§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will resist Turkey's application to join the WEU and its wish for closer association with the EU while serious human rights issues are outstanding (including air force attacks on villages) and ceasefire offers are rejected.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)It was agreed in 1992 that Turkey, together with other European members of NATO not members of the EC, should become Associate Members of the WEU.
In its Opinion on Turkey's application to join the EC, the Commission made clear that Turkey's human rights performance was one reason why the application was considered premature. That Opinion was endorsed by the Council. Turkey would need to show a significant improvement in its human rights performance before being a credible candidate for membership.