Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:64 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views of the continuing deaths as a result of hunger strikes in Turkish prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12923/01]
Written Answers - Hunger Strikes.
The Government is deeply concerned by the unfolding tragedy in Turkish prisons. To date more than 20 hunger strikers have died and up to 50 more are in a critical condition. My Department is receiving daily situation reports from our embassy in Ankara and from other sources. The Irish ambassador to Turkey has met the foreign minister, Mr. Cem, to raise the matter of the hunger strikers and to express Ireland's concern.
In a public statement on this issue which I made on 25 April I called on the Turkish Government to continue its efforts to address existing problems and to prevent further tragic loss of life. In this regard, as a Council of Europe member, Turkey should work actively to implement the recommendations of the Council's committee for the Prevention of Torture – CPT. I also called on the prisoners and their representatives to participate as a matter of urgency in efforts to seek a solution.
Last week the Turkish Parliament amended several laws clearing the way for the Government to respond to some of the prisoners' demands so that negotiations on an end to the hunger strike might begin. These legal changes will also allow the Government to implement some of the recommendations of the CPT. However, the prisoners, their representatives and Turkish NGOs continue to doubt the sincerity of the Turkish Government in its efforts to end the hunger strikes and its motives in insisting on the move from dormitory type prisons to small cell, or f-type prisons. I would urge the prisoners and their representatives to enter dialogue with the Turkish Government as a matter of urgency.
The European Union has been actively involved in encouraging efforts to bring the hunger strikes to an end. A European Parliament delegation visited Turkey last week. It urged dialogue, saying that it did not want relations with the European Parliament and the European public to be adversely affected. It pointed out that every further death due to the hunger strikes would increase the concern and horror felt by European public opinion. I fully endorse that view. The issue has also been raised in the Union's political dialogue with Turkey.
The strengthening of Turkey's links with the Union depends on Turkey's pursuit of political and economic reform, including the alignment of human rights standards and practices with those in force in the EU and the protection of and respect for minorities. Ireland will continue to avail of every opportunity to stress to Turkey the need to take urgent concrete steps to prevent human rights abuse and seriously to address any such incidents which occur. Ireland will consider positively any requests for assistance from the Turkish Government in this area.