance of priority attention being given to these issues by the incoming administration.
As regards political developments in Turkey, nationwide elections to the Turkish Grand National Assembly were held on 18 April 1999 and the new session of the assembly opened on 2 May. Five political parties secured representation in the 550 seat assembly. The Democratic Left Party of acting Prime Minister Ecevit secured 136 seats, the Nationalist Action Party which was not represented in the outgoing parliament won 129 seats, the Islamist Virtue Party won 111 seats, the Motherland Party of former Prime Minister Yilmaz secured 86 seats and the True Path Party of former Prime Minister Ciller won 85 seats. Three independents also secured election.
At the opening session of the assembly a controversy arose over the decision of a Virtue Party representative, Ms Kavakci, to wear an Islamic style headscarf in the assembly. In a subsequent development the deputy chairman of the Virtue Party resigned following internal party disagreements on the issue. Under the Turkish Constitution the secular nature of the Turkish state is paramount. The wearing of headscarves is seen by secular Turks as a symbol of religious fundamentalism and secularist politicians believe that wearing headscarves in the assembly violates the spirit of the constitution.
Earlier this month, the state security court prosecutor opened proceedings for the dissolution of the Virtue Party by the constitutional court. It is understood that in his indictment the prosecutor invoked articles of the Turkish Constitution which stipulate that programmes and activities of political parties must not violate the democratic and secular character of the country.
On 3 May, President Demirel asked acting Prime Minister Ecevit to form a new government. Prime Minister-designate Ecevit is in ongoing contact with the other parties in this regard. We hope that the programme of the incoming government will attach priority to the improvement of human rights in Turkey including in relation to the Turkish people of Kurdish origin. The strengthening of Turkey's links with the Union depends on Turkey's pursuit of the political and economic reforms on which it has embarked, including the alignment of human rights standards and practices with those in force in the EU and respect for and protection of minorities.
