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For
the second time the Rafto Foundation, in
collaboration with Kurdish Human Rights Project
(UK), medico international (Germany) and Bar Human
Rights Committee of England and Wales, will arrange
a two-day conference, September 19 – 20, 2005,
debating the Turkish accession process to the EU.
The conference in Brussels will focus on the human
rights situation in Turkey, especially focusing on
the conditions for the Kurdish people.
The President of the European Parliament, Mr Josep
Borrell Fontelles, EU Enlargement Commissioner Mr
Olli Rehn and Kurdish expert Mr Peter Galbraith will
all contribute to the conference as speakers. In
addition, prominent Kurdish and Turkish
representatives from different political and civil
organisations have been invited and will contribute
to the important conference in which human rights
issues, including democratic and parliamentary
reforms will be discussed.
The Rafto Foundation is represented by Kariane
Westrheim, Chair of the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC)
and Hege Ekeland (EUTCC project assistant). Kariane
Westrheim will give the opening speech at the
conference, to be held in the EU Parliament in
Brussels.
Below, please find more information about the
establishment of the EU Turkey Civic Commission.
Background:
On December 17, 2004, the EU Council of Ministers
decided to open accession talks with Turkey. The
essential accession criteria for EU membership are
the Copenhagen criteria, which state that new
members must have achieved:
“stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy,
the rule of law, human rights and respect for and
protection of minorities”.
On this basis, many civil society organisations in
Turkey and Europe have considered it important to
monitor the implementation by Turkey of European
human rights standards and the rule of law in all
phases of the accession negotiations.
The undersigned organisations sponsored a
conference in November 2004 on “The EU, Turkey and
the Kurds”:
- Rafto Foundation (Norway)
- Kurdish Human Rights Project (United Kingdom)
- Medico International (Germany).
The conference, held in the European Parliament in
Brussels, passed a resolution to establish a
standing civic commission. The Bar Human Rights
Committee of England and Wales has subsequently
joined in sponsoring the establishment of the EU
Turkey Civic Commission.
This EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) favours
Turkish membership in the European Union. Provided
the EU insists on full compliance, in law and in
practice, with the Copenhagen criteria in all its
aspects, Turkey will become a genuine democracy,
with “respect for and protection of minorities”.
This will resolve one of the most difficult
political problems that Turkey has so far failed to
even recognise and that have been a festering sore
in Turkey for decades, namely the Kurdish problem.
The Commission wishes to contribute to the progress
of Turkish membership of the EU. It will do this by
spreading accurate, objective information both in
Turkey and Europe about the progress made by Turkey,
but also about any shortcomings which may still
persist. The Civic Commission will have as one of
its most important tasks to monitor Turkish
compliance with the EU accession criteria.
www.rafto.no
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