Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004
108 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his position on the situation of the Kurdish minority in Turkey; the representations he has made to the Turkish Government in regard to this issue; and his views on the action which needs to take place in relation to this situation before Turkey can become a full member of the European Union. [29989/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are some 15 million people of Kurdishethnic origin living in Turkey. The Government's concerns about the human rights situation in Turkey, including the situation of the Kurdish population, have been raised regularly in official contacts with the Turkish Government and its representatives, and in co-operation with our partners in the European Union.
I have been encouraged by the significant progress which Turkey has made in legislating for human rights reform over the past three 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. The revised accession partnership with Turkey, which was adopted by the Council in May 2003, provides the framework for an intensive dialogue between the European Union and Turkey on Turkey's preparations for accession, including the implementation of its reform programme. Progress on the introduction and implementation of political and human rights reforms is monitored closely in regular political monitoring meetings between the EU and Turkey.
The Commission's regular report on Turkey for 2004 includes a comprehensive review of developments in the reform process. The Commission notes Turkey has made substantial progress in its political reform process, including in the areas of minority rights, cultural rights and the protection of minorities. It notes a number of important decisions on cultural rights, which had been raised directly with the Turkish Government earlier in the year by Ireland, as EU Presidency. I welcome the implementation in June of a decision to allow radio and television broadcasts by the state broadcasting corporation in languages and dialects other than Turkish, notably in a number of Kurdish dialects. I also welcome the implementation over recent months of a regulation allowing teaching in languages other than Turkish, which has enabled the organisation of the first private courses in Kurdish. The Commission report comments that there has been a greater tolerance over the past year towards the use of the Kurdish language and the expression of Kurdish culture in different forms.
The Commission reports that, overall, the situation in the east and south east of Turkey, where the majority of the Kurdish population live, has continued to improve gradually, both in terms of security and the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms. The state of emergency has been lifted and the return of internally displaced persons has continued, although their situation remains very difficult. The Turkish Government has assured the EU that it is working on plans to promote the economic development of the south east region.
I understand 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. Progress on implementation will be a significant element of 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 European Council will agree a date for the opening of accession negotiations. In its report and recommendation presented in October, the Commission concluded that, provided certain important legislative changes enter into force, Turkey sufficiently fulfils the political criteria and it recommended that accession negotiations be opened. It noted the irreversibility of the reform process, and its implementation, in particular with regard to fundamental freedoms, will need to be confirmed over a longer period of time. It proposed that the pace of reforms would determine the progress of any accession negotiations, and that the negotiating process would be essential in guiding further reforms in Turkey.
The Government has welcomed the Commission's very comprehensive report and recommendation. I hope that the Turkish Government will maintain its efforts in the coming weeks to ensure that the conditions are in place for a positive decision by the European Council, leading to the opening of accession negotiations. I believe this would contribute to the further strengthening of the reform process in Turkey, and to the continued improvement of the situation of theKurdish population.
