HL Deb 10 May 1982 vol 430 cc1-3
Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any information concerning the fate of members of the Turkish Peace Committee and whether the continued membership of NATO of Turkey under its military regime does not bring into question the democratic pretensions of NATO.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, the Government share concern at the arrest of members of the Turkish Peace Association. We do not yet know the exact nature of the charges involved, but we are watching developments closely. We believe that the Turkish Government's commitment to restore democracy, and the steps that they are taking towards that end, are wholly compatible with Turkey's continued membership of NATO.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer, but will he say why it is that he appears to have so much confidence in the Turkish junta? Is there not here a strong contrast in the Government's attitude in that it seems that Turkish aggression is acceptable to the Government, whereas Argentinian aggression, quite properly, is not?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, we continue to believe that the Turkish Government will honour their commitment to restore democracy. That is why we take the view that was contained in the Answer that I gave to the noble Lord.

Lord Paget of Northampton

My Lords, will the noble Lord make it clear not only to Turkey, but to the other members of NATO, that we are far less concerned with their democratic pretensions than we are with their willingness to stand by their allies in difficulties?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that Turkey occupies a most important strategic part of the world, and is therefore an important member of NATO. At the same time we, and other member states of the Community, continue to make the Turkish Government aware of our concern over alleged human rights violations.

Lord Campbell of Alloway

My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister agree that the reference in the Question to "democratic pretensions" really constitutes a form of insult to all members of NATO?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, if one looks at the NATO Treaty, one will see that the reference in the Question is not very happily phrased.

Lord Davies of Leek

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord—there is no ulterior motive—whether Turkey now has any representation at all in the CENTO organisation, or is that organisation on the point of being completely extinguished?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, the noble Lord is right that the reference to CENTO is no longer relevant.

Earl Alexander of Tunis

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Turkish Government have brought law and order to that country?

Lord Belstead

I did not hear my noble friend's question, my Lords.

Earl Alexander of Tunis

My Lords, I was wondering whether my noble friend is aware that the present Turkish Government have brought law and order to that country.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I agree with my noble friend that it is the case that the amount of violence in Turkey has enormously reduced under the Government of General Evren.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, the Minister says that the Government have confidence in Turkey's Government restoring democracy. May I ask the Minister, are not the Government blind to all recent history, in which claims of that kind have been made and repeatedly denied? Cannot the Government begin to look at the problem of human rights from the point of view not of whether the parties are allies or are opposed, but of the important principle of human rights itself?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, if the alliance, of which Turkey and the United Kingdom are two of the members, did not exist, the question of human rights would very probably become academic, because Russia would occupy Europe. With regard to the confidence of this country in the future of Turkey, General Evren has announced a timetable for a constitutional referendum before the end of November this year, or in spring 1983, and parliamentary elections in autumn next year, or in spring 1984 at the latest.

Lord Leatherland

My Lords, when the noble Lord said that law and order were being restored in Turkey, did he mean by that that in future Turks will be able to have only one wife?

Lord Belstead

No, my Lords; I meant that the number of violent deaths in that country has very much decreased.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is it not the case that Turkey remains in forceful occupation of that part of Cyprus which she occupied by aggression —and what does the noble Lord say about that?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, in answer to this Question, I do not know that I am required to say anything.

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