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The
Kurdistan Regional Government’s EU representative
expresses support for Turkey’s membership of the
European Union and believes membership talks will
improve the situation of Kurds living in North
Kurdistan.
A four-member delegation from the Kurdistan Regional
Government Mission to the EU participated in the
Second International Conference on ‘EU, Turkey and
the Kurds’, which was held in the European
Parliament in Brussels on 19 and 20 September 2005.
This international event was organised by the EU-Turkey
Civic Commission whose founders are the Kurdish
Human Rights Project (UK), the Bar Human Rights
Committee of England and Wales, the Rafto Foundation
(Norway) and medico international (Germany) with the
participation of Kurdish and Turkish representatives
from different political and civil organisations as
well as politicians, academics, experts, human
rights defenders, lawyers and writers. Speakers and
participants from the floor had the opportunity to
discuss and evaluate developments in Turkey’s
accession process to the European Union, which
should officially open on 3rd October 2005. EU
accession offers an unprecedented opportunity to
finally see Turkey embrace European standards on
democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The International Conference focused on four
subjects that concern Turkey:
- EU-Turkey accession talks - perspectives for the
EU and for Turkey
- EU-Turkey negotiating framework and the current
situation in Turkey
- Women’s rights in Turkey and Kurdish cultural
rights in the light of Europe and international
standards
- Human rights, democracy and peace - critical
factors
Of Turkey’s population of 70 million, 15 million are
Kurds, potentially making up over 3% of the
inhabitants of the EU and thus representing a
significant population group. Kurds have been, on
the whole, supportive of Turkey’s entry to the EU.
For them, accession presents the possibility of an
end to decades of repression and abuse at the hands
of the Turkish state, and offers an unprecedented
chance to ensure that their identity is acknowledged
and respected. Importantly, the prospect of EU
accession was reasonably presumed to bring into
focus the Kurdish question itself and to demand EU
facilitation of enhanced dialogue on its resolution.
Ms Vian Sami Abdul Rahman, director of
communications of the KRG EU-Mission in Brussels
spoke of the KRG’s support for Turkey’s membership
of the EU, which would be a positive step not only
for the Kurds in Turkey but also for Turkey and the
EU. She also stressed her support for full rights
for the Kurds in Turkey, but added that this has to
be brought through dialogue and a non-violent
approach.
"Day by day the KRG is maintaining its good
relations with Ankara and encouraging investment in
Kurdistan in Iraq." The KRG hopes that, in a similar
manner, a peaceful dialogue can also be further
developed between Ankara and the Kurds in Turkey.
Finally, Ms Rahman reiterated that Turkey should
understand that it is counterproductive to interfere
in the internal affairs of Kurdistan in Iraq.
End.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Luigi Pellegrino, Coordinator of EU relations,
luigi.pellegrino@skynet.be.
KRG-EU Mission
Rue de la Loi 221
B-1040 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 – 513 72 28
Fax: +32 (0)2 – 513 36 79
eu@rp.krg.org
www.krg.org
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