EU Supports Turkey-PKK Talks to Solve Kurdish Issue
Lucinda Creighton, Minister of State for European Affairs. Photo: Lucinda Creighton website.
ERBIL,Kurdistan
Region – The European Union continues to regard the Kurdistan Workers
Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization, but backs peace talks in Turkey
aimed at disarming the group, EU parliamentarians said at a debate in
Strasbourg on Wednesday.
At
the debate over a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey,
some ministers also noted that Turkey’s treatment of Kurds and other
minorities remained unjust.
Ireland's
EU Presidency Minister Lucinda Creighton in the opening statement said
that the EU council shares the “profound shock” of the EU parliament
over the assassination of PKK activists in Paris last month. “But they
underline to all of us the importance of settling the Kurdish issue.
That’s in the interest of all concerned. A settlement would play vital
role in securing the security and stability in the region,” she said.
Despite highlighting the EU’s support for talks and Kurdish rights, she also stressed that the EU is against the activities of the PKK, after criticism by Turkey that Europe was not doing enough to stop the PKK.
“I wish to reiterate here that the EU and its member states strongly condemn terrorism in all forms, and are working closely with Turkey to combat the terrorist threat,” Creighton said. “The PKK is listed in the EU as a terrorist organization. Within the EU, the PKK is involved mainly in fundraising, including through criminal activities. This has led to arrests in a number of EU countries,” she added.
One of them is Adem Uzun, a member of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNC), who was arrested on October 6, 2012 by French authorities and has been in jail since. His arrest raised fears among Kurdish organizations in Europe that EU member states are cracking down on Kurdish activists. Some MEPS during the debate such as French leftist MEP Marie-Christine Vergiat, who knew one of the victims of the Paris assassinations, called for the removal of the PKK from the EU terrorist list.
EU Commissioner Stefan Fule stated that “the ongoing discussions are of such historic importance for Turkey. They (are) considered a great window of opportunity for the ending of terrorism that would hopefully pave the way for an overall solution of the Kurdish issue.”
However, not all politicians were positive about the reforms carried out by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey, and highlighted ongoing human rights violations such as the arrests of journalists, activists and lawyers and the tough anti-terror laws.
“We cannot deny the country’s human rights record has been questionable, particularly regarding minorities. The Kurdish population has been culturally and institutionally alienated,” said Charles Tannock, a conservative MEP for London. “Although the Turkish state has implemented some reforms in the recent years, the Kurdish language remains subject to restrictions,” he noted.
The Kurdish issue also was of interest because it is so closely entwined with the ongoing politics and conflicts in the Middle East, with great implications for neighbors Turkey, Syria and Iran. The Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is affiliated to the PKK, has managed to control large parts of the Kurdish areas of Syria, much to the chagrin of Turkey.
Co-Chair of the Pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Selahattin Demirtaş, highlighted in the EU parliament on Tuesday, that “the Kurdish question is not only a Turkish problem, but also a regional -- even a global -- problem. Syria proves it. An appeal by (imprisoned PKK-leader Abdullah) Ocalan could even solve problems in Syria and contribute to peace there,” he said.
Christian Democrat MEP Eduard Kuan, a former Slovenian minister, said that, “Syria and Iran are especially uncomfortable with a stronger Turkey in the region. They have used the PKK in the past to destabilize Turkey. A peaceful (resolution) of the Kurdish issue could only make Turkey more powerful in the region. This is also in the interest of the EU.”
Creighton concluded that most MEPs during the debate realized that there are still formidable obstacles to a breakthrough, as shown by the assassinations in Paris. “This shows clearly there is strong resistance in making any process in certain quarters.”
But she added that, notwithstanding the obstacles Turkey faces, it needs support when it is “confronted with significant pressure with the conflict in Syria.”
She highlighted the fact that Turkey must allow the predominantly Kurdish population in south-eastern Turkey to get their full rights. “We hope that Turkey’s current work on a new constitution will provide a framework for reforms, including on the Kurdish issue,” Creighton said.
Despite highlighting the EU’s support for talks and Kurdish rights, she also stressed that the EU is against the activities of the PKK, after criticism by Turkey that Europe was not doing enough to stop the PKK.
“I wish to reiterate here that the EU and its member states strongly condemn terrorism in all forms, and are working closely with Turkey to combat the terrorist threat,” Creighton said. “The PKK is listed in the EU as a terrorist organization. Within the EU, the PKK is involved mainly in fundraising, including through criminal activities. This has led to arrests in a number of EU countries,” she added.
One of them is Adem Uzun, a member of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNC), who was arrested on October 6, 2012 by French authorities and has been in jail since. His arrest raised fears among Kurdish organizations in Europe that EU member states are cracking down on Kurdish activists. Some MEPS during the debate such as French leftist MEP Marie-Christine Vergiat, who knew one of the victims of the Paris assassinations, called for the removal of the PKK from the EU terrorist list.
EU Commissioner Stefan Fule stated that “the ongoing discussions are of such historic importance for Turkey. They (are) considered a great window of opportunity for the ending of terrorism that would hopefully pave the way for an overall solution of the Kurdish issue.”
However, not all politicians were positive about the reforms carried out by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey, and highlighted ongoing human rights violations such as the arrests of journalists, activists and lawyers and the tough anti-terror laws.
“We cannot deny the country’s human rights record has been questionable, particularly regarding minorities. The Kurdish population has been culturally and institutionally alienated,” said Charles Tannock, a conservative MEP for London. “Although the Turkish state has implemented some reforms in the recent years, the Kurdish language remains subject to restrictions,” he noted.
The Kurdish issue also was of interest because it is so closely entwined with the ongoing politics and conflicts in the Middle East, with great implications for neighbors Turkey, Syria and Iran. The Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is affiliated to the PKK, has managed to control large parts of the Kurdish areas of Syria, much to the chagrin of Turkey.
Co-Chair of the Pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Selahattin Demirtaş, highlighted in the EU parliament on Tuesday, that “the Kurdish question is not only a Turkish problem, but also a regional -- even a global -- problem. Syria proves it. An appeal by (imprisoned PKK-leader Abdullah) Ocalan could even solve problems in Syria and contribute to peace there,” he said.
Christian Democrat MEP Eduard Kuan, a former Slovenian minister, said that, “Syria and Iran are especially uncomfortable with a stronger Turkey in the region. They have used the PKK in the past to destabilize Turkey. A peaceful (resolution) of the Kurdish issue could only make Turkey more powerful in the region. This is also in the interest of the EU.”
Creighton concluded that most MEPs during the debate realized that there are still formidable obstacles to a breakthrough, as shown by the assassinations in Paris. “This shows clearly there is strong resistance in making any process in certain quarters.”
But she added that, notwithstanding the obstacles Turkey faces, it needs support when it is “confronted with significant pressure with the conflict in Syria.”
She highlighted the fact that Turkey must allow the predominantly Kurdish population in south-eastern Turkey to get their full rights. “We hope that Turkey’s current work on a new constitution will provide a framework for reforms, including on the Kurdish issue,” Creighton said.
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