Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004
97 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the decision of the European Union to place the Kurdish organisation Kongra-Gel on its list of proscribed terrorist organisations; if he has had recent contacts with the Government of Turkey to ascertain the manner in which the Kurdish minority in Turkey are treated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14508/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU member states unanimously decided to include Kongra-Gel on the EU list of terrorist organisations on 2 April 2004. The Council was satisfied that Kongra-Gel, the Kurdistan People's Congress; is involved in terrorist activities, is a successor organisation to PKK and cannot be separated from it in any meaningful way. As the Deputy may be aware, the PKK had previously been designated by the EU as a terrorist organisation on 2 May 2002.
Inclusion of the list is based on the criteria set out in Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism, which was adopted on 27 December 2001. This common position concerns the application of specific measures to combat terrorism and enables European Union member states to fulfil their obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373.
These criteria include, inter alia, acts such as attacks on a person’s life which may cause death, attacks upon the physical integrity of a person, kidnapping or hostage taking, causing extensive damage to a Government or public facility, directing a terrorist group or participating in the activities of a terrorist group or by funding its activities where committed with the aim of seriously intimidating a population, or unduly compelling a Government or an international organisation to perform or abstain from performing any act, or seriously destabilising or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a country or an international organisation.
The relevant bodies within the Council considered the status of Kongra-Gel carefully, and were satisfied that there was a sufficient basis to conclude that they meet the criteria for designation. The Government's concerns about the human rights situation in Turkey, including the situation of the Kurdish population, are raised regularly in official contacts with the Turkish Government and its representatives and in co-operation with our partners in the European Union. I welcome the very significant progress which Turkey has made in legislating for human rights reform over the past two years. Legislation has been enacted which is aimed at strengthening the enforcement of human rights and enhancing the cultural rights of all citizens, including those of Kurdish origin. Further progress is required, especially to ensure the full and effective implementation of the reforms.
During Ireland's EU Presidency, the Government has had regular contact with the Government of Turkey. The Taoiseach has conferred regularly with Prime Minister Erdogan. I headed an EU ministerial troika delegation which visited Ankara on 8 March for meetings with Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul. On 17 May, I represented the EU at the meeting in Brussels of the EU-Turkey Association Council. On the same occasion, I had a very useful bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Gul. In all our discussions, I have welcomed the progress made by Turkey and emphasised the importance which the EU attaches to ensuring implementation of reforms at all levels of the administration and throughout the country. I have also raised the restrictive nature of the current regulations for broadcasting in languages other than Turkish and the relatively slow progress on moves to permit Kurdish language teaching in Turkey.
Deputies will also be aware that, as EU Presidency, we issued a declaration on behalf of the European Union on 22 April expressing deep disappointment at the decision of the Ankara State Security Court confirming the prison sentence imposed in 1994 on Ms Leyla Zana and three other Kurdish former members of Parliament. While respecting fully the principle of the independence of the judiciary, the EU regrets that the conduct of the retrial of this case and the outcome are clearly at variance with the reform process to which the Government of Turkey is committed, and which is central to the development of closer relations between the EU and Turkey.
I recognise that the Turkish Government is committed to ensuring the full implementation of reforms, including those directly relating to the rights of people of Kurdish ethnic origin. The progress made will be a significant element in the decision to be taken by the European Council in December on Turkey's fulfilment of the Copenhagen political criteria for EU membership. If that decision is positive, the EU is committed to opening accession negotiations with Turkey without delay.
