§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compliance by the Turkish Government with each article of the United Nations Convention on Human Rights. [98596]
§ Mr. VazThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not in itself a legally binding convention. However, it sets the framework for the six core international human rights treaties. We urge Turkey to ratify and fully implement these treaties.
We monitor the situation in Turkey closely and are in regular contact with non-governmental human rights organisations. We seek to ensure that the Turkish Government is fully aware of the importance we attach to countries complying with those international human rights mechanisms to which they have signed up.
§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Turkey over the Kurdish problem. [98820]
§ Mr. VazWe regularly raise human rights issues in our bilateral discussions with the Turkish government. We have repeatedly stressed to the Turkish authorities that a lasting solution to the conflict in south east Turkey can come about only if the Turkish government addresses the social and economic problems of the south east and the aspirations of the Kurdish population there.
§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for displaced Kurds to return to their villages in Turkey. [98819]
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§ Mr. VazVillage clearances in south east Turkey have virtually ceased since 1997. We welcome that, and the Turkish authorities' recent efforts to encourage re-population of these villages. Since repairs to key infrastructure, several thousand Kurds have begun to return. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.