Turkey (Hansard, 9 February 1994)

§ Lord Henley
My Lords, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary discussed regional and other issues of joint interest including Turkey's relations with the European Union, the problem of the PKK and human rights.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, did the Foreign Secretary re-emphasise the need for Turkey to comply with her obligations under the CSCE Declaration at Copenhagen in November 1990? In particular, did he express concern about the conditions under which local elections are due to be held on 27th March? I refer to the bombardment of civilian areas which resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of voters who would thereby be disfranchised and the systematic intimidation and harassment of candidates and activists of the Democracy Party.

§ Lord Henley
My Lords, on behalf of the European Community, the United Kingdom delivered the statement on freedom of expression and free media which included a reference to Turkey as one of the participating states whose performance gave cause for concern. We certainly remain concerned at allegations of human rights violations by Turkish authorities during the evacuation of villages in the South East, in particular, if, as the noble Lord suggests, this is done to impede the democratic process.

§ Lord Stallard
My Lords, is the noble Lord able to say whether the Foreign Secretary took advantage of the situation to discuss what is happening in Cyprus at present? Did he ask the Foreign Secretary of Turkey what pressure he may be able to exert on his colleagues to bring some solution to the Cyprus problem?

§ Lord Henley
My Lords, as I made clear only the other day when I answered a Question on the subject of Cyprus, my right honourable friend took the opportunity to raise our concerns, as I stated them, on the question of Cyprus.

§ Lord Hylton
My Lords, I am glad to hear that human rights were discussed. Will the Government take all opportunities not only of raising the situation of the Kurdish minorities but also of the very small Syriac Orthodox Christian community in the Mardin Province?

§ Lord Henley
My Lords, there has been widespread international concern about human rights violations in Turkey, in particular, as I have been stressing, those in the South East. I note what my noble friend says. We share those concerns.

§ Lord Rea
My Lords, will the Government make representations to the Turkish Government about the persecution of the editorial staff of the legally published Kurdish language newspaper, Ozgur Gundem? Is he aware that in the past year or two more than 20 of the journalists and editorial staff of that newspaper as well as news boys who distribute the paper, have been killed by unnamed assassins, and that none of them has been brought to justice? Is he aware that a number of editorial staff are still in detention, having been arrested on 10th December? They still await trial.

§ Lord Henley
My Lords, I was not aware of the particular instance to which the noble Lord refers. My right honourable friend spoke in Ankara of our concerns about the free expression of political opinion. I am sure that he would have been aware of the particular anxieties that the noble Lord expressed.

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, in the light of the Turkish Government's deplorable human rights record, will the Minister tell the House what position the Secretary of State took in his recent discussions with that government on its wish to join the European Union?

§ Lord Henley
My Lords, the Council of Ministers endorsed the Commission's opinion in 1989 which concluded that Turkey's application was premature. It noted that respect for human rights fell below EC standards. Turkish authorities are aware of our legitimate Community interests in its human rights record. The Council will continue to take into account all relevant factors including obviously, as the noble Baroness puts it, Turkey's record on human rights.

§ The Earl of Shannon
My Lords, can the Minister tell the House whether the meeting discussed the action of Turkey, in total defiance of its obligations under the Helsinki Treaty, by blockading another neighbouring country, Armenia, also a signatory to that treaty?

§ Lord Henley
My Lords, I am not aware whether that specific subject came up. My right honourable friend discussed regional matters. I therefore imagine that that particular concern was voiced.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Foreign Secretary's expressions of concern are most welcome? Will the Minister go further and say whether it is possible that the European Union or the CSCE might be able to send a mission to the South East of Turkey to observe the conditions under which the elections are due to be held on 27th March?

§ Lord Henley
My Lords, we have no plans to monitor the municipal elections in March. We would certainly consider any request from the Turkish Government.
As regards non-official monitors, we believe that they should inform the British Embassy in Ankara and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of their movements. The Foreign Office travel advice warns against going to South East Turkey.