§ 18. Mr. Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby)If he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relations with Turkey. [90474]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Ms Joyce Quin)The United Kingdom is keen to 966 continue to build constructive relations overall with the Turkish republic. I recently visited Turkey from 12 to 14 July, when a number of issues were discussed.
§ Mr. WareingHave real representations been made to the Turkish regime about the way in which it has suppressed the Kurdish population for years and years? How can we regard Turkey as a democracy when it deals with part of its population in that way? What positive steps will now be taken by the international community—to borrow a phrase—to put right the conditions in that country so that it can enter the world community on the same basis as other democracies?
§ Ms QuinOn my visit, I raised a number of human rights concerns, including the treatment of people within Turkey's own borders with regard to laws controlling freedom of expression and some of the court and legal proceedings there. The new Government have introduced a number of measures to the Parliament in the past month, which are welcome steps, but there are also a number of ways, through our mutual membership of organisations such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe, in which those real matters of concern can be pursued.