I am deeply troubled about recent developments in Turkey, which have exacerbated ongoing concerns about Turkey’s adherence to core values such as democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law. I am also gravely concerned at the mounting threat to civil society.
The increasing tensions in the south-east of the country are also very troubling. The ongoing hostilities in that region have impacted negatively on the ordinary people of Turkey, including the Kurdish minority.
I have consistently expressed my regret at the breakdown of the ceasefire in summer 2015 between the Turkish Government and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). It is critical that both sides return to dialogue to allow the political process to resolve the Kurdish issue to resume.
In a statement which I issued on 4 November expressing my concern at the arrests of pro-Kurdish opposition members of parliament, I repeated the importance of the resumption of political dialogue, as did Minster Murphy during the extensive debate on Turkey which took place at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 November.
In a statement issued on 8 November, the EU also called again on Turkey to resume political dialogue to resolve the Kurdish situation.
My officials met last week with members of the pro-Kurdish opposition HDP party, who gave a detailed overview of the current situation, and described the closure and restrictions on some 200 Kurdish NGOs, including organisations which provide meals to children, women’s associations and human rights lawyers’ associations. They also detailed the restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, and the shutting down of Kurdish TV channels.
While condemning absolutely the 15 July attempted coup, and recognising Turkey’s need to take measures to protect its internal security, I have repeatedly called on the Turkish authorities to maintain a proportionate and measured response, and to uphold core democratic principles, human rights and rule of law, including in respect of minorities in the country.
At the same time, Ireland believes that it is important to keep the lines of communication open with Turkey, and that we must try to hold open the long-term European perspective for all the people of Turkey.
