Turkey (Hansard, 18 November 1981)

§ 15. Mr. Newens
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on relations between Her Majesty's Government and the present Administration in Turkey.

§ Mr. Humphrey Atkins
The Government's relations with Turkey continue to be based on the statement issued by the Foreign Ministers of the then Nine member States of the European Community on 15 September 1980.

§ Mr. Newens
Will the Lord Privy Seal take this opportunity to denounce the sentence imposed on the former Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Bulent Ecevit, merely for asking for the right of reply to allegations made against him on the television network? Is he aware that unless he takes action on this and other aspects of Turkish affairs there will be doubts about whether the arms being supplied to Turkey will be used in defence of democratic ideals and what is called the free world?

§ Mr. Atkins
I have much sympathy with the concern expressed by the hon. Gentleman and many others about the sentencing of Mr. Ecevit. I understand that the sentence has yet to be upheld and that there is a possibility of an appeal, so I shall say no more at the moment. In answer to the hon. Gentleman's question about arms, we have no military aid programme for Turkey.

Several Hon. Members
rose——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I shall allow an extra minute at the end of Question Time so that one more question may be asked from each side on this subject.

§ Mr. Cyril Townsend
As both Britain and Turkey are guarantors of a free and independent Cyprus, may I ask what discussions my right hon. Friend has had with the new military Administration in Turkey to try to persuade them to be positive towards the inter-communal talks, in particular in relation to the scaling down of the large number of forces that they still have in the northern part of Cyprus?

§ Mr. Atkins
As I said in answer to an earlier question, the lead in solving the difficult problems of Cyprus is being taken by the United Nations, and we are supporting them and doing all that we can to help. The questions that my hon. Friend has asked are among those that need to be put to the Turkish Government, who need to be made aware of the difficulties of the present situation in Cyprus and the way in which they can help to solve this difficult problem.

§ Mr. Moyle
Is not the Lord Privy Seal a little complacent about internal human and political rights in Turkey? Is it not true that the date on which constitutional government is to be restored is being constantly postponed? Is it not also true that the West German Government are threatening to revise their financial aid to Turkey in 1982? What will the British Government do to try to restore constitutional government again in the country of one of our allies?

§ Mr. Atkins
There is no doubt that the Turkish Government are aware of our anxieties about the lack of human rights and the sentencing of Mr. Ecevit, and of the feelings held by both the United Kingdom Government and the Community. A financial protocol exists between the European Community and Turkey which is the subject of much discussion at present. It is too early to know the outcome. The British Government, like every other Government, should make known our concern and anxiety about the lack of democracy and our hopes for the rapid return to democracy which the Turkish Government have said they intend should occur, and which will help relations between our two countries.