EURLINGS: PKK SHOULD DECLARE CEASEFIRE

BÝA, Turkey
Sept 28 2006

EP calls for more reforms on freedom of opinion, religious and
minority, women and cultural rights, civilian-military relations,
unions and impartiality of justice. Evaluation report adopted by
General Assembly asks Ankara to open ports to Greek Cyprus.

BÝA (Strasbourg) – The European Parliament General Assembly on
Wednesday adopted a report on Turkey prepared by Dutch Christian
Democrat member Camiel Eurlings.

The report was accepted by 429 votes in favor and 71 against, with
125 members abstaining.

According to the BBC Turkish Service, the Parliament report asked for
Turkey to abolish legislation limiting the freedom of expression and
continue its reforms while also calling for the opening of Turkish
ports to Greek Cypriot ships and planes and develop diplomatic
relations with neighboring Armenia.

A previous demand added to the report by the Foreign Affairs Committee
for Turkey to acknowledge an "Armenian genocide" in its history before
it could join the EU was removed from the final report.

An amendment by the Socialist, Liberal and Green lawmakers on the
issue was approved with 320 votes in favor and 282 against.

The final report, however, did say said it was indispensable for
Turkey to come to terms with and recognize its past and called in
Ankara to take steps without conditions to start diplomatic relations
with Armenia and open its border door as soon as possible.

Another point removed from the report passed on Wednesday was a
request for Turkey to recognize a genocide of Assyrians and Greeks.

Instead the report called for positive relations with minorities.

Eurlings: A EU country cannot have an article like 301

European Parliament’s Turkey Rapporteur Camiel Eurlings said that with
the changes made the report had generally turned to its original
shape and in a speech he made after the vote said "We want the
[outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party] PKK to declare a ceasefire. We
also want the Turkish government to start some kind of communication
with Kurdish politicians".

According to a report the NTV, Eurlings said they expected Turkey to
speed up the process of its reforms and in relation to controversial
article 301 he added, "a country that has entered the EU cannot have
such an article".

Eurlings also said "I know the report contains hard conditions for
Turkey. I am sorry on this issue. But I must say I am hopeful. I hope
this report is reflected in the correct way".

"Reforms process needs to speed up "

The Evaluation Report which places no obligations on Turkey calls on
the country to speed up the process of its reforms.

The areas of reforms highlighted in the report are the freedom of
expression, religious and minority rights, civilian-military relations,
women rights, unions, cultural rights and the impartiality of justice.

The report expresses positive reaction to the Ankara government’s
9th reform package but calls on Turkey for the new Anti-Terror Law
not to contain any elements that would limit basic rights and freedoms.

Asking for government officials as well as military personnel to be
treated equally before law, the report calls on Ankara to amend Penal
Code articles 216, 277, 288, 301, 305 and 318 on grounds that they
allow arbitrary enforcement.

Electoral barrier needs to be changed

Stating that the removal from duty of Van Public Prosecutor Ferhat
Sarikaya was source to "deep concern" the report says events after
the bookstore bombing in Semdinli last year (where military personnel
were involved, caught and prosecuted) showed not that the role of
the army in the Turkish society had revived, but that it continued.

The report also says the 10% electoral barrier should be lowered in
Turkey allowing a larger representation in Parliament, inclusive of
Kurdish parties in reference to parties that cannot meet a nation-wide
10% vote average and are disallowed parliamentary representation.

The report also states that Turkey may require a new constitution that
would reflect the reforms taken in its path to the EU and condemns
a recent attack made by a gunman on members of the Turkish Council
of State.

Alawite Rights must be protected

Under the title "Human Rights and Protecting Minorities" the report
expresses sorrow that no improvements have yet been recorded since
the last EP report in the field of religious freedoms. It asks for
Turkey to tackle wit the obstacles in front of religious minorities
property and education rights.

The report also asks for Turkey to recognize and protect its Alawite
citizens while also approving their religious gathering places as
religious centers. It says religious education at schools should be
voluntary rather than compulsory and that it should not only reflect
the Muslim Sunni belief.

The report lists other appeals to Turkey ranging from "abolishment of
the village guards system " to "searching for a democratic solution
to the Kurdish issue", "detentions and arrests to be reformed to
European standards".

The parliament also called on Turkey to abolish or amend provisions
stifling freedom of expression, which "allow for arbitrary
interpretations by judges and prosecutors leading to judgments
which … constitute a threat to the respect of human rights and
freedoms."

–Boundary_(ID_j25C5u19YAIkE4 okCnkPHQ)–