Turkey: Human Rights (Hansard, 29 June 1998)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
My Lords, we have been working with the Turkish authorities, in particular following the entry into force of the Customs Union in January 1996, to secure significant improvements in Turkey's human rights record. We welcomed the announcement by the 434 Turkish authorities in March 1997 of the reduction in detention lengths before charging detainees, and the Turkish government circular to police authorities of December 1997 reiterating that torture is prohibited by the Turkish constitution. We are monitoring progress on implementation. We nevertheless remain concerned at the continuing reports of torture, extra-judicial killings and "disappearances". Turkey still needs to make substantial progress in the field of human rights before meeting the standard criteria for EU membership.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, I asked the noble Baroness whether there had been any improvement. She has pointed me in the direction of a statement that Turkey would reduce the incidence of torture. That statement has been made frequently in the past by Turkish presidents and prime ministers. Did not the European Commission's annual report on relations with Turkey state in March that there had been no substantial progress as regards human rights and the democratic reform process? Will the Government make it clear to the Turks, before handing over the presidency to the Austrians tomorrow, that the Luxembourg criteria for Turkey's entry into the accession process are not negotiable, and that Kurdish and Islamist parties, their leaders, newspapers and broadcasters, must be allowed to operate freely, particularly in the period leading up to the general election next April?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, the Luxembourg criteria remain, of that I can assure the noble Lord. Cardiff made clear that all countries pursuing candidature for EU membership, including Turkey, will be judged by the same criteria. Each should proceed at its own pace, depending on its own efforts. The noble Lord asked what has been done. As I have said, we welcomed the 4th December announcement of the Turkish Government about the treatment of detainees. Of course there is still a long way to go. We also welcome the lifting of the state of emergency in some of the eastern provinces. We look forward to early visits by the UN special rapporteur on torture and the UN working group on enforced or involuntary "disappearances" which the Turkish Government have already agreed, and about which we have spoken a number of times in your Lordships' House.

§ Baroness Williams of Crosby
My Lords, in view of the fact that Cyprus is within the first group of candidate countries seeking accession to the European Union, will the Minister consider the possibility of inviting the authorities in the northern part of Cyprus to meet with authorities in the southern part of Cyprus to consider whether together they can reach some understanding about human rights in the island, which might be a first step to introducing Turkey to the necessary conditions of membership of the European Union?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, we and others favour the accession to the EU of a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation from Cyprus. We believe that the UN process must stay on track. We look to Turkey and others concerned to support this. Mr. Clerides has offered 435 some discussions to Mr. Denktash. They have not so far been taken up but they remain on the table and enjoy the support of the presidency.

§ Lord Monson
My Lords, when speaking of human rights, is the noble Baroness aware that within the past fortnight the Turkish Supreme Court has ruled that adultery should no longer be a crime for women? It has never been a crime for men. Does the Minister agree that this is a bold and commendable move, given that Islamic sentiments are still quite strong in Turkey, particularly in the rural areas?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, that is much to be welcomed. However, there are still a number of outstanding issues, as I have already rehearsed to your Lordships, such as extra-judicial killings and other such incidents. The Prime Minister spelt out clearly to Mr. Yilvmaz in December that one of the major obstacles to Turkey's relationship with the European Union is still its record on human rights. Although there has been some improvement in some limited areas, we still expect there to be further improvements.

§ Lord Kennet
My Lords, further to the question of the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, is it not a condition of Turkish entry to the European Union that the illegal military regime in northern Cyprus should be dismantled and cancelled altogether?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I do not know whether that is a precondition. I shall write to the noble Lord with an answer to that question.

§ Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, given that Turkey refused to attend the European conference in March on the grounds that its remit was cosmetic and artificial, what assessment have the Government made of Turkey's threat that it will not stand by quietly and will withdraw its application to join the European Union if it is not included in the list of candidate states? Although the Minister said that Turkey would be judged by the same criteria, given that Turkey is a valued member of NATO, what assurances have the Government given Turkey that her candidacy for membership will be judged by the same objective criteria as any other country?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I hope I have made it clear that Turkey's application will be judged by the same objective criteria. In that respect Cardiff reiterated the Luxembourg position. I am glad that Turkey regards the Cardiff position as a step in the right direction, particularly the recognition of Turkey's candidature for EU membership and the EU' s endorsement of the European strategy as a principal plank of the EU/Turkey relationship in the future. Her Majesty's Government believe that the top priority now must be for the Austrian presidency and the Commission to carry forward the work on the strategy in close consultation with the Turkish authorities. We hope that Turkey will attend the next European conference under the Austrian presidency.