HC Deb 08 June 1988 vol 134 cc836-7
9. Mr.AnthonyCoombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on human rights violations in Turkey.

Mrs. Chalker

We have received a number of representations. The Turkish Government are well aware of our views about this matter.

Mr. Coombs

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that despite numerous requests to the Turkish Government, direct and through the United Nations, there are still 1,619 Greek Cypriot citizens unaccounted for, many of whom were taken to Turkey following the Turkish invasion in 1974? Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that any significant progress on the Turkish application for full EC membership will be made conditional upon the rectification of such human rights abuses?

Mrs. Chalker

May I comment on the second part of my hon. Friend's question. In accordance with standard procedures, the Turkish application for membership of the Community was referred in April last year to the European Commission for the preparation of an opinion. Any Government would reserve comment on an application until they had studied the Commission's opinion. That is by no means likely to come forward soon. Of course we recognise that any application to join the Community has in it the understanding that the rules of the Community will be abided by; that includes human rights.

As to my hon. Friend's question about the specific number of missing Greek Cypriots who may be in Turkey, the Turkish and Greek Prime Ministers called in Brussels in March this year for the reactivation of the United Nations missing persons committee. We believe from the Greeks that some missing Greek Cypriots may be in Turkey, but the Turks deny it. I shall go further into this issue because it was discussed between the Greeks and the Turks when they met in a committee following the meeting between the two Prime Ministers in Davos.

Mr. Morley

Apart from considering the important issue of human rights in Turkey, will the Minister ensure that the veto is used to keep Turkey out of the Common Market until there is some genuine progress in resolving the situation in Cyprus and a move towards the reunification of the island?

Mrs. Chalker

The hon. Gentleman raises a matter that is with the Commission and which is not likely to come back to the Council of Ministers for some considerable time. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary said in answer to a previous question, resolving the problems of Cyprus is very much a matter of the two communities beginning to talk together. I have every confidence that such talks will take place and that gradually through the umbrella of the United Nations, we shall seek to give whatever help we can to resolve the problem of Cyprus.

Mr. Madel

Will my right hon. Friend confirm the Government's view that Turkey should not become a member of the European Community as long as it keeps part of its army in Cyprus?

Mrs. Chalker

I do not think that we have to address that specific question at this time. As far as one can see the matter is far off. I remind my hon. Friend that any application to become a member of the Community has to have the assent of the European Parliament. It is well known how strongly the European Parliament exercises its views on human rights issues. The Parliament will be looking at the matter as will member Governments of the Community. As I have said, the whole matter is a long way off.

Mr. Corbyn

Is the Minister of State aware that in Turkey the use of the Kurdish language is officially banned and that people are imprisoned for using it? Is she also aware that many people have been in prison for the past few years because of their political opinions, that some trials have continued for three or four years and that today in Ankara the trial opened of the general secretaries of the Workers' party and the Communist party of Turkey? Does she not think that it is time for the Government to condemn all abuses of human rights in Turkey and to stop propping up the Turkish Government diplomatically and supplying them with arms?

Mrs. Chalker

As usual I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman has made one or two assertions which are his views and a long way from the actual situation. The trial of Mr. Kutlu and Mr. Sagin opened today in Turkey. We are well aware of the allegations of torture and expect Turkey to abide by the European and United Nations conventions against torture. We are confident that Mr. Kutlu and Mr. Sagin will receive a fair hearing under Turkish law. It is vital that human rights are respected throughout the world, and that excludes nobody, but nobody.