§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to Turkey during the last 12 months on the subject of the Kurds living within its boundaries.
§ Mr. David DavisWe have made representations at ministerial and official level to the Turkish Government many times during the last 12 months on the subject of their human rights performance overall and in particular the human rights abuses arising from the conflict in the south-east of the country between the Turkish military authorities and the Kurdish separatist movement: most recently when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs—together with his French, German and Italian colleagues—met the Foreign Minister Karayaclin in London on 2 February.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage the Government of Turkey to take steps(a) to safeguard the Christian community in south-east Turkey and (b) to halt its destruction of Christian villages.
§ Mr. David DavisThe Turkish Government are well aware that we take a close interest in the Christian communities in Turkey in the context of our wider concerns about human rights there. We take every opportunity to make known these concerns, which are shared by our western partners. Most recently my right honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and his French, German and Italian colleagues raised human rights with the Turkish Foreign Minister when they met him in London on 2 February.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues concerning Turkey's Christian minority he raised with the Turkish parliamentary delegation during its recent visit.
§ Mr. David DavisMy honourable Friend the Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised the issue of Turkey's overall human rights performance when he gave lunch to the Turkish parliamentary delegation on 1 February.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage the Government of Turkey to end its discrimination against Turkey's Armenian community; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. David DavisThe Turkish Government are well aware that we take a close interest in the minority communities in Turkey in the context of our wider concerns about human rights there. We take every opportunity to make known these concerns, which are shared by our western partners.