Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basm Özeti
We feel strongly that
religion isn't an issue.
Unfortunatel y; the
statement of the Christian
Democrats bears the
.stamp of Chancellor
Kohl. However,
the Socialists ...
are adamant that
religion is not an issue
Now I would accept that
western Europe is not
perfect either, but by and
large there is no comparison
to the situation on human
rights between Turkey
and western Europe
Bir on the issue of human rightsàna
the relationship between the military
and the government. General Bir
pointed out their constitutional'role,
and said that the National Security
Council has both military appointees
and civilians. But I did tell hIm that
we had difficulties with a system
where an unelected military could
apparently dictate terms to an elected
government.
TDN. In recent months the Turkish government
claims to have made major stridt'S
on the subject of human rights. Infact, follo~g
the meeting with you, For.eign
Ministry Undersecretary Onor Oymen said
that by the end ofthis year, human rights
issues would no longer be on the agenda of
the Turkey-European Union. Does this
reflect the position as you see it?
GREEN: No, They have made a
start withthe formal adoption of a
'number of measures to improve
human rights. They claim that now
their laws are absolutely in line with
western Europe. But it IS absolutely
essential to demonstrate it on the
ground. The crucial question is one
of enforcement; Now I would accept
that western Europe is not perfect
either, but byand large there is no
comparison in the situation on
.human rights between Turkey and
.western Europe. So I am afraid I
•.think it is very unlikely that this will
.be off the agenda by the end of the
year. Generai Bir said that every soldier
carries a small book which
stresses the importance of human
rights. But it is a matter of training
being carried through into what they
actually do. I told General Bir that I
had been a London Metropolitan
police officer for four years and the
london police have a reputation for
fairness and respect for human
rights. Some abuses do occur, but
these are the exception rather than
the norm.
TDN- in the field ofhuman rights are
there any specific measures which you
believe should be tackled as a matter of priority?
(;REE:"i: We have not seen a
detàiled list of the measures adopted
by the Turkish Parliament, so I am
not yet able to comment.
TDN- Were you able to visit Leyla Zana
and other political prisoners?
GREEN: No. Permission was
. refused on the grounds that the new
re$ulations restricted access to the
pnsons to immediate family and
lawyers. Yet only half an hour
before, Tansu Çiller had said that the
prisons were open and that anyone
could visit them.
TDN- To my mind, one of the biggest
areas of misunderstanding between the
Turks and the EU is the question of the
Kurdish areas. Few people in Brussels
understand that the majority of the population
ofsouthe~tem Turkey wish to live in
peace and that they are suffering some of
the worst terrorism the world has ever
seen. Instead ofbeing seen as the oppressor,
Turkey should be praised for helping to
protect the citizens of ~e region. From
your close observation of TUrkey,how do
you see the Kurdish question, and what do
you believe needs to be done by the Turkish.
government to satisfy the European
Parliament? .
GREEN: This issue comes down to
a discussion on human rights. The
thing that needs to be done is a
recognition of the rights of minorities
- they want to be allowed to
speak their own language in much
the same was as the Welsh or the
Bretons orthe Catalans are free to do.
so. They want to be free to maintain
their distinct culture. Now we are
totally opposed to terrorism and we
are absolutely against the activities
of the PKK, bùt the Turkish government
must do more on the civil
rights of the people of the Kurdish
areas.
TDN. There is an impression of Turks
as being ''toopoor, too numerous and too
Muslim." On the other hand Turkish
industry and business believe that Turkey
is a modem, industrial (or at least industrializing)
country. Do you think that this
impression in western Europe can be dispelled?
GREEN: Turkey has every right to
join the EU. The fact that it lias .
already applied and the application
was cOQsidered shows that Turkey
has aright to apply for membership.
One of the most exciting things in
this visit was the real bubbling up
from the people of a real need for .
human rights and democracy. In this
sense I think that the political elite is
out of touch with its owo.people.
We had meetings with ruStAD, the
two trades unions and the Turkish
Foundation For Small And Medium
Business and I am much encouraged
by what I heard. I do think these
organizations have a role to play in
dispelling this impression of Turkey
being backward.
TDN- There have been some unfortu.
nate references in the recent past about the
religion of the majority of the Turkish population,
which you countered by saying
that if the EU were to be regarded as a
Judaeo-Christian bloc you would not wish
to be part of it. Do you feel that your visit
helped to dispel the feeling in Turkey that
religion was an issue for the EU?
GREEN: We feel strongly that religion
isn't an issue. Unfortunately
the statement of the Christian
Democrats bears the stamp of
Chancellor Kohl. However, the
Socialists as the largest political
family in Europe, are adamant that
religion is not an issue and I went
out of my way during my visit to get
this message across.
TDN. FolloWingthe informal meeting of
the EU Foreign Ministers in the
Netherlands on 15/16March 1997,Deputy
Prime l\Unister Tansu Çiller gave a news
conference in Ankara on 17 March at
which she explained that, ''the actual work
and the real trial is only just starting."
From the perspective of the European
Parliament what do you believe this work
should include?
GREEN: If they are serious about
membership, then we must see the
implementation of proper democratization
and human rights. Tansu
Çiller told us that the Parliament had
brought in the three reforms which
she had promised - the reform of
Article 8 of the Constitution, the
freedom of thought and decentralization.
Now progress has been made
on the implementation of decentrali.zation.
But there has been no
progress on the implementation of
other issues. There has been no
extension of the franchise, no inclusion
of trades unions and other
groups in the political process. no
extension of voting rights to Turks
living abroad. For example, as a
result of the changes to Article 8 of
the Constitution, 142 people were let
106