§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of evidence of aerial bombing of Kurdish areas of Turkey and of the enforced evacuation of Kurdish villages, in Turkey.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesThe Kurdish Workers' party's (PKK) nine-year terrorist campaign in south-east Turkey constitutes a serious threat to security in the region.436W During that period there have been 6,000 deaths. The Turkish authorities have made no secret of the aerial bombardment of suspected positions of PKK terrorists. We are aware of allegations, which the Turkish Government deny, of forced evacuation of villages in south-east Turkey. We frequently make clear to the Turkish Government the importance we attach to combating terrorism within a legal framework and with full respect for human rights.
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish authorities in relation to rights of the Kurdish ethnic minority and progress towards a political solution on the issue.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesWe regularly raise with the Turkish authorities the human rights situation throughout Turkey, including the south-east of the country.
We welcome the recently improved security situation in south-east Turkey and the reported indefinite extension of the Kurdish Workers' party (PKK) ceasefire. We also welcome Mr. Demirel's statement that the state of emergency in the south-east will not be extended beyond its expiry on 19 July provided the present calm situation continues, and the announcement of steps aimed at increasing both investment in that part of the country and recognition of the Kurdish cultural identity.