Vol. 514 No. 4
26 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations, if any, he has made to the Turkish authorities regarding the death sentence on the Kurdish leader, Abdullah Öcalan, whose sentence was recently upheld by the Turkish Supreme Court; the response, if any, he has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4323/00]
Ireland's total opposition to the use of the death penalty is well known. The Government is committed to availing of every suitable opportunity to press for the abolition of capital punishment. It is our view that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights.
The decision by Turkey's appeals court on 25 November 1999 to uphold the death sentence against Abdullah Öcalan led to widespread international appeals, including by the European Union, to spare Mr. Öcalan's life. The Turkish Government decided on 12 January to postpone the transmission of Mr. Öcalan's case to the Turkish Parliament until the European Court of Human Rights had completed its consideration of the case. It is understood that this process may take up to 18 months.
Ireland strongly supports the appeals to Turkey not to execute Mr. Öcalan, and our view has been put to the Turkish authorities on numerous occasions, both bilaterally and on the occasion of EU – Turkey contacts. My predecessor, Deputy Andrews, communicated our views against the death penalty directly to the then Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly during his visit to Dublin last March. He responded to our concerns positively.
I will continue to follow proceedings in the Öcalan case with the closest attention, and will avail of an early opportunity to reiterate Ireland's opposition to the use of the death penalty, in this and in all other cases, to the Turkish authorities.
