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Anatolian Times, Turkey
Oct 9 2005
Turkey's Priority To Be Democracy & Human Rights, Flautre
ANKARA - Turkey's priority will be democracy and human rights after
its full membership negotiations with the EU are launched, Helene
Flautre, the Chairperson of the European Parliament's Human Rights
Sub-Commission, said on Friday.
Holding a press conference before flying to eastern city of Van,
Flautre said that efforts should be exerted to implement recent legal
reforms in Turkey.
-TORTURE, KURDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS-
Flautre stated that Turkey's ''zero tolerance to torture'' policy was
a ''perfect decision'', and said that paving the way for inspection
of independent boards could help full implementation of this policy
in prisons and police stations.
Underlining importance of legal changes regarding the safeguard of
social and cultural rights of the Kurds, Flautre said, ''but, it may
be considered a little weird to urge people to attend special and
paid courses to learn their own mother tongues. In fact, Kurdish
should be taught at public schools.''
Flautre said that gender equality was also an important part of the
EU acquis, while listed associations law, foundations law, and union
rights as areas in which Turkey should make more progress.
-SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS-
French parliamentarian Flautre said that the EU had recently
discussed ''whether Turkey's recognition of the Armenian genocide
(allegations) was an obligatory precondition for its EU membership'',
not ''whether Armenian genocide was carried out''.
''The European Parliament said 'yes' to it (to consider recognition
of the Armenian genocide as a precondition for Turkey's EU
membership) in the vote held last week. However, political groups and
individuals think differently about this matter. And, I personally
think that it should not be a precondition,'' indicated Flautre.
''Everything that happens in Turkey becomes is an internal policy
matter in the EU. We should discuss in Europe what kind of a society
Turkey is and its possible contributions to the EU. Because, my
country, France has made an unbelievable decision that can let it
obstruct Turkey's EU accession by a referendum. And, as a person who
knows this, I want Turkey to be discussed in Europe, with all its
dimensions,'' said Flautre.
On the other hand, another member of the sub-committee Richard Howitt
said that they wanted to see Turkey in the EU, and added, ''this
(Turkey's negotiations with the EU) will be a long run.''
-EP HUMAN RIGHTS SUB-COMMITTEE'S MEETING WITH IHD-
Earlier meeting Human Rights Association (IHD) officials, Flautre
told that Turkey would be monitored more in fields of human rights
and democracy after the start of the negotiation process with the EU.
''Before the start of the accession talks between Turkey and EU, the
EU was looking for fulfillment of the requirements by Turkey at a
sufficient level, but now Turkey should fulfill everything fully,
there is a more strict and serious agenda now,'' Flautre said. She
noted that everybody whom she met was in consensus about the progress
recorded by Turkey in human rights.
Oct 9 2005
Turkey's Priority To Be Democracy & Human Rights, Flautre
ANKARA - Turkey's priority will be democracy and human rights after
its full membership negotiations with the EU are launched, Helene
Flautre, the Chairperson of the European Parliament's Human Rights
Sub-Commission, said on Friday.
Holding a press conference before flying to eastern city of Van,
Flautre said that efforts should be exerted to implement recent legal
reforms in Turkey.
-TORTURE, KURDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS-
Flautre stated that Turkey's ''zero tolerance to torture'' policy was
a ''perfect decision'', and said that paving the way for inspection
of independent boards could help full implementation of this policy
in prisons and police stations.
Underlining importance of legal changes regarding the safeguard of
social and cultural rights of the Kurds, Flautre said, ''but, it may
be considered a little weird to urge people to attend special and
paid courses to learn their own mother tongues. In fact, Kurdish
should be taught at public schools.''
Flautre said that gender equality was also an important part of the
EU acquis, while listed associations law, foundations law, and union
rights as areas in which Turkey should make more progress.
-SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS-
French parliamentarian Flautre said that the EU had recently
discussed ''whether Turkey's recognition of the Armenian genocide
(allegations) was an obligatory precondition for its EU membership'',
not ''whether Armenian genocide was carried out''.
''The European Parliament said 'yes' to it (to consider recognition
of the Armenian genocide as a precondition for Turkey's EU
membership) in the vote held last week. However, political groups and
individuals think differently about this matter. And, I personally
think that it should not be a precondition,'' indicated Flautre.
''Everything that happens in Turkey becomes is an internal policy
matter in the EU. We should discuss in Europe what kind of a society
Turkey is and its possible contributions to the EU. Because, my
country, France has made an unbelievable decision that can let it
obstruct Turkey's EU accession by a referendum. And, as a person who
knows this, I want Turkey to be discussed in Europe, with all its
dimensions,'' said Flautre.
On the other hand, another member of the sub-committee Richard Howitt
said that they wanted to see Turkey in the EU, and added, ''this
(Turkey's negotiations with the EU) will be a long run.''
-EP HUMAN RIGHTS SUB-COMMITTEE'S MEETING WITH IHD-
Earlier meeting Human Rights Association (IHD) officials, Flautre
told that Turkey would be monitored more in fields of human rights
and democracy after the start of the negotiation process with the EU.
''Before the start of the accession talks between Turkey and EU, the
EU was looking for fulfillment of the requirements by Turkey at a
sufficient level, but now Turkey should fulfill everything fully,
there is a more strict and serious agenda now,'' Flautre said. She
noted that everybody whom she met was in consensus about the progress
recorded by Turkey in human rights.